KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's been around two weeks since Hurricane Helene impacted East Tennessee and western North Carolina, dumping floodwaters that dunked communities underwater across the region. For much of that time, Douglas Dam has been releasing water in an attempt to prevent floods from causing even more severe damage.
After releasing around 323.6 billion gallons of water, the Tennessee Valley Authority said the dam's spillways have been closed. Its River Forecast Center used Douglas Dam along with several others across the region's rivers to manage the sudden increase in water.
"Our water management experts in the River Forecast Center utilized Douglas and all the other dams to hold floodwater and reduce downstream impacts in areas like Knoxville, Lenior City, and Chattanooga as our region continues to recover," the TVA said on social media.
By sending water downstream, the TVA could prevent water from reaching flood levels in its reservoirs. It manages a 49-dam river system that is used to reduce flood damage, produce hydroelectricity and make sure people have recreation opportunities in the area.
On Wednesday, the TVA warned boaters on the Tennessee River that the flow could still be higher than normal and there could be more debris in the water as a result of Hurricane Helene. Boil water advisories are also still in effect for several impacted communities, especially in Greene County, after water systems were knocked out by flooding.