JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Efforts to clean up debris at Douglas Lake are in motion, but officials warn it will take time.
Scott Turnbow, the Tennessee Valley Authority's vice president of civil projects, said it's working alongside the state, federal and local agencies. He said the cleanup effort could span up to eight months, with six months being the likeliest timeline.
“We're still assessing the full scope of the debris,” he said.
For residents managing debris on their property, state officials asked they get a burn permit. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation advised that only vegetative materials should be burned, and prohibited materials such as plastic and rubber must be removed beforehand.
State, federal and local agencies working on this project set up an informal open house Monday night to address concerns and share updates, but residents said they were left with more questions than answers—especially regarding water quality.
Lou Weiss, who has lived on the lake for over 25 years, expressed frustration over the lack of testing for contaminants.
“In 2 years, I could not find one test that’s been done on Douglas Lake,” Weiss said. “We don’t know what’s in this water.”
While a water contact advisory is in effect, Weiss said the absence of testing creates uncertainty about the lake's safety for recreation, pets and wildlife. He also voiced concern about long-term contamination.
“When the water level rises in spring, it’s going to re-contaminate the lake. These chemicals and pesticides don’t just go away,” Weiss said.
According to TDEC officials, water testing is underway in the Pigeon River but testing plans for Douglas Lake are not yet finalized. Residents have pressed for a timeline, but none has been provided.
“It was nice of everybody to come,” Weiss said, “but as far as answers, I got zero.”
Officials maintain their commitment to restoring Douglas Lake. Turnbow said the team is focused on “returning the lake to what it was previously” before Hurricane Helene and assured residents that outreach will continue through community meetings and online updates.