After East Tennessee saw heavy rain more than a week ago, Norris Lake rose 6.5 feet above its average summer pool. Now, marinas along the lake are struggling to keep up with high water levels.
Mark and Amy Bardo have owned Norris Dam Marina since 2012. They said this is the highest they’ve seen the water.
“Mother Nature, we don’t have much control over her,” Amy Bardo said.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Norris Dam Marina is usually packed. But this Sunday, part of the marina is underwater.
"Normally, this area is a full parking lot," Bardo said pointing to the submerged lot. The water flooded over the marina’s walkway and boat shed. Now Bardo and her staff are ferrying customers to their boats.
"I looked out there and saw the boat rental place under water and then I realized I can't even get to the dock to get to the marina," David Gangle, a boat owner said.
But getting people to their boat isn't the only challenge that comes with high water. Bardo also has to keep up with the docks. Every few hours they have to check on the winches that hold the dock cables in place.
"The cable system keeps everything in line so everything doesn't bang together, so all the house boats stay in line," Bardo said.
"It came up so very fast that the first two days, we had to stay here 24/7 and adjust as we went," Steven Schimmel, a dock maintenance worker at the marina said.
"You don't want to leave them too loose, but you have to leave them loose enough for the water to abide with it or the wind will tear it all to pieces," he added.
The debris in the water is also a concern.
"We usually rent pontoons, fishing boats and we can't do that right now, number one, because of the debris," Bardo said. They don’t want the boat renters to run into trouble out on the water.
TVA and TWRA are also urging boaters to be cautious. They say go slow, wear your life jacket and be on the lookout for debris.
TVA also said it’s working to bring the levels down to normal summer pool levels, but with the tremendous amount of water the region received, it will take some time.