LENOIR CITY, Tenn — All that debris that's been washing down the East Tennessee river system has to go somewhere. Right now a sampling of it is collecting at Fort Loudoun Lock's upper approach area near Lenoir City.
A photo of the tons of logs, branches and other floating waste was posted Wednesday afternoon on the Lock's Facebook page.
"Our team is actively addressing the situation using our work boat to safely push the natural debris (such as branches and trees) out of the lock chamber. This debris will then pass through the spillway gates at Fort Loudoun Dam, where it will continue down the Tennessee River," said Michael Davis, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. "We are committed to ensuring safety during this process and our team will also make sure to remove any non-natural debris, such as plastics or trash, for proper disposal to prevent environmental harm."
He added: "It’s important to note that the debris accumulation in the lock chamber is minimal compared to the significant volume of debris moving through the spillway gates as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene move along the Tennessee River. The natural flow of the river system carries this debris downstream continuously.
"Clearing the lock chamber is crucial to prevent potential damage to the lock and to ensure the safe navigation of vessels in the area."
After a heavy bout of rain, Tennessee River waters can be treacherous with all the debris that's in it. Some you may be able to spot from a boat; some you may not.
Normally, barge and other boat traffic can pass through the lock, one of several in TVA's Tennessee River system.
But the lock is currently closed while TVA spills tons of extra water from East Tennessee waterways that fell as the remnants of Hurricane Helene moved across the region.
According to TVA, the 60-by-360-foot lock at Fort Loudoun raises and lowers rivercraft about 70 feet between the reservoir and Watts Bar Reservoir when it's in operation.
Other locks closed right now: Watts Bar Lock, Chickamauga Lock at Chattanooga and Nickajack Lock near Jasper.
TVA owns the dams and locks on the river. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the locks for navigation in partnership with TVA, Davis said.
