Chatuge Dam Safety Modifications

Clay County, North Carolina and Towns County, Georgia

Chatuge Reservoir is located on the Hiwassee River. The reservoir is approximately 13 miles long and extends southeast from Chatuge Dam, located in Clay County, North Carolina, into Towns County, Georgia. Chatuge Reservoir is operated for many purposes, including flood damage reduction, power generation, water supply, recreation, and augmentation of downstream water flows. Chatuge Reservoir has a flood storage capacity of 62,600 acre-feet between an elevation (El.) of 1918 and 1928 feet.

TVA operates Chatuge Dam according to seasonal curves that guide operations. The guide curve represents idealized target operations, with a low point of El. 1915 in the middle of February when flood risk is highest, and a high point of El. 1926 around Memorial Day. The flood guide varies from El. 1918 in the winter to El. 1926 in the summer; all volume above the flood guide is reserved for flood control storage. Thus, in a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Chatuge Reservoir varies about 10 feet from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage.

During its program of dam safety risk assessments and integration of dam safety industry findings, TVA concluded the chute slab of the primary spillway at Chatuge Dam is in poor condition. TVA determined that the potential for removal of one or more sections of the chute slab during a rare and extreme flood event poses a dam safety risk outside of TVA’s tolerances. TVA also investigated secondary sources of dam safety risk associated with internal erosion through the dam. TVA judged that the internal erosion risks were of lesser magnitude and within widely accepted tolerable risk guidelines.

TVA is evaluating the No Action Alternative and three action alternatives. Alternative B was eliminated from consideration due to safety, economic, and timeline concerns. Alternative C would include rehabilitation of the spillway. Alternatives D and E would include construction of a new spillway. All alternatives include replacement of the Howell Bunger Valve. Alternatives D and E would also include dam bank stabilization. All alternatives would require two seasonal drawdowns to ensure the reservoir can still provide flood control, and to ensure the safety of those working at the project site. The maximum drawdown would be 10 feet below winter pool elevations, or El. 1908. The drawdowns are planned for the tourism off-season, in the fall and winter. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, TVA would plan to return the reservoir to normal summer pool around the beginning of spring, but this will be wholly dependent on the amount of rainfall in the area.

Public Involvement

On March 25, 2025, TVA briefed public officials, local media, and marina owners of the proposed action and the alternatives being considered. On April 4, 2025, TVA briefed elected officials in Washington, DC of the proposed action and alternatives being considered.

On April 21, 2025, TVA published the Notice of Intent pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider the potential impacts on the environment associated with the proposal. TVA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The availability of the NOI and dates, times, and locations of public scoping meetings were published in advance on the TVA website, local newspapers (Towns County Herald and Clay County Progress), and in social media advertisements. In-person open houses were held in Clay County, North Carolina (May 8, 2025) and Towns County, Georgia (May 13, 2025). Virtual Open Houses were conducted on May 6 and 15, 2025. Recordings of the virtual open house meetings are provided below.

Comments were submitted online, by email, by mail, and during in-person open house events. TVA accepted public comments on the scope of the review, alternatives being considered, and environmental issues that should be addressed through May 28, 2025 (37 days). The scoping report was completed in September 2025 and summarizes comments received and the proposed EIS scope of analysis.

Meeting Recordings

May 6, 2025 

May 15, 2026

Additional information is available here, including updates on project alternatives, planned drawdown timing and durations, frequently asked questions, interactive bathymetry mapping, and more. The website is updated regularly as new information becomes available.

Schedule

TVA expects to release the Draft EIS in Fall/Winter of 2026. Once available, the public will have 45 days to provide comments on the document content and findings. Additional public open house meetings will be scheduled after publication of the Draft EIS. Open house dates, times, and locations will be posted on the project website.