•TVA’s Raccoon Mountain has completed an outage during which the water level in the reservoir on top of the mountain was significantly reduced to perform routine safety inspections at the facility, including the 8,500-foot-long dam at the top of the
mountain.
•As TVA was pumping water back into the upper reservoir, TVA discovered that a valve on Unit 4, that allows water flow between the reservoir and the powerhouse, had a damaged seal.
•To repair the seal, TVA will lower the water level again in the upper reservoir beginning this weekend.
•When the water is released into Nickajack Reservoir, the public will likely notice a discoloration of water in the reservoir, similar to what is experienced after a flood.
•Sediment deposits draining from the upper reservoir cause the discoloration. TVA will control the releases to minimize the duration and extent of the discoloration in the river.
•The repairs are expected to be complete within two weeks, after which TVA will begin to refill the upper reservoir.