A crowd gathers to watch Norris Dam spilling water for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Norris Dam will be spilling water for about 15 days, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Photo by TVA)
A crowd gathered Tuesday to watch the Tennessee Valley Authority spill water at Norris Dam for the first time since 2013.
TVA said it could spill water over the top of the dam for about 15 days.
“We are currently spilling about 124,000 gallons per second at Norris Dam,” TVA said Tuesday.
WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that TVA is seeking to lower the water level in Norris Lake, which was about six feet above the summer pool level following last weekend’s relentless rainfall.
“Following last weekend’s record rainfall totals across East Tennessee, TVA on Tuesday opened all three spillway gates at Norris Dam for the first time since the spring of 2013,” WSYH said.
The crowd that assembled was large enough that officials shut down the lower portion of the dam to the public due to safety concerns once the sun set. The overlook above the dam remained open Tuesday night, and the lower section re-opened this morning (Wednesday, April 26), WYSH said.
The spill gates will remain open for the next few days to bring the lake levels down just a little below the summer pool level to give the utility some “wiggle room” if the area sees any more significant rainfall this week, the radio station reported.
ICYMI: We are currently spilling about 124,000 gallons-per-second at Norris Dam! #Norris #NorrisDam pic.twitter.com/W9cDtMACoP
— TN Valley Authority (@TVAnews) April 25, 2017
WYSH Radio in Clinton is an Oak Ridge Today news partner
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