TVA Revises Aquatic Plant Management on Two Reservoirs

November 7, 2008

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – Beginning in summer of 2009, TVA will no longer provide herbicide treatments or use mechanical harvesting methods to manage aquatic plants along private and commercially developed shoreline on Guntersville and Nickajack reservoirs.

TVA will continue to treat reservoir areas the general public uses for recreation, such as boat ramps, parks and swimming beaches.

TVA continues to look for ways to minimize the impact of rising energy costs on ratepayers. One of the ways that has been identified is to discontinue certain aquatic plant management activities that support private interests.

“To focus TVA’s resources on achieving the greatest benefit for the public, we will no longer be able to fund this courtesy service for private and commercial facilities,” said TVA’s Office of Environment and Research Senior Vice President Anda Ray. “However, we recognize that the affected homeowners and businesses will need time to make other arrangements so that they, too, can continue to enjoy the benefits of these manmade reservoirs.”

TVA will continue to work in partnership with local stakeholders to help develop options to manage aquatic weeds around private docks in residential areas and commercial facilities.

Working with stakeholder groups around Guntersville and Nickajack reservoirs, TVA will determine where and how much treatment is needed around public access and recreation areas. Mechanical harvester and herbicide treatments of aquatic plants typically begin in June and end in September.

Regulating the application of herbicides in public waters is a state responsibility. However, TVA will continue to provide technical assistance for aquatic plant management to support use of appropriate herbicides and application methods.

Each state maintains a list of applicators that are licensed to apply herbicides in aquatic environments. TVA suggests that persons or groups with private and commercial interests work with the appropriate state agency to determine the rules for application of approved herbicides to manage aquatic weeds.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 159 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Media Contact

Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

TVA Newsroom