CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Despite several rounds of rain in recent weeks, much of the Tennessee Valley remains in severe to extreme drought conditions, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
TVA officials shared on update Tuesday, saying the region remains in an ongoing drought, despite some areas receiving several inches of precipitation in late May.
According to TVA, runoff across the eastern Tennessee Valley is currently the fourth-lowest recorded in 152 years of recordkeeping.
The agency says the Valley has received an average of about 3.5 inches of rainfall since Memorial Day weekend.
However, only about a half-inch of that rainfall has reached the river system as runoff.
TVA General Manager of River Management James Everett says the lack of runoff is affecting reservoir conditions across the region and is expected to influence water management decisions throughout the summer.
As a result, TVA expects lake levels to gradually decline in the coming months as drought conditions persist and inflows remain below normal.
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The agency is encouraging boaters, anglers and other lake users to stay informed about changing water levels and be aware of potential impacts on navigation, boat ramps and shoreline access.
TVA regularly adjusts reservoir operations to balance flood control, navigation, power generation, water quality and recreation needs across the Tennessee River system.
Current lake level information and updates are available through TVA’s online reservoir information system.