SAVANNAH, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority is lowering the water level at Pickwick Landing Reservoir to test the soundness of the dam there.
According to the utility, a recent dam inspection showed the possibility that an earthen portion of the dam could be damaged by a large earthquake.
The reservoir is located about 120 miles east of Memphis with portions in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.
TVA normally lowers the lake level for the winter, but this year it will reach the winter pool level by mid-October. That’s about six weeks earlier than normal.
The lower lake levels will let TVA conduct more testing and determine what needs to be done to strengthen the 1930s-era dam.
Water levels downstream on the Kentucky Reservoir will not be affected.
More information is at http://www.tva.gov/pickwick .
