Supplemental Vegetation Management 2020 Begins at Sonny’s Marina: Updates Provided for Washington County Commissioners, Grande Harbor Residents

TVA began its 2020 Supplemental Vegetation Management at Sonny’s Marina on Feb. 4. Despite heavy rain 52 acres were mulched in the first three weeks and more are underway via barge access.

“The ideal situation is always for homeowners to manage their own private property,” said Principal Project Manager Sam Vinson during a recent update to members of the Washington County Commission’s Health, Education and Welfare Committee. “They have much more flexibility than TVA does because it is their private land.” Vinson said TVA provides a website for homeowners interested in clearing their properties.

While addressing the county commissioners, Vinson read a portion of the 2016 Environmental Assessment that he said is important to emphasize: “Mowing vegetation on the exposed reservoir bottom would not be intended to eliminate the vegetation….such vegetation may be beneficial …improving… fish habitat after the reservoir is returned to normal operating levels.”

Vinson also provided an update for the board at Grande Harbor on Feb. 18.

The supplemental vegetation management herbicide application program is planned to roll out pending TVA internal approval in late March. TVA’s application of the EPA-approved herbicide on private property is completely up to homeowners. If you have questions, contact Dan Widener at boonevegetation@tva.gov or 423-360-3813.

Veronica Barredo talks about TVA’s mission of service with the Kingsport Sunrise Rotary Club.

Community News: Boone Dam Construction Progress Updates

TVA Senior Civil Engineering Program Manager Veronica Barredo provided a construction progress update to the Kingsport Sunrise Rotary Club in February. She will also speak at the state environmental conference in Kingsport in March and at the Kingsport Downtown Noon Rotary Club in April. She told her audience the Boone Dam project is not unlike a patient preparing for heart surgery.

“You do everything you can to get ready and get in the best shape possible,” Barredo said. “Likewise, we put a tremendous amount of infrastructure in place, such as aconcrete plant and stability berms in preparation for the phase of construction we are in now, building the underground concrete cutoff wall.” She added the project remains on schedule, and on budget, with wall completion and ensuing lake level fluctuations set for spring 2021, and project completion in July 2022. If you are interested in attending the State Environmental Conference, register online.

Teachers and representatives from BTES and TVA gather round the $5,000 STEM grant check awarded to Sullivan East High School.

Sullivan East Science Teacher Anthony Todt and his students with the frame for their solar powered Go-kart.

Sullivan East High School Awarded TVA STEM Education Grant

Sullivan East High School was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated for a STEM (science, technology, education and math) education project.

“We are so thankful to TVA for sponsoring this STEM grant,” said, Sullivan East Science teacher Anthony Todt. “We’ll be using the grant for a solar powered go-kart. Our students can’t wait to get working and tinkering on it.” Todt said that the Go-kart will compete in an upcoming scholastic competition at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The grant award is a part of $600,000 in competitive STEM grants awarded to 142 schools across TVA’s service territory. The competitive grant program provided teachers an opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000 and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic and career development and community problem solving. Schools who receive grant funding must receive their power from a TVA distributor.

For additional information about the TVA STEM grants and see a full list of recipients, click here.

TVA CEO Jeff Lyash (center) and Kevin Holbrook listen to Chris Saucier provide an update on dam safety.

TVA CEO Tours Boone Dam Project, Hears Progress Update

TVA CEO Jeff Lyash toured Boone Dam and got a project update from Senior Construction Manager Kevin Holbrook and other project leaders February 26. He also held listening sessions with TVA employees and managers. The Boone Dam Repair Project remains on time and on budget for completion in July 2022.

This newsletter is published monthly to keep TVA’s stakeholders informed about activities associated with work on the earthen embankment at Boone Dam.

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