By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
The TVA confirmed on Monday, April 21 that the time and date set for a public meeting is on schedule. TVA’s Open House will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 at the Clay County Community Services Building, 25 Riverside Circle. The format will include informational booths and materials and the public will have access to subject matter experts.
The TVA Open House in Towns County will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at the Towns County Recreation Center, 150 Foster Park Road, Young Harris, Ga.
While the Chatuge Dam safety modification study is in the process of looking at repair and construction alternatives, the TVA hopes to hear from the public at the open house meetings.
Two virtual meetings are also scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 15. The virtual meeting format will be a question and answer session with subject matter expert presenters and the link will be available at: www.tva.com/nepa.
Construction of Chatuge Dam was completed in 1942 and initially built to strengthen flows during World War II for power production at Hiawassee Dam and other dams downstream. A single hydro-power generating unit was added in 1954.
The dam which stretches 3,336 feet across the Hiawassee River, was built with three shifts working 6-7 days a week. In Jan. 1942, Chatuge Dam was completed, by fall of that year the reservoir was filled. Named for a Cherokee Indian settlement in this mountain region, it continues to be vital to local communities as well as communities downstream.