TDEC Lifts Water Advisory For Area Rivers

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on Wednesday announced they have lifted the water advisory for the Pigeon, French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. TDEC had issued the advisory on October 2 for those East Tennessee waters in the wake of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene. There were concerns about the water quality after runoff caused by the flood dumped all kinds of chemicals and debris into the water, which could have also containd harmful bacteria. TDEC says their latest round of tests shows that water quality has returned to pre-Helene conditions. TDEC also says they have no reason to believe that any fish caught from these waters are unsafe.

TDEC is awaiting the results of some recent tests of Douglas Lake and hopes to have those results soon. The TVA is still working to cleanup debris on Douglas Lake.