TVA tests have gaps of years; NLPA will test year-round
By Helina Bailey
With over 800 miles of shoreline, Norris Lake is an Appalachian aquatic treasure trove. Nestled in our backyard, this beautiful lake breathes life into the region and attracts both weary travelers seeking to enjoy the great outdoors as well as locals. Anglers, boaters and vacationers flock to the water during the summer, but locals can be spotted all year long.
Often referred to as the “cleanest lake in Tennessee,” Norris Lake is home to a multitude of tasty fish species preferred by fish connoisseurs. Being home to cold water, cool water, and warm water varieties of fish gives Norris Lake the unique ability to provide anglers with different options for dinner.
However, in recent years, contaminants in our pristine lake have led to local fish advisories. In June of 2022, the Tennessee Division of Water Resources issued a “precautionary advisory for largemouth bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass and sauger” due to high levels of mercury in Union, Claiborne, and Anderson counties (tn.gov).
Coincidentally, in the same month that the advisory was issued, locals in Union County were hard at work forming a nonprofit organization focused on the preservation of Norris Lake.
I caught up with Sue Ellis of Norris Lake Protection Alliance-Keep Norris Blue (NLPA) to find out more about the organization and to ask exactly how it aims to “keep Norris blue.”
As a resident, Sue Ellis felt compelled to unite with other locals in an effort to protect our beloved lake. This small but mighty group came to be after learning about a potentially environmentally hazardous operation coming to the area and evolved into NLPA-Keep Norris Blue. At its core, the nonprofit feels that “a clean lake is vital to the Norris Lake community.”
The organization has partnered up with environmental specialist and Nashville lawyers in order to take a proactive step in preserving the integrity of the cherished lake, so that we can continue to enjoy it for generations to come.
NLPA-Keep Norris Blue, with help of sponsors, plans to engage in continuous testing to monitor the health of the lake as well as the air quality in order to keep a record of contamination levels.
According to TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), the best way to preserve and protect our waterways is to monitor them.
The TVA website states, “the more we know about the health of our reservoirs, rivers and streams, the better we can protect them. Our waterways benefit from regular checkups just like we do. If we know their condition and can identify changes over time, we can take better care of them” (www.tva.com/environment).
However, per the TVA website, routine testing is done “on a five-year rotation” and “a two-year rotation” dependent on the specific water system. Reservoir health readings can be found at https://www.tva.com/environment/environmental-stewardship/water-quality….
NLPA-Keep Norris Blue intends to fill in those testing gaps. This proactive approach will afford the opportunity to catch any issues before they snowball and cause irreparable damage. To join the effort in preserving and safeguarding our precious commodity, you can sponsor NLPA and help to fund ongoing testing.
To make a donation via check, make check payable to NLPA and send to P.O. Box 27, Sharps Chapel, TN 37866. Other ways to support the initiative include purchasing NLPA T-shirts, volunteering at events and by becoming a family sponsor or corporate sponsor.
To learn more about the organization, go to KeepNorrisBlue.org or visit their booth at the upcoming Heritage Festival on October 1. NLPA will have a booth behind the Union County High School with brochures, T-shirts for purchase and information on how to get involved.