® Cumberland River Basin 2007 Hydrologic & Hydraulic Drought Joy Broach – Aquatic Biologist Planning Branch - Environmental Section SWPBA Tennessee November 15-17, 2011

Hydrologic Drought TDEC Drought Management Plan 2008 Hydrologic Drought ( Meteorological) extreme low stream flows declining groundwater levels Caused by extended period of reduced precipitation

Hydraulic Drought TDEC Drought Management Plan 2008 ( Hydraulic) Socioeconomic drought - occurs when the demand for goods or services exceeds the available supply as a result of precipitation conditions. Measured by the amount of water available in rivers and lakes Impacts: Hydroelectric Generation Water Supply Navigation (Light Loading & Windows)

Agricultural Drought TDEC Drought Management Plan 2008 Insufficient Soil Moisture to meet crop needs during growing season (Alabama State Climatologist) 96 % of the state reported short to very short soil moisture – Oaks dying on ridges – Serious Impacts next 2 years

Palmer Z Index Short-Term Conditions August 2007 Drought Conditions

Standardized Precipitation Index Nine Months December 2006 – August 2007 Drought Conditions

Tennessee Drought Conditions

S OUTH C AROLINA S OUTH C AROLINA Laurel Martins Fork Martins Fork Wolf Creek Wolf Creek Dale Hollow Center Hill Center Hill J. Percy Priest J. Percy Priest Nashville Cordell Hull Old Hickory Old Hickory Cheatham Barkley T ENNESSEE K ENTUCKY M ISSISSIPPI A LABAMA G EORGIA N ORTH C AROLINA N ORTH C AROLINA Lock & Dam Dam Lock & Dam Dam Mississippi R. Ohio R. Cumberland R. Tennessee R. Cumberland River Basin Cumberland River Basin V IRGINIA Nashville District Boundary Hydraulic Drought

Barkley Cheatham J. Percy Priest ■Clarksville ■Nashville Carthage ■ ■Celina Center Hill Old Hickory Cordell Hull Dale Hollow Martins Fork Laurel Wolf Creek Run-of-River Flood Damage Reduction Cumberland River Basin Reservoir System

Interim Risk Reduction Measures Public and Ecosystem Health Public and Ecosystem Health Wolf Creek (Lake Cumberland) Wolf Creek (Lake Cumberland) –19 January 2007 –Flat-line elevation 680 (Normal Summer Pool 723) Center Hill Center Hill –21 December 2006 –June 1 elevation of (Normal Summer Pool 648)

Available Storage 1 June 2007 ProjectHeadwater(feet) Available Storage (Acre-feet) % of Normal (%) Wolf Creek ,9001 Dale Hollow , Center Hill ,70071 J. Percy Priest Total892,80028

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Dam Lake Cumberland Wolf Creek Dam: Wolf Creek Dam: –Cumberland River Mile –Completion Date - August 1952 –Power Plant - Six 45-MW units –Drainage Area - 5,789 mi 2 –Surface Area - 50,250 acres –Backwater Length miles –Average Depth - 80 ft –Retention Time days –Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Pumping System for Wolf Creek Hatchery

Center Hill Lake Center Hill Dam: Center Hill Dam: –Caney Fork River Mile 26.6 –Completion Date - April 1951 –Powerplant - Three 45-MW units –Drainage Area - 2,174 mi 2 –Surface Area - 18,220 acres –Backwater Length miles –Average Depth - 73 ft –Retention Time days

Center Hill

Cumberland River Basin Drought Contingency Plan Cumberland River Basin Drought Contingency Plan Cumberland River Basin Drought Contingency Plan –Dated November 1994 –Response to drought of System-wide Priorities System-wide Priorities –Water Supply –Water Quality (Human and Ecosystem Health) –Navigation –Hydropower –Recreation

Old Hickory Dam Releases

Water Quality Wolf Creek Dam Sluice Gate 1,500 cfs

Water Quality Wolf Creek Dam Orifice Gate 200 cfs

Water Quality Center Hill Sluice Releases Sluice Gate Release ► Flow ~ 1,500 cfs ► DO >> 10 mg/l

Orifice Gate Release ► Flow ~ 200 cfs ► DO ~ 9 mg/l Water Quality Center Hill Orifice Gate Releases

Water Quality Cordell Hull Dam Spillway Releases Cordell Hull Dam Spillway Releases

Water Quality Data Cordell Hull F F CORDELL HULL FOREBAY

TVA Gallatin Fossil Fuel Plant Stations CRM 241 CRM

Old Hickory Dam Spillway Releases

Old Hickory Water Quality Data F F OLD HICKORY FOREBAY

Spillway Releases at J. Percy Priest Dam

Cheatham Dam Spillway Releases

Temperature ( O F)

TVA Cumberland Fossil Fuel Plant Stations CRM CRM AL MS GA TN NC KY VA

Summary of Concerns Hot, dry conditions accelerate evaporation rates (little or no runoff) Hot, dry conditions accelerate evaporation rates (little or no runoff) Ability to support water supply in Lake Cumberland and downstream Ability to support water supply in Lake Cumberland and downstream –Quantity – Quality Wolf Creek and Center Hill coldwater fisheries Wolf Creek and Center Hill coldwater fisheries Water quality at Cordell Hull, Old Hickory, and Cheatham Water quality at Cordell Hull, Old Hickory, and Cheatham Vulnerability of river system to a wastewater bypass event Vulnerability of river system to a wastewater bypass event Cooling water requirements at Gallatin and Cumberland City Cooling water requirements at Gallatin and Cumberland City Maintain commercial navigation in some capacity Maintain commercial navigation in some capacity Tributary projects at near record low elevations Tributary projects at near record low elevations

Questions? Answer: It depends on the weather. Cumberland River Basin 2007 Hydrologic & Hydraulic Drought