Asian Carp Update
This update was provided on January 25, 2021 by Robert M. Deacy, Sr., TVA Senior Vice President, Generation Projects & Fleet Services.
TVA’s NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) group is currently developing the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), which will assess:
- All dams in the TVA system
- Multiple types of barrier technologies
- The environmental impacts of the proposed project
The PEA will include various alternatives and a recommendation from those alternatives. As part of the process, we continue to be engaged with representatives from multiple agencies, including:
- Fisheries managers from KY, TN, MS, and AL
- USGS – US Geological Survey
- TWRA – TN Wildlife Resources Agency
- USFWS – US Fish & Wildlife
- USACE – US Army Corp of Engineers
As part of the study, we are considering the following options:
- No Action
- Lock Closure
- Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence (BAFF; a multi-sensory deterrent using sound, lights and bubbles)
- Infused Carbon Dioxide
- Electricity
- Combination
The PEA will consider all deterrents for all of the TVA dams. Due to the complexity of the considerations, a draft PEA is anticipated by late summer 2021. We will continue to keep you informed as we go through the NEPA process.
