Dams prevent Tennessee River from flooding Chattanooga

Josh Dove makes his way along the riverwalk at Chickamauga Dam as a large flow of water pours through the spillway on Monday. Josh Dove makes his way along the riverwalk at Chickamauga Dam as a large flow of water pours through the spillway on Monday.

By Dave Flessner December 29, 2015 5 min read

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Asian Festival

Alvert Smith, Ericka Benedicto and Gail Walker

Maran Killoran with Tonya and Chris Rosling

Kamakshi Duvvuru, Rachana Kombathula and Shweta Nelluri

Shiveta Nelluri gets ready for her dance performance.

It takes 2 hours to get ready for their performance.

Dee Anderson sells sno cones for All Ts Concessions.

Kerrie Uptain and Blake Morris work at a booth.

Pollo relleno (made with chicken, spinach and carrots) from La Argentina catering

Mrs. Patty Booker and Mrs. Susan Marshall both contestants in the Mrs. Arkansas pageant sign autographs.

Vivan Vo, Derek Vo, Kim Draheim and AiLien Draheim

Brady McPherson, Hyonsuk Fusaro and Jolli Khoo

Raeghan, Charlotte, Rachael and RileyWeddle

Ice Cendol: an iced drink with syrup, a Jello type substance (the bright green and orange), beans, coconut milk and fruit.

Glory Bestari, Bridgitte Tam, Ernawati Tandiono, Sansan Tjong, Tri Hidayat and Esther Ng

Briahna Hansen, Emily Davis and Michael Johnson

The day-long event was held at Mosaic Church building and featured booths, traditional ethnic foods and entertainment and door prizes.

We estimate we've helped avert $130 million of flood damage just in Chattanooga, and with more rain on the way, that value could go up.

Also read

* Cold, dry weather in store for Chattanooga after another bout of rain * Sohn: This crazy weather is not just crazy * Flood watches and warnings in effect for area * State of emergency declared for Gordon County; two deaths reported * Alabama hit with more rain as storms push through state* Stay out of flooded areas, don’t drink well water, officials warn* TVA shuts down barge traffic, opens flood gates as water rises* TVA says its dams are saving Chattanooga $130 million in flood damages * Twisters, floods, snow and ice have killed dozens across the South * Don’t put away your umbrella, more rain is on the way * 4.14 inches of rainfall doubles prior record; region begins to dry out, assess damage * Thunderstorms, torrential rains pummel metro area* Warmer weather means cheaper winter for most Chattanoogans

Forecast

› Tuesday: High near 60 degrees, low of 49 degrees, 80 percent chance of rain› Wednesday: High near 58 degrees, low of 43 degrees, 100 percent chance of rain› Thursday: High near 51 degrees, low of 35 degrees, no rain predicted› Friday: High near 45 degrees, low of 30 degrees, no rain predicted› Saturday: High near 46 degrees, low of 30 degrees, no rain predictedSource: The National Weather Service

Photo Gallery

Cold, dry weather on the way

Pedestrians walk along the Walnut Street Bridge during afternoon rainfall after additional storms swept through the region Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The region recorded record-high temperatures over the past week amid heavy rainfall.

Pedestrians walk along Frazier Avenue during afternoon rainfall after additional storms swept through the region Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The region recorded record-high temperatures over the past week amid heavy rainfall.

Cindy Ouzts puts away her umbrella to enter a shop on Frazier Avenue as rain falls after additional storms swept through the region Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The region recorded record-high temperatures over the past week amid heavy rainfall.

Arwyn LaRock rides a scooter as she uses the Tennessee Riverwalk with Jackie Wallace, Eleanor Waggoner and Genevie Wallace, from left, on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Four generations living in Chattanooga, they went for a walk just before another round of rain soaked the area.

Linda Green walks past a temperature readout on a sign downtown Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The region has experienced record-high temperatures over the past week.

Sections of washed out pavement are seen in the foreground as a Conley Wrecker Service vehicle pulls in a Chevrolet on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, near Chattanooga, Tenn., from the tree line beside of Boy Scout Road. The Chevrolet with Shelby County tags apparently washed off of the flooded road during heavy rain on Christmas day.

A deluge of up to a foot of rain in parts of the Tennessee Valley over the past five days raised water levels in the Tennessee River up to 7 feet in Chattanooga, shutting down local barge traffic and turning TVA’s nine mainstream dams into mini waterfalls.