The Tennessee Valley Authority is reopening most of its recreation areas and six dam reservation campgrounds this weekend, two months after most of the public facilities were closed as part of the overall federal and state response to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
But one of TVA's popular recreation areas near Chattanooga, the Raccoon Mountain recreation area, remains closed while crews work to repair a damaged portion of the road leading up to the mountaintop lake, bike trails and pumped storage facility just west of downtown Chattanooga.
"We've had some erosion damage on the road leading up to the reservation (atop Raccoon Mountain) so it is unsafe for people to access the area right now," TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said Friday. "We're working to correct that and we hope to reopen that facility soon."
In addition to Raccoon Mountain, the Tellico recreation area near the Tellico Dam is also closed due to ongoing maintenance and some of the TVA facilities at Kentucky Dam, the Pickwick recreation area and the Wilson Dam Rockpile Recreation Area also will be closed due to other repair activities.
Seventeen TVA recreation areas are re-opening this weekend across the 7-state Tennessee Valley region, although rest rooms and playgrounds will remain closed to limit chances of spreading the virus.
TVA operates a total of 80 recreation areas which collectively draw millions of visitors every year.
Consistent with current federal and state guidance, restroom facilities, large-group pavilions and playgrounds will remain closed in the re-opened recreation areas. In addition, all TVA visitors' centers remain closed.
Hopson said visitors to the TVA recreation areas are requested to continue to follow physical distancing and other public health guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Managed campgrounds at TVA's Cherokee, Douglas (headwater and tailwater), Melton Hill, Pickwick and Watauga dams also will open for the season Saturday.
Tennessee began reopening its state parks last month, although Tennessee parks still haven't reopened most visitor centers, pools or meeting places for over 10 people.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which also operates recreation areas near its dams, is opening campgrounds within the Cumberland River Basin in Tennessee on June 1. The Corps will open its Kentucky campgrounds on June 11 in alignment with Kentucky's recently announced "Phase 2" reopening plan.
While these campgrounds and most day use areas will be accessible for visitors to enjoy in June, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited and group picnic shelters and swimming areas remain closed at this time.
"Protecting the health and safety of the recreating public, volunteers, contractors and our personnel remains our highest priority," said Lt. Col. Sonny B. Avichal, Nashville District commander. "We will continue to assess the situation and will conduct a phased reopening of additional areas/events as state and local guidelines allow social gathering sizes commensurate with the capacity of the amenity or proposed event."
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.