The Tennessee Valley Authority is closing more of its most heavily visited recreation areas to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Effective Friday, TVA will begin closing all of its recreation areas at Raccoon Mountain west of downtown Chattanooga and its boat ramps, beaches, picnic areas and pavilions at or near the Chatuge, Cherokee, Fort Loudoun, Guntersville, Normandy, Norris, Tellico and Watts Bar dams. TVA previously closed recreation areas at Chickamauga and South Holston dams, and the Rockpile area near Muscle Shoals, Ala., in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
"These are some of our recreation areas that get the most traffic and we felt we should close these at this time in light of the governor's order," TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday his latest stay-at-home executive order is designed "to clearly require that Tennesseans stay at home unless they are carrying out essential activities."
Hopson said the public is asked not to bypass gates, fences or barricades to access the closed areas. Law enforcement officers will be patrolling closed areas.
TVA river access points located at locations outside the affected recreation areas remain open at this time. Trails on the more than 200,000 acres of undeveloped public land TVA manages also remain open.
TVA manages a total of 229,000 acres of undeveloped public lands available for hunting, camping, hiking and birdwatching.