How early Pickwick water drawdown will affect boaters and businesses
HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. — The annual drawdown of the popular Pickwick Landing Reservoir will happen sooner than later this year. According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the water level is being lowered early to check the dam for damage in case of an earthquake. Leeann Ford works at a nearby gas station and bait shop. She says the early drawdown will hit their store hard. “We won’t see as many fishermen. Our live bait sales will go down,” Ford said. She says the early lowering of the lake will really hurt the store’s employees because, since winter is already slow, cutting their busy season short will mean less hours for her. The Tennessee Valley Authority is accelerating the annual drawdown of the Pickwick Landing Reservoir in West Tennessee as a result of a recent health check inspection of Pickwick Landing. The TVA says there is a small chance the earthen embankment south of the dam could be damaged by a large earthquake, and lower lake levels will allow for a more detailed analysis. The Pickwick Landing Reservoir levels are expected to reach winter level by mid-October, which is about six weeks earlier than normal. Ricky King has been fishing and boating at Pickwick for 20 years and does not think the early drawdown should be an issue for boaters. “Folks that come down here that time of year normally know the lake, know what they’re doing. It shouldn’t be a big issue,” King said. Another local, Michael Fox, who works for Pickwick Landing Boat Storage, agrees, but thinks differently about the fishermen. “Boating season is pretty much over. You’ll have fishermen out there. It may affect the fishermen because the water will be lower than what they’re expecting,” Fox said. King is glad precautions are being taken. “Things like this have to happen, and I’d rather them expect it and know what’s going on rather than have something happen.” The TVA says property and marina owners with docks and boats will need to take necessary precautions for the early drawdown. It began health checks of its 49 dams more than a year ago as part of a continuous improvement program.
