October 10, 2000 

ALERT!  TWO DAMS PROPOSED ON CUMBERLAND PLATEAU:  THE FIRST ON A TRIBUTARY TO DADDY’S CREEK AND THE SECOND ON THE CANEY FORK RIVER

* DAM PROPOSAL ON CANEY FORK:  Crossville Chronicle Article announces

City of Crossville approves resolution to seek a permit to build a large water reservoir (e.g. dam) on the Caney Fork River.  There was some discussion at the meeting about the alternative of a pipeline to the Watts Bar reservoir that has been controversial.  The push for the reservoir appears to be coming from private engineers working for the city who are saying that Crossville will exceed their water supply capacity in 2006. The resolution calls for $350,000 to be established as a budget for the long-term project.  The engineering firm, Lamar Dunn & Associates, prepared a study of the proposed lake in April 1998 estimating a cost of $17 million for the lake. The proposed dam would yield up to 20 million gallons per day of water and would require the purchase of approximately 1,300 acres of land. The 40-foot-high dam would be constructed just west of Bruce Knob on the Caney Fork River. The dam would also be approximately one mile east of the White County line and could back up water almost to Hwy. 70.

* DAM PROPOSAL ON DADDY’S CREEK:  The dam proposed on Cove Branch, a tributary to Daddy’s Creek which flows into the Obed Wild and Scenic River, is part of the next and final expansion of Fairfield Glade, a private development.  The site is a 2500 acre tract bought in 1970.  The property apparently has deed restrictions that allows this additional development of land and no more.  The developer wants to develop it by

2005.  They will develop either a lake or golf course.  They are currently interested in the lake, which will impound up to 81 acres of lake.

The site of the dam is on a stream that was dry this summer and appears to run in response to rainfall.  It is a headwater site and is located 5 miles upstream OF the Obed and 2 miles from Daddy's Creek.  It will apparently impact 2700 feet of Cove Branch.

The Corps of Engineers has not started on the EA.  It must be completed before the permit is issued. The project also has to receive 401 certification from the state on water quality impacts only.