TDEC clears waterways affected by Helene
All advisories urging the public to avoid contact with bodies of water affected by Hurricane Helene have been lifted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The advisory had been put into place on Oct. 2, 2024 and specifically referenced the Doe, French Broad, Nolichucky, Pigeon and Watauga river watersheds and all other affected waterways. The state had been sampling 17 rivers and streams to ensure that they were not contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli or heavy metals like lead and mercury as a result of storm damage. Flood waters often carry harmful bacteria and chemicals with many East Tennessee counties offering free tetanus, hepatitis A, and flu vaccines to those who had contact with flood waters. State officials said there is no reason for spring recreation not to continue as usual on East Tennessee waterways, though work is still ongoing to remove the shoreline from Douglas Lake. TVA is working with TEMA to clean up the lake, which had an influx of debris from upriver in North Carolina.