Fore Note

Tennessee Valley Authority wants the community’s say on possible revisions to the 2000 Tellico Reservoir Land Management Plan.

TVA is proposing allocation changes to 16% of land on the reservoir and has prepared an environmental assessment. The plan includes Loudon, Blount and Monroe counties.

Scott Fiedler, TVA spokesman, said 430 acres in Loudon County are impacted.

“TVA uses reservoir land management plans to guide land use approvals, private water use facility permitting and resource management decisions on TVA-managed public land,” Fiedler said in an email correspondence. “The current plan was approved in June of 2000. TVA is proposing to revise the plan to reflect changes in conditions and circumstances as well as the need to respond to new issues. Due to numerous land requests and allocation changes approved since 2000, including sales and acquisitions, an updated plan is warranted. Additionally, TVA continues to work with the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency to carry out its mission under an agreement with TVA. TVA has already been working on this proposed land management plan for approximately two years.

“... We are looking for comments to help guide the planning process,” he added. “Comments can be specific to one parcel, one alternative or to TVA’s overall direction.”

Three alternatives are being reviewed, Fiedler said.

“Under Alternative A, the ‘No Action Alternative,’ TVA would not take any action to amend the 2000 Tellico RLMP for TVA-managed lands on Tellico Reservoir,” he said. “All parcels would continue to be managed under the 2000 RLMP. Under Alternative B, TVA would revise the 2000 Tellico RLMP by reallocating land use zones on 102 parcels affecting 2,075 acres (16.2%) of the 12,787.6 acres of TVA-managed public lands on Tellico Reservoir. Under Alternative B, the proposed lands plan would be updated to become consistent with current lands planning practices and would consider several proposals for recreation development that are supported by the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency and/or local stakeholders.”

Under an Alternative C, TVA would revise the land management plan by reallocating land use of zones on 101 parcels affecting 1,904.5 acres of TVA-managed public lands on the reservoir. Fiedler said the plan would be updated consistent with current planning practices, but proposals would not be considered under this option.

Fiedler said TVA favors Alternative B.

“I think that’s very important because this is a big decision to make for the community, and of course it’s county-wide,” Amber Scott, Lenoir City administrator, said.

TVA invites input on the draft environmental assessment, draft reservoir land management plan and the potential to affect environment or historic properties. The public can see the proposed plan and other information at www.tva.gov/landplanreview through Jan. 15 or by attending a virtual meeting at https://tvavirtual.com/tellico/.

TVA is hosting a webinar at 5 p.m. Tuesday at https://bit.ly/Tellico-Dec. Visit www.tva.gov/landplanreview for registration. A recording of the webinar will be available.

“I think is a good time for anyone to go on the TVA website and study what they think is best and to voice their opinion accordingly,” Clayton Pangle, Lenoir City Committee of 100 spokesman, said.

Comments can be submitted through Jan. 15 to Lesley Webb, TVA senior policy and project management specialist, at 2835-A East Wood St., Paris, TN 38242, or by emailing landplans@tva.gov. Due to COVID-19, TVA recommends submitting comments electronically for timely review. All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and available for public inspection.

“The information generated during public scoping will be compiled and analyzed,” Fiedler said. “Revisions to the proposed allocations may be considered or a different alternative may be chosen based on public input. ... Once the public comment period has been completed, comments will be analyzed and incorporated into the environmental assessment and Tellico Reservoir Land Management to the extent possible. At that point the documents will enter a final management review and approval phase. The environmental assessment will be finalized before the Tellico Reservoir Land Management Plan can be submitted for TVA executive approval.”

TVA hopes to have the plan finalized either late summer or early fall in 2022, Fiedler said.