Dr. Rob Peck, Chairman

Clay County Board of Commissioners

The Clay County Board of Commissioners stand firmly committed to addressing the critical safety concerns surrounding the Chatuge Dam spillway while safeguarding the well-being of our residents and preserving the economic vitality of our community. Our priorities are clear: first and foremost, the protection of our people through necessary repairs to prevent a potential catastrophic failure of the dam, and second, minimizing the economic disruption to Clay County’s tourism-driven economy and local businesses.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has identified risks to the Chatuge Dam spillway, drawing lessons from incidents like the 2017 Oroville Dam spillway failure, which displaced thousands and caused significant environmental and economic harm. We acknowledge the urgency of addressing these risks to ensure the safety of our residents, particularly given the potential for extreme weather events that could stress the aging infrastructure. The spillway’s current condition, with deteriorating concrete slabs and joints, poses an unacceptable risk to public safety. Therefore, we support timely and effective repairs to the spillway to mitigate the possibility of failure, which could endanger lives, property, and critical infrastructure downstream. The urgency to repair the spillway has become particularly evident in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the widespread devastation associated with the storm. Also, this morning’s, May 10th, 4.1 magnitude earthquake centered about 100 miles away and felt strongly locally only underscores the importance of timely intervention.

We are however equally mindful of the economic implications of the proposed modifications. Clay County, alongside our neighbors in Towns County, Georgia, relies heavily on Lake Chatuge for tourism, recreation, and related economic activity. Tourism in the region generates significant revenue annually, supporting local businesses and jobs. TVA proposed alternatives involving a multi-year drawdown of the reservoir to levels 10 feet below winter pool for up to 8 years could have devastating effects on our local economies. Such long drawdowns as outlined by the TVA’s multiple proposals threaten the viability of small businesses dependent upon travel and tourism and can negatively effect our real estate market and ultimately revenue essential to provide basic services to our communities.

To balance these priorities, we advocate for a solution that ensures dam safety while limiting economic harm. We support exploring innovative engineering approaches, such as the cofferdam proposal or similar measures which could allow repairs and/or replacement to proceed without an extended reservoir drawdown. We urge the TVA to fully consider all options available that prioritizes minimal reservoir disruption while achieving necessary safety upgrades in an expedient timeframe.

We value our partnership with the TVA and have been fully engaged with them since our initial discussions on March 28, 2025 regarding the proposed spillway modifications. We have also been in repeated communication with US Congressman Chuck Edwards, as well as North Carolina State Senator Kevin Corbin and North Carolina State Representative Karl Gillespie. The Clay County Board of Commissioners appreciate the TVA’s transparent engagement with our community, incorporating public input as outlined in their ongoing environmental impact study, with comments accepted through May 28, 2025.

We were pleased with the public turnout last Thursday, May 8th at the TVA hosted in-person open house and thankful for the feedback from our constituents. All 5 Clay County Commissioners were present for May 8th’s event as was Lake Silver, Field Representative for Congressman Edwards. Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan and Clay County Manager Debbie Mauney along with other county personnel were also in attendance. We continue to encourage residents of both Clay and Towns Counties to participate in upcoming meetings, including the next in-person open house on May 13 at the Towns County Recreation Center from 5-7PM and the virtual meeting from 5:30-6:30PM on May 15th to voice concerns and advocate for balanced solutions. Clay County is committed to working collaboratively with the TVA, state and federal officials, and our regional partners to ensure that the Chatuge Dam remains a safe and thriving asset for generations to come.

Our people’s safety is non-negotiable, and our economic stability is vital. We believe both can be achieved through thoughtful, innovative, and community-focused solutions. Clay County will continue to champion a path forward that protects lives and livelihoods alike.