TVA Encourages Safe July 4th on the Reservoirs

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Jul 01, 2010, 04:26 ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With summer temperatures on the rise, Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs will provide a welcome escape from the sweltering heat. As more boaters and swimmers take to the water for the upcoming Independence Day weekend, TVA reminds everyone to be extra careful, wear a life jacket and stay safe.

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"TVA reservoirs are a great way to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, and we want everyone to have a good time on the water," TVA General Manager of River Scheduling Chuck Bach said. "As the number of boats and personal watercraft increases, the potential for accidents increases. We encourage boaters to watch for submerged logs, sandbars and shoals."

Boaters are urged to use caution at all times, especially if they are unfamiliar with the reservoir. Increased traffic could even make launching boats more difficult at ramps in some areas.

TVA urges boaters to take care in commercial navigation channels and follow these rules when sailing with barge traffic:

Do not anchor your boat in the channel, and never tie off to a navigation buoy.
Beware of blind spots that extend for several hundred feet around barges.
When you cross the main channel of the river, always proceed in high-visibility areas.
When night boating, always keep your lights on.
Take extra care when boating at night; a barge cannot steer around you and may need up to 1 1/2 miles to stop.

TVA Police remind boaters that everyone on board a boat should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket and refrain from alcohol use while on the water. Two-thirds of all boating accidents and half of all boating fatalities involve alcohol. More information and safety tips can be found on the TVA website at www.tva.gov/river/navigation/rules_road.htm.

Additional information on recreation opportunities on TVA reservoirs is available by calling 800-882-5263 or visit www.tva.com/river/recreation.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

SOURCE Tennessee Valley Authority