Bristol, TN: Key Stakeholder Meeting Announced to Address Boone Lake Water Quality Concerns

Tensions have been running high in Bristol, TN, as concerns mount over the water quality in Boone Lake. A new stakeholder meeting, set to take place soon, aims to clarify who is responsible for monitoring and maintaining water quality in the lake, especially after recent reports revealed alarming levels of E. Coli. The findings have sparked a wave of responses, leading to some confusion and concern among state lawmakers.

Earlier this month, the non-profit Boone Lake Association (BLA) reported that E. Coli levels at two testing sites—Point 17 and the popular Boone Dam Beach—exceeded recommended levels for recreational use. Given that the BLA has no regulatory authority to close any part of the lake based on these results, the situation has prompted a flurry of communications among several government agencies.

In response to the BLA’s findings, various government agencies, including the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), have been contacted to determine who holds jurisdiction over the water quality issues. However, the responses received have been somewhat conflicting, with each agency pointing fingers at the other. This has caused state lawmakers, such as Senator Jon Lundberg, to voice their discontent.

Senator Lundberg remarked, “You receive emails from three different agencies, and the first reaction is disappointment, followed by surprise because everyone’s saying, ‘It’s someone else’s issue.’” Lundberg has since made multiple phone calls, including to his legislative contacts at TDEC, to push for a meeting among stakeholders.

Senator Lundberg’s efforts seem to have paid off, as TDEC has now confirmed a meeting with TVA to address communication and establish clear roles and responsibilities. “Your story kicked off some concerns from TDEC and others,” said Lundberg. “We need to sit down with these other agencies to clarify who’s in charge and ensure smooth communication moving forward.”

In a subsequent email to News Channel 11, TDEC spokesperson Kim Schofinski provided clarity on the agency’s role concerning Boone Lake’s water quality. “TDEC takes its role as Tennessee’s chief environmental and natural resource regulatory agency very seriously. While the TVA is responsible for the daily management of reservoirs in Tennessee, our agency is accountable for the overall protection of the state’s water resources,” Schofinski explained.

She added, “TDEC monitors pathogen levels, including E. Coli, in rivers and streams across the state as indicators of water quality health. Sampling locations are typically near the mouth of tributaries, not in reservoirs, because data shows that pathogen levels generally drop to safe levels when exposed to UV sunlight in a static water body.”

Regarding Boone Lake, Schofinski said, “TDEC has been closely monitoring the situation and has been in communication with both TVA and BLA. While the latest sampling results from BLA show E. Coli levels that are within recreational use guidelines, we will continue to monitor this situation closely and maintain open lines of communication with TVA and BLA.”

In response to these affirmations, Senator Lundberg reassured the public, stating, “There is good that has come out of this. Number one, TDEC has declared that they are ultimately responsible. Number two, especially for Boone Lake property owners, TDEC has promised to lead in coordinating with TVA and other agencies to ensure that communication issues like this do not happen again.”

Meanwhile, BLA President Frank Hahne mentioned he has not yet received an official invitation to the impending stakeholder meeting but is hopeful that the discussions will bring much-needed clarity and solutions to the ongoing water quality concerns.

This upcoming meeting holds great significance for the local community, as it aims to streamline and improve the monitoring and management of Boone Lake’s water quality. The hope is that establishing clear lines of responsibility will prevent similar issues from arising in the future and ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy the lake safely.

As Bristol and surrounding communities wait to see the outcomes of this critical meeting, one thing lies clear: the protection and maintenance of Boone Lake’s water quality is a collective effort that requires coordinated action from all the involved agencies.