UPDATED STORY: (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a temporary water contact advisory which is still in effect until further notice. Matt Cameron with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says you shouldn’t eat fish or come in contact with waters flooded by Helene..

TVA has deployed a one-mile-wide boom across Douglas Reservoir above the town of Dandridge to help catch debris from massive flooding caused by Helene.

Matt Cameron with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency tells us that boom has worked and there’s no debris around it now but there’s a lot along the shoreline. He says you can boat on Douglas Lake but to use caution and be aware that boom is still in place so you have to pick a side of the lake and stick with it.

Cameron says if you have debris on your property you could separate natural combustibles, like wood and other materials you can safely burn from hazardous materials. He says use gloves to separate those items and bag them and take them to the landfill, do not burn those.

Cameron says this is an unprecedented event which, hopefully, we’ll never see again in our lifetime. He says this is the reason dams were built, to help control floodwater by collecting it in reservoirs which helps keep it from continuing downstream.

Cameron also says that, yes, some fish did die during flooding but not as many as expected. He says many fish found safe areas underwater and a lot of wildlife, like mice, beavers and even bears moved to higher ground.

ORIGINAL STORY: NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Due to flooding from Hurricane Helene in the North Carolina mountains and parts of Tennessee, TWRA is issuing a boating safety advisory for Douglas Lake.

A large field of floating debris has accumulated in Douglas Reservoir in Sevier and Jefferson counties, which is the inflow point from the Nolichucky, Pigeon, and French Broad Rivers and other watersheds. The debris field on Douglas is approximately one square mile in size.

To help contain the debris, TVA has deployed a one-mile-wide boom across Douglas Reservoir above the town of Dandridge. The boom extends across the entire lake surface at Mile 11 at Swanns Shoals upriver from downtown Dandridge and will be in place until further notice. A boom is a floating barrier that captures surface and submerged debris in bodies of water. 

Debris can be hazardous, with the potential to cause injury or death. For the safety of the crews involved in debris cleanup as well as the safety of boaters, the public is advised to stay off the lake until further notice. 

In addition to debris fields in the lake, The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has issued a temporary water contact advisory. Members of the public should avoid all contact with waterbodies affected by the extreme flooding in East Tennessee.

The advisory applies to all surface waters in the Nolichucky, French Broad, Pigeon, Doe, and Watauga River watersheds as well as any other waters affected by the flooding. TDEC plans to resume water quality monitoring in these watersheds as areas become safely accessible and conditions have improved. TDEC will lift the advisory when appropriate.

Potential fishing or recreational event organizers should strongly consider postponing events for the safety of participants until debris and contaminant levels are at a safer level.

TVA Police along with officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be on the water patrolling to help ensure safety, and signage will be set up around the area of the boom.