Warning Old Hickory Lake Gallatin Steam Plant

[Reel Tune]

Dangerous levels of Arsenic "10 times Federal Standards", Lead "100 times Federal Standards", and Mercury found in soil samples under the surface of the water.

http://www.fox17.com/news/features/this-morning/stories/Coal-Ash-The-Potential-Toxic-Threat-Lurking-in-the-Mid-State-225166.shtml

It might not be a bad idea to practice CPR. I do a lot of things that are unhealthy, and one thing I think I'll stop doing is keeping fish in or around the Gallatin Steam Plant. I've only kept 5 or 6 Tilapia, and that was 2 years ago, so I think I'm ok.


What are everyone's thoughts?

[XxthejuicexX]

I tend to be skeptical when it comes to any reports like this. One thing that jumped out to me was the scientist pulling up the mud samples and saying that it was solid black, not like mud or clay so it must be ash. If you have ever spent any time on the water you know that you get that black muck all over the place. The river I fish has a cove that is about 1' deep and that muck is 3' deep.... found out frog gigging with MN last summer, it also stinks to high heaven. I'm not saying that I trust TVA to be 100 percent honest but I also don't trust some jack leg riding around in a boat with a PVC pipe collecting samples. I think that if the levels were that high there would be medical records from the area to prove the increase in all the diseases listed. I'm not a scientist nor the smartest person in the room but I will wait and see how this proceeds. I will still be out there this winter catching and potentially eating fish, mostly the 40+ pounds stripers.

[Buccaneer]

When I first moved up here in 1998 my kids and I hunted the hell out of the Steam Plant property, archery only, and it was an absolute paradise with little pressure due to the archery only regulations. We hunted the edges of the ash ponds and they were teaming with geese, ducks and fish. Yes, there are many rock holes throughout the property but it is like the land in Wilson County and Cedars of Lebanon, 1" of soil over rock with cedar trees everywhere. Since the EPA has required TVA to install dry ash storage, virtually the entire property has been stripped and there remains very little wooded acreage to bow hunt. It is amazing how many tress and how much ground has been altered for this EPA "solution".
I hate to see what has happened to the land but I can't quit get my head around the claims of such significant arsenic and lead outside of the boundaries of the existing ash ponds. If it has leached into the groundwater, there are numerous homes on Odoms Bend Road that I would bet are on well water systems. Have any of those wells been tested? Taking the report for face value it would seem you should not keep fish from the GST downstream to the dam. Maybe we should all be fishing upstream of the GST to prevent the growth of a third eye?

[jad2t]

Quit with the CPR propaganda Jeremy!:D

This really is a disappointment. I'm not going to worry about all the Stripers I ate last year from there, nothing can be done about it now. I would like to see actual fish tested to see if they are contaminated. Really what this means to me is don't drink the water but then again if it took this news to realize you shouldn't drink water out of Old Hickory, you're probably already dead.

To play it safe, I won't be eating any fish from there this Fall/Winter. I don't even know if I'll fish there because God only knows what you're breathing in that air in that canal. A buddy of mine was there a few days ago and said the smell was awful and he had to leave. That was probably SAMBOLIE somewhere in the vicinity though. He doesn't shower. I'd like to see more testing done specifically on air quality and actual fish contaminants.

[MNfisher]

Agreed, if I were you all, I would never fish GSP again! Or you might die!!


Mike

[XxthejuicexX]

Agreed, if I were you all, I would never fish GSP again! Or you might die!!


Mike


I see what you did there! When is it cold enough to start risking my health and well being to fish those Polluted waters?

[Adrian]

Agreed. Everyone should stay far away from the steamplant until at least April!

[SAMBOLIE]

I'm not a scientist nor the smartest person in the room but I will wait and see how this proceeds. I will still be out there this winter catching and potentially eating fish, mostly the 40+ pounds stripers.

I never doubted that statement. Of course Jimmy is right there with you.


This really is a disappointment. I'm not going to worry about all the Stripers I ate last year from there, nothing can be done about it now. I would like to see actual fish tested to see if they are contaminated.


No doubt the OH fish have lead contamination. Merv has eaten so much he has lead in his ass.

[tkwalker]

Dangerous levels of Arsenic "10 times Federal Standards", Lead "100 times Federal Standards", and Mercury found in soil samples under the surface of the water.

http://www.fox17.com/news/features/this-morning/stories/Coal-Ash-The-Potential-Toxic-Threat-Lurking-in-the-Mid-State-225166.shtml

It might not be a bad idea to practice CPR. I do a lot of things that are unhealthy, and one thing I think I'll stop doing is keeping fish in or around the Gallatin Steam Plant. I've only kept 5 or 6 Tilapia, and that was 2 years ago, so I think I'm ok.


What are everyone's thoughts?

Yep !! Everyone needs to stay away from GSP !!! <'TK><:rolleyes::eek::) But seriously, Gallatin city water supply and filter plant is1.5 miles down stream from GSP ... They also produce water for a national bottled water company. I am hoping the city of Gallatin also has their independent inspectors as well, besides a contract company out of Mt. Juliet who looks for violations for creating law suits.

[TnCreekMaster]

There was a well tested right up the road from the steamplant http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/oct/26/chemicals-found-wells-near-tva-power-plant/332543/

Hexavalent chromium is rarely found naturally and is typically the result of an industrial process. It has been found to cause cancer in lab animals when they drink it in water and can cause lung cancer when inhaled, according to the National Institutes of Health and the EPA. It can be found in coal ash, the waste created when coal is burned to produce electricity.

[TNBronzeback]

Eh, dont bite the line to cut it, and dont inhale the fine mist off the baitcasters when casting and we should be alright!
"rub a little dirt on it and move on" lol.
With all this being said about gallatin, whats the status of the pollution from Kingston when they had that massive spill how many years ago? Last time i drove by last year, they were still running dozers.

[XxthejuicexX]

Eh, dont bite the line to cut it, and dont inhale the fine mist off the baitcasters when casting and we should be alright!
"rub a little dirt on it and move on" lol.
With all this being said about gallatin, whats the status of the pollution from Kingston when they had that massive spill how many years ago? Last time i drove by last year, they were still running dozers.


That spill was rough. I'm sure even the dirt has cancer now.

[TNBronzeback]

That spill was rough. I'm sure even the dirt has cancer now.

Yes it was....didnt somebody even hire Erin Brackovich, that bigtime environmental attorney when all that went down?
And oh....them striped fishies still visit that plant! ;-)

[XxthejuicexX]

Yes it was....didnt somebody even hire Erin Brackovich, that bigtime environmental attorney when all that went down?
And oh....them striped fishies still visit that plant! ;-)


I think you are correct. I'm not driving that far to see those fish. I will stick with polluted water closer to home.

[lupanfreitag]

I agree. I advise all of you stay away from now till, let's say March when the arsenic flies north for the summer.

Again, stay clear of the steam plant. Tell your friends. Especially on Sunday mornings when the arsenic congregates the tightest.

[tkwalker]

There was a well tested right up the road from the steamplant http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/oct/26/chemicals-found-wells-near-tva-power-plant/332543/

Hexavalent chromium is rarely found naturally and is typically the result of an industrial process. It has been found to cause cancer in lab animals when they drink it in water and can cause lung cancer when inhaled, according to the National Institutes of Health and the EPA. It can be found in coal ash, the waste created when coal is burned to produce electricity.





[I]GALLATIN, Tenn. -- Albert Hudson worries about the water coming from the well on his property near the Tennessee Valley Authority's coal-fired power plant in Gallatin.

Hudson received a letter recently from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation notifying him that tests found a harmful chemical in his water called hexavalent chromium The Tennessean reported.

The state agency told Hudson his well water meets overall national standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but said the levels of hexavalent chromium are "slightly above" the EPA risk levels. Hexavalent chromium is typically the result of an industrial process.

"I drink (my well water) sometimes, but since this uncertainty came up, I'm a little leery about it now, you know," Hudson said. "My paper said it wasn't strong enough, but hell, I got bottled water in there now."

The test results could bolster claims by environmental groups that pollution from the Gallatin Fossil Plant is spreading beyond TVA's property.

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a motion in federal court Friday on behalf of two other environmental groups citing the tests of two water wells, including Hudson's, and results that found the chemical in the Cumberland River near where the Gallatin water utility draws water.

Hexavalent chromium is rarely found naturally and is typically the result of an industrial process. It has been found to cause cancer in lab animals when they drink it in water and can cause lung cancer when inhaled, according to the National Institutes of Health and the EPA. It can be found in coal ash, the waste created when coal is burned to produce electricity.

TVA said Friday the sample results from private wells show none of the elements exceed the standards for drinking water.

"The levels of hexavalent chromium did slightly exceed draft criteria that EPA proposed in 2010, but those standards have not been finalized by EPA," TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said by email Friday.

"We support the state's decision to retest all of the wells to confirm these low readings and we believe this data should be compared against existing background levels in the area. We also support the state in its consideration of this and will assist them however we can."

"Recent test results confirm that contamination is serious, ongoing, and could harm the environment and people who live near the Gallatin Plant and whose drinking water is drawn nearby," according to the group's motion.

The state also tested water near the intake for the Gallatin Water Treatment Plant downstream of the power plant and found low levels of hexavalent chromium.

Gallatin Public Works Superintended David Gregory said Friday the city's water treatment plant has not had any issues with hexavalent chromium in its water supply.

"We send what we treat off for testing," Gregory said. "We have met all of the (EPA and state water) requirements and exceeded them. We've had no violations, and we didn't detect anything."

As a note I worked at GSP until 1984 In instrumentation at the plant from boiler and turbine controls to climbing the Stacks for EPA as well as monitoring the Sluice Ponds . (Fly ash in question) ... If you notice some of the info goes back to the 80's before we kicked our corrective action in to gear ... Also If you go back and look at all of the videos and news spots ... you will see most of it meets either fed or state limits but may exceed one or the other... Also what bothers me are local wells, (Probably decades old, in fact I had a dear friend who lived with in 2 miles of GSP and his well was almost pure sulfur, The sulfuric gas ate all of his copper in his house, plumbing A/C condensers, faucets, even the mechanical tuner in his TV which was used in the early 80's and his water was basically undrinkable) ... I can see shallow wells amalgamating with the river level ...( Which I think shallow wells are illegal now days) But deep layered stratified wells wouldn't come into play here.. Also I would like to say that if this independent contractor that is hired and contributes to the Southern Environmental Law Group to create law suits should come over to my 75 year old pond that was used to water dairy cattle and stick there probe down in it ... I'll tell you it will look just like the POOP they are trying to pedal and to panic the general public with marginal levels... <'TK><:)
/I]

[agelesssone]

i never doubted that statement. Of course jimmy is right there with you.



No doubt the oh fish have lead contamination. Merv has eaten so much he has lead in his ass.
sambolie, i hate you!

[lupanfreitag]

Update: Bigfoot or a family of bigfeet spotted at Steam Plant. Disgruntled. Hate fishermen.

Authorities advise no one fish at steam plant.... ever. Also mention of a volcano.

So thankful all of us are going to stay away.

[TNBronzeback]

Update: Bigfoot or a family of bigfeet spotted at Steam Plant. Disgruntled. Hate fishermen.

Authorities advise no one fish at steam plant.... ever. Also mention of a volcano.

So thankful all of us are going to stay away.

Bless your heart for informing us on this dramatic turn of events.
1 bigfoot is managable, but a whole family! Im out!
families of bigfeet is where i draw the line on my fishing destinations.

[XxthejuicexX]

Bless your heart for informing us on this dramatic turn of events.
1 bigfoot is managable, but a whole family! Im out!
families of bigfeet is where i draw the line on my fishing destinations.


Are we sure that Bigfeet is the proper term?? I think it's like fish. Bigfoot works for multiples.I'm Ok with bigfoot. I draw the line when those dirty Chupacabra's show up.

[jad2t]

I draw the line when those dirty Chupacabra's show up.

Those come all the way from Mexico to take our jobs!!!

[XxthejuicexX]

Those come all the way from Mexico to take our jobs!!!


Got a good laugh out of that.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/06/0822f73f403bba38ce28414420d88019.jpg

[kickapooh]

Is the water from the outflow still warmer than in the main channel? Any skipjack being caught there lately?

[TnCreekMaster]

They have not stopped producing steam since construction started

[kickapooh]

They have not stopped producing steam since construction startedGood to hear. I'm from Knoxville but have heard good things about the fishing there by the steam plant. Are the skippies there yet? I have heard that access has been somewhat restricted going up to the outflow which kind of sucks but I would imagine they could still be caught by the barrier if the water is warmer than the main river. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[thehick176]

Has anyone heard if they are going to open the canal back up? There used to be a sign that said it will reopen in 2016 but that sign isn't there anymore.
Wouldn't hurt my feelings if that barrier magically disappears if you know what I mean lol

[Reel Tune]

Good to hear. I'm from Knoxville but have heard good things about the fishing there by the steam plant. Are the skippies there yet? I have heard that access has been somewhat restricted going up to the outflow which kind of sucks but I would imagine they could still be caught by the barrier if the water is warmer than the main river. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I've done better further away from the barrier than closer for skipjack. Last year wasn't a good year for skipjack, but year prior to were good.

Has anyone heard if they are going to open the canal back up? There used to be a sign that said it will reopen in 2016 but that sign isn't there anymore.
Wouldn't hurt my feelings if that barrier magically disappears if you know what I mean lol

I think the barrier will be a permanent structure.

[thehick176]

Thats what I'm thinking too.

[agelesssone]

A lot of us are hoping it stays

[kickapooh]

A lot of us are hoping it staysHow come? Not sure I understand why people would want it to stay unless it was to keep the fishing traffic down in the area.

[TnCreekMaster]

You would hope they wouldn't block access after lamar drafted up the freedom to fish act, I mean people have fished in that canal for decades why would you permanently block the access just because you build some scrubber towers. Just my 2 cents

[thehick176]

I agree. What's the difference between them blocking the canal and a homeowner with a dock blocking access to the cove its in.

[TNBronzeback]

How come? Not sure I understand why people would want it to stay unless it was to keep the fishing traffic down in the area.

I think we touched on this not too long ago, but the reason most want to see stay closed is for fishing purposes.
No secret that barrier gets ALOT of action in the winter, and yeah it can suck when ya pull in and its bow to stern boats and kayaks when ya get there but thats also the blessing. Imagine no barrier: bass fisherman screaming in and out of that canal, crappie fisherman probing the banks, cat fisherman anchored in canal then striper guys pulling planer boards up and down the banks. It would be pure chaos!
In my honest opinion, i would prefer to keep the barrier up and here is why: those fish, of all species have just one way in and one way out, they HAVE to cross under that barrier to chase the bait who are there for the warm water. So if you set up shop for your target species in the immediate area of the canal mouth (yes, even way out where it connects to the main channel edge) you will catch fish. They are still just as hungry at the mouth as they are way up by the power house. Ive caught saugers up by the barrier and stripers out at the channel. Biggest crappie to date for me came from.33ft of water jigging for saugers near the first green bouy down stream.
Ot might not be convenient for everybody to have the barrier closed, but it has helped the overall quality of fishing there due to reduced boat traffic in that canal.
Just my opinion.

[kickapooh]

I think we touched on this not too long ago, but the reason most want to see stay closed is for fishing purposes.
No secret that barrier gets ALOT of action in the winter, and yeah it can suck when ya pull in and its bow to stern boats and kayaks when ya get there but thats also the blessing. Imagine no barrier: bass fisherman screaming in and out of that canal, crappie fisherman probing the banks, cat fisherman anchored in canal then striper guys pulling planer boards up and down the banks. It would be pure chaos!
In my honest opinion, i would prefer to keep the barrier up and here is why: those fish, of all species have just one way in and one way out, they HAVE to cross under that barrier to chase the bait who are there for the warm water. So if you set up shop for your target species in the immediate area of the canal mouth (yes, even way out where it connects to the main channel edge) you will catch fish. They are still just as hungry at the mouth as they are way up by the power house. Ive caught saugers up by the barrier and stripers out at the channel. Biggest crappie to date for me came from.33ft of water jigging for saugers near the first green bouy down stream.
Ot might not be convenient for everybody to have the barrier closed, but it has helped the overall quality of fishing there due to reduced boat traffic in that canal.
Just my opinion.Solid answer. Thank you for your reply.

[Heiny57]

I heard they are making it permanent because they discovered the chupacabra and the bigfeet's have mated, and there are chupracabafeet running rampant, scaring people that American animals don't .

[kickapooh]

I heard they are making it permanent because they discovered the chupacabra and the bigfeet's have mated, and there are chupracabafeet running rampant, scaring people that American animals don't .
OMG!

http://i.imgur.com/Yky0zFp.gif

[SaltySportsmanTV]

Agreed. Everyone should stay far away from the steamplant until at least April!

Yes I agree with safety first Adrian stay away, far and clear from Gallatin Steam Plant it will be a dangerous HAZARD ZONE till at least April / May'ish. Stay tuned into the forum, I will follow up with a post around that time to let you know when things are safe to go! :)

[agelesssone]

I think we touched on this not too long ago, but the reason most want to see stay closed is for fishing purposes.
No secret that barrier gets ALOT of action in the winter, and yeah it can suck when ya pull in and its bow to stern boats and kayaks when ya get there but thats also the blessing. Imagine no barrier: bass fisherman screaming in and out of that canal, crappie fisherman probing the banks, cat fisherman anchored in canal then striper guys pulling planer boards up and down the banks. It would be pure chaos!
In my honest opinion, i would prefer to keep the barrier up and here is why: those fish, of all species have just one way in and one way out, they HAVE to cross under that barrier to chase the bait who are there for the warm water. So if you set up shop for your target species in the immediate area of the canal mouth (yes, even way out where it connects to the main channel edge) you will catch fish. They are still just as hungry at the mouth as they are way up by the power house. Ive caught saugers up by the barrier and stripers out at the channel. Biggest crappie to date for me came from.33ft of water jigging for saugers near the first green bouy down stream.
Ot might not be convenient for everybody to have the barrier closed, but it has helped the overall quality of fishing there due to reduced boat traffic in that canal.
Just my opinion.

I'm totally with TNBronzeback, keep it closed for all the reasons he just said.
I've been there when you couldn't get up the canal because of guys parking their pontoon boats in the middle of the narrow channel and have rods out on either side. I've also seen boats come up the channel running their outboards and spooking the fish.

The fishing quality has been tremendously improved by the barrier.

True, if you aren't there by 3 AM on the weekends in the winter months, you wont get to park on the barrier, but like TN says, one way in and one way out. The rockfish will follow that channel in and out. I've seen guys fishing well below the barrier hauling in 25-35 lb rockfish.

LONG LIVE THE BARRIER!!

[XxthejuicexX]

Anyone actually heard anything about the reports of the pollution? BTW all I know is the barrier. it works well but I think it would be fine if it moved farther in.

[Adrian]

Yes I agree with safety first Adrian stay away, far and clear from Gallatin Steam Plant it will be a dangerous HAZARD ZONE till at least April / May'ish. Stay tuned into the forum, I will follow up with a post around that time to let you know when things are safe to go! :)

I feel compelled to remove all of the suspect fish from this area to make it safer for Everyone...

[agelesssone]

Adrian, it ain't the bluegill and carp that are suspect.....

[spottedbass]

As of yesterday afternoon, no suspects have shown up yet. Not many of their little "friends" there either.

[MNfisher]

Barrier stay! That fish sanctuary keeps the fish around!


Mike

[XxthejuicexX]

I'm Going Friday. See you guys around noon.

[thehick176]

Don't be surprised if the barrier comes up missing

[thehick176]

What's the difference between 4 boats and 6 kayaks against the barrier than the same amount spread through the canal.

[XxthejuicexX]

Don't be surprised if the barrier comes up missing

I hope not. I would hate to see them have to put up something more permanent and blocking like a fence across the water.

[notorious]

Don't be surprised if the barrier comes up missing

o'bongo and company would like nothing more than to publicize the redneck assault to one of the nations key power producing facilities and reign down his henchmen blm, naacp and epa goons to the fishing community throughout the nation. The only way they will allow access again is when we get these clowns out of public office and in jail.

[SaltySportsmanTV]

I feel compelled to remove all of the suspect fish from this area to make it safer for Everyone...
I will be there to help! All others steer clear.

[XxthejuicexX]

Have any of those suspect fish showed up yet? I'm going tomorrow.

[Dakota]

I was out last week with 2 kayaks and no suspect fish. Needs to get cold and nasty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[XxthejuicexX]

I was out last week with 2 kayaks and no suspect fish. Needs to get cold and nasty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thats what I am worried about. Not nasty enough.

[kickapooh]

Anyone seen any skipjack at the plant yet?