By Alabama Public Radio
north Alabama – Boaters and others who use and live along waterways of the Tennessee River will have a little more water to enjoy this summer.
The Tennessee Valley Authority says it will raise lake levels along the river system for recreational and navigational purposes. The plan includes raising levels at Wheeler Lake in north Alabama. It also represents the first major policy change for T-V-A in about 14 years, and follows long running requests from lake communities and recreational users who have asked for higher water levels during the late summer and winter.
The policy change means the summer draw downs will be delayed from August first to Labor Day. It will affect 35 of T-V-A's 49 dams and lakes.