What’s the service life on the TVA dams? What’s the plan to replace them? At some point, like all aging structures, they’re going to have to replace them. How’s that going to work?

I can’t imagine the widespread devastation it would cause for one of those dams to give way. I wouldn’t be surprised if it set off a domino effect down the river chain.

Something I’ve always thought about, but never asked anybody.

Don't know the answer but that is a dam good questions.

A dam good question that will have to be left up to a dam inspector.

I don't know, but look at how long the Egyptian pyramids have lasted. When I toured Hoover Dam, they made a comment about how long the dam would last barring an earthquake or other natural or man made disaster.

The pyramids are made from solid stone rocks, not 1930’s industrial concrete.

There are several earthen dams in Mississippi that have been flagged as dangerous. Lakes have to be drained and dams fixed. Bigger concrete type dams, I can't imagine the cost and headache.

Good dam question. I know it will take a lot of dam thought

Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland in Kentucky is under constant monitoring, and what seems to be near constant repair.

Last one involved lowering the lake, drilling hundreds of 6 foot diameter cores several hundred feet deep, filling them with concrete, then drilling an interlocking core the same size.

Looked really cool when they were doing it, but only time will tell.

I don't know about TVA dams but I read that in 1995 they tested core samples from the Hoover Dam and it showed that the dams concrete was actually slowly gaining strength. Wrap your head around that

Concrete is still curing/drying, as we speak.

If my old man was still here he could tell you a lot about them. He was a form man on a few over the years. He worked on the Tombigbee lock and dam, and one up in North Carolina I actually got to go work with with once on that one and built a few coffer dams to pour footings and such for bridges.

I’ve done several jobs on several dams where the gates were reworked where they put a stop in place and pull the gates and rebuild/replace them. That’s a pretty common thing. I’ve also done some jobs where areas of concrete was replaced or drilled and pumped full of proxy to fill any gaps/cracks that may have developed over the years.

Duct tape. That chit works on everything.

Probably over a hundred years at least

The Hoover dam, the largest dam dam in the world, was completed in 1933 and they say a portion of the concrete hasn't completely cured to this day.
I'm pretty sure there isn't a plan to replace any of the dam dams because they don't plan for them to fail.

Flex seal. Duh

The spray or tape ??

Both.

They're not holding back water.

That was in the earthen part and is complete.

The older they get the harder the concert gets. The old tva dams they used river gravel in them and they are horrible on a core drill bit

Chicamauga is the worst. The concrete is growing especially the Lock but a new one is being built.