Non-profit finds unsafe E. coli levels near Boone Lake beach

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A local nonprofit group found E. coli levels above the recommended level for swimming near a popular Boone Lake swimming spot earlier this month, but so far no state or federal agency has claimed responsibility for following up or alerting the public.

The Boone Lake Association’s (BLA) regular water sampling showed highly elevated E. coli levels on Aug. 2 — beyond the threshold for safe swimming and water recreation — at two testing points, including one near Boone Dam’s swimming beach.

Volunteers repeated tests on Aug. 5 and Aug. 13 and found still elevated, but lower, levels of the bacteria, which often comes from cattle or other livestock grazing in or near waterways. Boone Lake Association (BLA) reported the findings to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

“It was an aberration, so we retested and we’ve asked TDEC to investigate,” BLA President Frank Hahne told News Channel 11 Wednesday.

The group, whose leaders say testing over a number of years has consistently shown safe pollutant and E. coli levels, currently suspects runoff from very heavy rainstorms may have contributed to what Hahne called an anomaly.

“Every (other) test that’s been run this year has been of excellent quality and not a problem,” Hahne said.

BLA, which is one of Tennessee’s oldest established environmental groups, conducts more regular water quality testing than the TDEC or the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) as part of fulfilling its mission of “watching the waters” of one of the state’s most heavily used lakes. Its website notes that no single governmental entity has comprehensive responsibility for the lake’s cleanliness and water quality, and that three municipalities surrounding the lake discharge wastewater into Boone Lake or its tributaries. The BLA’s main goal is to keep the water clear of debris, and only began testing when they realized no one else was.

“It goes back to eight, ten years ago because we heard that, you know, there were regulatory agencies that had done that in the past, but no one was doing it,” Hahne said.

Hahne says it was his understanding that TDEC would use the results to take action in the affected areas. But when News Channel 11 reached out to TDEC spokesperson Kim Schofinski, she said it was not within the agency’s authority.

TDEC has been notified by the Boone Lake Association about the situation. Boone Lake is a reservoir managed by TVA, which conducts their own water quality monitoring. TDEC collaborates with agencies that manage reservoirs, including TVA, while our independent water quality monitoring efforts focus on streams and tributaries statewide. I suggest contacting TVA for more information about water quality within Boone Reservoir.

Kim Schofinski

News Channel 11 then emailed a Tennessee Valley Authority spokesperson who said:

We will ask our natural resources folks for the latest information, if available. However, water quality in general and enforcement is left up to the state as a public health issue – specifically TWRA and TDEC. Our testing is more concerned with ecological health, as noted on our web page.

Scott Brooks, TVA Media Relations

In a follow-up email, Brooks wrote, “I’ve confirmed that TVA does not monitor overall water quality nor do we monitor for E. coli.”

Finally, News Channel 11 reached out to the TWRA, which again pointed back to TDEC.

Water quality is overseen by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Matt Cameron, TWRA

Around a dozen or so people were swimming at Boone Lake Dam on Wednesday afternoon. When told about the elevated E. coli levels, and that no regulatory agency was taking action, one father was frustrated.

“It makes me feel like somebody needs to hold themselves accountable or hold each other accountable,” said Kirk Martinez who was there with his young son. “And right now, it just feels like they’re playing a game of passing, passing the blame to each other.”

Tests taken Tuesday afternoon should be back within 36 hours and Hahne is hoping for safe levels. They have no regulatory authority to close any part of the lake but suggest not swimming in those areas for now until test results are published.

“I would avoid those areas and we’ll post our continued water sampling results as they come in,” Hahne said.

Hahne said BLA began testing year-round this year after previously only doing so during the summer. The process is expensive — this year’s budget is $15,000 — and requires significant volunteer labor to collect samples at multiple locations. Hahne said crews, whom the BLA has begun paying this year, go out every two weeks by boat for about six hours to collect the samples.

Hahne said as a volunteer organization they are doing what they can, but it should be up to an agency with regulatory powers to monitor the water quality results and take action when needed.

“We’re volunteers,” Hahne said. “We love this area. We love this lake.”

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