TDEC Issues Precautionary Fish Consumption Advisories
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption for a river, lakes and reservoirs in Tennessee.
Select the tabs below for each advisory.
Advisory for Walleye 19 Inches and Larger on Center Hill Reservoir in DeKalb, Putnam Counties
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for walleye 19 inches and larger on Center Hill Reservoir in DeKalb and Putnam counties.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2021 and 2023, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected walleye for tissue analysis on Center Hill Reservoir. Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through a contract with TDEC. An impoundment on the Caney Fork River, Center Hill Reservoir is north of Smithville and south of Interstate 40 in Middle Tennessee.
The advisory applies to walleye 19 inches and larger for the entirety of the reservoir based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury. Mercury in walleye 19 inches and larger averaged 0.39 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Catfish on Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir in Sullivan County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for catfish due to PCBs on Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir in Sullivan County.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2009, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected channel catfish for tissue analysis on Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir. Fish were analyzed for PCBs by Pace Analytical through a contract with TVA. Fort Patrick Henry is a reservoir on the South Fork Holston River near Kingsport.
The advisory applies to all catfish species for the entirety of the reservoir based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for PCBs. PCBs in channel catfish averaged 0.296 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.047 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Largemouth Bass on Herb Parsons Lake in Fayette County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass due to mercury on Herb Parsons Lake in Fayette County.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2023 and 2024, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected largemouth bass for tissue analysis on Herb Parsons Lake. Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through a contract with TDEC. Herb Parsons Lake is a TWRA fishing Lake near Collierville.
The advisory applies to largemouth bass for the entirety of the lake based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury. Mercury in largemouth bass averaged 0.35 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Largemouth Bass on Lake Lajoie in Hardeman County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass due to mercury on Lake Lajoie in Hardeman County.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2024, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected largemouth bass for tissue analysis on Lake Lajoie. Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through a contract with TDEC. Lake Lajoie is an impoundment on Grays Creek and within Chickasaw State Park near Bolivar.
The advisory applies to largemouth bass for the entirety of the lake based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury. Mercury in largemouth bass averaged 0.35 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Largemouth Bass on Lake Placid in Chester County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass due to mercury on Lake Placid in Chester County.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2024, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected largemouth bass for tissue analysis on Lake Placid. Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through a contract with TDEC. Lake Placid is an impoundment on Piney Creek and within Chickasaw State Park near Henderson.
The advisory applies to largemouth bass for the entirety of the lake based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury. Mercury in largemouth bass averaged 0.43 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Catfish on Pickwick Reservoir in Hardin County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for catfish due to PCBs on Pickwick Reservoir in Hardin County.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in cooperation with TDEC, collected channel catfish for tissue analysis on Pickwick Reservoir. Fish were analyzed for PCBs by Pace Analytical through a contract with TVA. Pickwick Reservoir is on the Tennessee River near Counce, TN.
The advisory applies to all catfish species for the entirety of the reservoir in Tennessee (from Pickwick Dam to the Tennessee/Alabama state line) based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for PCBs. PCBs in channel catfish averaged 0.129 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.047 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
Advisory for Black Bass on Section of Hatchie River in Hardeman County
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a precautionary fish consumption advisory for black bass due to mercury on Hatchie River in Hardeman County from Hwy 100 bridge crossing near Whiteville upstream to Hwy 64 bridge near Bolivar.
TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the fish and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.
In 2009, 2016, and 2024, TDEC and the EPA, collected fish for tissue analysis on Hatchie River for all black bass species. Fish were analyzed for mercury by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through a contract with TDEC. The Hatchie River is a direct tributary to the Mississippi River and flows through Hardeman, Madison, Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties.
The advisory applies to all black bass species, based on data exceeding Tennessee’s trigger point for mercury. Mercury in black bass (largemouth and spotted) averaged 0.43 mg/kg, which is above the trigger point of 0.3 mg/kg. The advisory is consistent with TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.
“Unlike ‘Do Not Consume’ advisories that warn the general population to avoid eating fish from a particular body of water altogether, precautionary fish consumption advisories are specifically directed to sensitive populations. They include children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who may eat fish frequently from the same body of water,” said Ronné Adkins, deputy commissioner for Environment at TDEC. “These advisories help the community make informed decisions about whether or not to consume the fish.”
TDEC will post warning signs at primary public access points and will work with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to communicate this information to the public.
About Fish Consumption Advisories
The Tennessee Water Quality Control Act identifies the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as having the authority and responsibility to issue advisories for either water contact hazards like pathogens or excessive health risks due to the accumulation of contaminants in fish or shellfish. Tennessee’s General Water Quality Criteria provide additional guidance regarding the conditions under which advisories may be warranted.