Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about generation schedules, wading safety, and how TailwaterAlerts works.

• When does TVA post the Caney Fork generation schedule?
  TVA typically posts the next day's generation schedule between 2 PM and 4 PM Central Time. TailwaterAlerts checks for the new schedule throughout the afternoon and sends an email as soon as it appears.
• Is the Caney Fork safe to wade during generation?
  No. Water levels can rise rapidly when Center Hill Dam begins generating. Even a single unit of generation can make the river dangerous within minutes. Always check the schedule before you wade, and get off the water if you hear the warning siren.
• How often are TailwaterAlerts emails sent?
  One email per day, sent as soon as the generation schedule posts — typically between 2 PM and 5 PM Central. You will not receive more than one email per day per river.
• Which rivers does TailwaterAlerts cover?
  TailwaterAlerts covers over 25 rivers across TVA, SWPA, and USACE systems in Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and surrounding states — including the Caney Fork, Clinch, Duck, Elk, White River, and many more. See the full list on the sign-up page.
• Is TailwaterAlerts free?
  Yes, completely free to sign up and use. The service costs real money out of pocket to run. If it saves you a drive or helps you plan a good day on the water, consider buying me a coffee.
• What does the generation schedule mean for fishing?
  When a dam is not generating, flows are low and stable — ideal wading conditions. When it generates, flows rise fast and wading becomes unsafe. The schedule shows each hour as off (green), generating (orange), or heavy generation (red). The best wading windows are the longest stretches of green during daylight hours.
• Why did I not get an email today?
  A few possibilities: TVA or the dam operator may not have posted a schedule yet (this occasionally happens on weekends or holidays), the email may have landed in your spam folder, or there may have been a temporary fetch error. If it keeps happening, email [email protected].
• How do I unsubscribe?
  Every email includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and you will be removed immediately. You can also email [email protected] and I will take care of it.