DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - It's been nearly two months since an excess of water and debris came flowing into Douglas Lake and several other bodies of water in East Tennessee that caused major damages.
A water contact advisory was implemented by TDEC, and it's been in effect since Oct. 2 for any body of water impacted by flooding.
This advisory recommends that people don't come in contact with those flooded waterways out of an abundance of caution.
While it's still early in the state's assessment of the quality of the water and the total of debris places like Douglas Lake took on, TDEC said they're just now testing water from the Pigeon River and hope to have results soon.
"The water was chocolate milk, more or less, super muddy, lots of debris everywhere; you had to watch where you were going," said Douglas Lake boater Rob Keis on the condition of the lake in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
Keis said he's seen significant progress over the last few weeks as the cleanup has changed the color of the water closer to its usual shade of blue.
While some have already gotten back out on the water, the TDEC advisory still recommends people not to come in contact with the impacted waterways, which has been a point of contention for some business owners in the area who would like more assurances.
"People who book here want to know if they can go down to the water and fish here when they stay. So, we are obviously losing some reservations of people who are hardcore and want to go in the water," said business owner Rhett Bolling.
TDEC said they're expecting the cleanup process to take around six months or less with the goal of making sure the water is clear of debris and contamination.
While state leaders ask for patience from the public, they're also giving guidance on what to do with debris that washes up by your home.
TDEC said you can burn vegetation like branches and leaves, but you'll need a burn permit to do so.
They ask that for your safety and others, do not burn other forms of debris like rubber and plastics.