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Since 2023, NLPA volunteers have gathered and tested water samples from designated areas on Norris Lake. The testing results (average of the sites) are published, and provided to our specialist contacts. Water Testing 2026 Results Go Back Keeping Ahead of Problems Click on image to launch PDF (downloadable and easier to read) Water Testing is dependent on water levels.

The Norris Lake Protection Alliance (NLPA - Keep Norris Blue) is a non-profit environmental preservation group serving the Norris Lake community through education, water testing, surface trash removal and sunken boat debris removal. Just for fun: email your lake and community shots to add to the slide show! Find Out who we are Find Out who we are Find Out who we are Find Out who we are Find Out What We Do Find Out What We Do Find Out What We Do Find Out What We Do Let us know what you think Let us know what you think Let us know what you think Let us know what you think News from NLPA News from NLPA News from NLPA News from NLPA June 2026 NLPA – Litter Gitter boat update “NLPA” (501c3 Organization) Lake Pollution Removal: NLPA-Litter Gitter volunteers have donated time and hard work to accomplish the following Norris Lake improvements: Working in the Lakeview Marina area we have filled (2) 40yd dumpsters with Styrofoam recovered from the shores of Norris Lake. The total weight of pollution removed from Norris was 8,000lbs. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to those who helped with this undertaking: Jim Hess, Rich Lemming, Charlie Wells, Jeff Ashwood, Mark Sutton. We have cut up and removed an abandoned18’ steel boat. The removed steel was transported to the recycling center dumpster. (600lbs) We have towed and dismantled a 20’x14’ floating raft that was abandoned and grounded by Hickory Star. We located and dismantled another 10’x4’ floating raft We were notified of a steel tank roughly 10’x10’x3’ that had beached in one of the community coves. It was cut up and hauled to the recycling dumpster. Abandoned house boat on the west shoreline of Sunset Bay update: We continue to wait for water levels to rise to the necessary height to lift the boat from the temporary cribbing. We remain hopeful that this will happen yet in the 2026 season. We also understand it is late in the summer for any appreciable pool level increase. See the Result of These Efforts in Pictures

Our interaction with TDEC and a UT environmental specialist has proven the populated areas have regular algae issues. Why...How we care for our lawns, gardens, and docks are creating issues in the lake. Whether you live on the ridge or lakeshore, what is applied on the surface WILL run off into the lake. This page contains helpful information for all community members on proper lawn care. Lawn, Garden Care Riparian Buffers Go Back What we do Makes a Difference Download Download Algae blooms in freshwater lakes are typically caused by an excess of nutrients, Particularly phosphorus and nitrogen in the water. These nutrients can come from various sources, including fertilizer, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge. Some forms of algae are simply messy, while other forms are a health risk to our pets and family members. Our interaction with TDE and UT environmental specialists has proven the populated areas have regular algae issues. Why… how we care for our lawns, gardens, and docks are creating issues in the lake. Whether you live on the ridge or lakeshore, what is applied on the surface WILL run off into the lake. What can we control? Lawn care Don’t fertilize If we choose to fertilize, please consider products that are phosphorus free Be conservative in the density of the application Limit the number of applications per year What can we control? Gardens Don’t fertilize. Use natural supplements and bio-friendly alternatives Be conservative in the use of all growth enhancers, they have the same impact on algae Limit the use of or avoid weed and pest control chemicals Support information: Sunset Bay website “Living In Sunset Bay" www.sunsetbaypoa.com/helpful-links-1/ Those who live on the lake shore, please consider planting a riparian strip of long rooted native grasses to manage erosion and filter lawn runoff Additional Resources: Riparian Buffer Handbook What can we control? Riparian Buffers to Protect our Lake Download Article

Since 2023, NLPA volunteers have gathered and tested water samples from designated areas on Norris Lake. The testing results (average of the sites) are published, and provided to our specialist contacts. Water Testing 2024 Results Go Back Keeping Ahead of Problems Click on image to launch PDF (downloadable and easier to read) Water Testing is dependent on Norris Lake water levels.

Email, Facebook, phone number for the Norris Lake Protection Alliance/NLPA/Keep Norris Blue Contact Us Go Back Address P.O. Box 27 Sharps Chapel, TN 37866 Facebook www.facebook.com/NorrisLakeProtectionAlliance/ Phone Todd Thiele – President 612-363-1429 eMail KeepNorrisBlue@gmail.com Meet the Team Todd Thiele President Janet Stout Director Water Testing LeahNe Thiele Vice President Cathy Peterson Technology Consultant Darlene Doran Treasurer

The NLPA is sustained by the volunteer spirit of involved Norris Lake Community members. If you care about Norris Lake and the quality of the water please consider getting involved. It’s as easy as emailing the NLPA to help KEEP NORRIS BLUE! KeepNorrisBlue@gmail.com Volunteer Support NLPA Get Involved Go Back Whatever your skill, there is something you can do to help NLPA achieve its mission to preserve Norris Lake for the enjoyment of future generations. We have committees for marketing, communications, water testing, finance, and more. Please lend a hand and get to know some great people who feel as passionately as you do about our cause. Address P.O. Box 27 Sharps Chapel, TN 37866 Facebook www.facebook.com/NorrisLakeProtectionAlliance/ Phone Todd Thiele – President 612-363-1429 eMail KeepNorrisBlue@gmail.com

Trash Collection Large Go Back and Small Large Surface Debris Stepping up to address new issues on Norris Lake Changing legislation regarding allowable dock materials has resulted in increased lake pollution. Some Individuals who are replacing docks materials to be in compliance with new codes, and who are unwilling or unable to responsibly remove the old materials, are simply allowing the lake current to carry the debris away. See our Efforts in Pictures Litter and Trash Hardworking volunteers make this happen multiple times a year NLPA teams with Norris Lake Project (NLP) and volunteers to clean up trash on both the lake and land. Volunteers pilot boats to take volunteers back and forth from the Marina to nearby cleanup sites. Volunteers Assist in picking up trash at the cleanup sites. Recent and generous and targeted donations has allowed the NLPA claim ownership of a boat to be retro-fitted for purpose. See our Efforts in Pictures

The Norris Lake Protection Alliance (NLPA - Keep Norris Blue) is a non-profit environmental preservation group serving the Norris Lake community through education, water testing, surface trash removal and sunken boat debris removal. We Invite Your Comments

The Norris Lake Protection Alliance (NLPA - Keep Norris Blue) is a non-profit environmental preservation group serving the Norris Lake community through education, water testing, surface trash removal and sunken boat debris removal. Think Green Keep Norris Blue Go Back NLPA Vision NLPA Values Representing the Norris Lake community in preserving the natural beauty and health of Norris Lake, and working to increase participation in environmental protection efforts Honest, committed, environmentally aware, promoting long-term health and sustainability, open to new perspectives on how to preserve our lake Support Us Operates entirely on donations and volunteer talent. Together we can have a positive impact in the community. GoFundMe Check Get Involved

This page provides educational information for all interested in what they can do to keep Norris Lake healthy from contamination for current and future generations by following tips for boat cleaning. Boat Care Invasive Species Control Go Back Watercraft Recommendations Download Clean, drain, and treat your boat if you take it from one body of water to another Boats are the most common way for invasive species to contaminate lakes. Of course, the best precaution is not to take your boat to another waterbody. But if you must, here’s how to clean your boats before you bring them back to our lakes – according to the regulations. NYS mandates reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of invasive species by boat traffic. Reasonable precautions are to clean, drain, and treat before launching your boat into a body of water – or relaunching it back home. Cleaning means that any visible plant or animal materials have been removed from the boat and disposed away from the waterbody. Draining removes water from the watercraft and the watercraft’s motor, bilge, and all other areas of the watercraft. Drain offsite and so that drained water, potentially carrying invasives, does not run into any waterbody. Treat the watercraft. Treat by at least one of three methods: air drying, rinsing or, as a last resort, towel drying. Air Dry either in dry, warm conditions or subfreezing temperatures. Air dry watercraft and trailers, uncovered, out of the water, and exposed to the sun or in a heated building for at least five days. Alternatively, store watercraft and trailers in continuous subfreezing temperatures for at least three days. Rinse Follow the steps as appropriate to the watercraft. In all cases make sure the water used does not drain into a waterbody. Rinse hull and other external areas or equipment with high pressure (2,500 psi) hot water (140 degrees F) for 30 seconds. Flush water cooled motors with water for two minutes. Flush the bilge area, live wells, bait wells and other water-holding compartments with hot water at a temperature of 140 degrees F for 30 seconds. If hot water is not available, thoroughly rinse the boat hull and flush water holding compartments with the warmest water available. Clean cold water is acceptable only if it is the only water available. Towel Dry Use in cases where the watercraft cannot be air dried or rinsed. Towel dry all portions of the watercraft hull, engine, trailer and associated equipment that have been in contact with one waterbody prior to launching in another waterbody. Notice that just taking the visible plants, animals, and mud off the boats is never enough. NYS DEC guidance on cleaning boats

Water Testing 114 Samples Collected Go Back 2023 Results 2024 Results 2025 Results 2026 Results Prevention is far better than remediation. The NLPA consulted with experts within TDEC and UT to determine what four critical pollutant indicators that we should include in water quality testing. Ammonia : Elevated levels via direct means, such as municipal discharges, animal/human waste, and agricultural runoff. Normal range is 0.01-0.50 mg/L. Cause for immediate concern is 2.5 Nitrate : Major sources of nitrate contamination can be from fertilizers, animal waste, and human sewage. A nitrate-nitrogen normal range is 0.2-3.0 mg/L. Conductivity : A measure of the ionic content (such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, sodium, magnesium, calcium, or iron) in a body of water by measuring the water’s ability to conduct electricity; a large variance to a site's typical reading may mean that a pollution event has occurred. Freshwater lakes typically have a range of 100 - 2,000. pH : Optimal pH level for fish ranges from 6.5 to 9.0. At levels outside this range, fish become susceptible to poisoning from toxic chemicals. Changes in pH can also cause an overload of available plant nutrients, resulting in excessive plant growth and depleted oxygen levels for fish. IMG_2856 Testing Training IMG_4178 IMG_2856 1/5

Derelict Boat Removal We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to those who contributed to the GoFundMe site. Those contributions helped address the additional materials, tools, and fuel needed to remove the boats. All other equipment and tools were provided by the (3) volunteers who diligently worked on this project. Our president wishes to extend thanks to his (2) partners in this work. They wish to remain anonymous. 2023 : These abandoned boats were recovered in 2023. 2024 : There are (2) 30+ft house boats that have been sunken on these shorelines for many years. Great progress has been achieved despite challenging water level swings and weather conditions. 2025: Significant water level shifts this winter season prevented the completion of this work, but progress has been made. This project will be completed during the next low pool cycle in late 2025. Donate via GoFundMe 2023 Recovered Top of Page 2024 Recovered Boat 1 : What has been accomplished? Remaining superstructure removed Plumbing removed Flooring removed Glass removed (2) fuel tanks and fuel delivery system removed Starting battery removed Boat hull lifted and stabilized for future cutting process With the support of NLP and River Keepers the majority of the removed debris has been hauled off the lake Boat 2: What has been accomplished? The majority of superstructure removed With the support of NLP and River Keepers the majority of the removed debris has been hauled off the lake Overall lake betterment: (2) 30 yard dumpsters filled mainly with the debris removed from these abandoned houseboats has been removed from Norris Lake. 2025 Progress and to be Recovered 2025: In 2024 NLPA Volunteers committed to dismantle and remove (2) sunken house boats from Norris Lake. To accomplish this work Norris Lake needed to be at its historically low winter pool to access and remove the boat structures and associated hulls. Significant water level shifts this winter season prevented the completion of this work, but there has been some work completed. The entire project will be completed during the next low pool cycle in late 2025.