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Boaters flood Tallulah River
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| A line of kayakers paddles the Tallulah River just above Bridal Veil Falls during the second weekend of the spring whitewater release at Tallulah Gorge State Park. Georgia Power opens the dam below Tallulah Lake during the first two weekends in April, offering whitewater enthusiasts a chance to ride the rapids. |
By Justin Raines Staff Writer
The floodgates were opened this past weekend, turning Tallulah Gorge State Park into a paddler's paradise.
With whitewater flowing fast and frothy over landscape that is normally dry, rapids such as Bridal Veil Falls and the dreaded Oceana Falls flooded blood streams with adrenaline as hundreds of kayakers descended Saturday and Sunday upon the Tallulah River for the final whitewater release of the spring.
"It's a great, great river," Grant Green of Murfreesboro, Tenn., said. "It's my first time on it. I've had one swim, and I walked Oceana."
Twice a year, during the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November, Georgia Power opens the dam below Tallulah Falls Lake for the sole purpose of giving whitewater enthusiasts a chance to enjoy the river.
Aesthetic releases are done throughout the spring and fall to simulate pre-dam river conditions, but the water flow is only 200 cubic feet per second compared to the 500-700 CFS current of the whitewater releases. Normal river flow is 35-40 CFS.
"It's a rush the whole time," said interpretive ranger and boater Garrett Chism. "There's no stopping. It's just a wild ride."
Chism estimated that during the spring releases, nearly 100 boaters showed up per day to ride the rapids.
The two-mile trip, which ends in scenic Lake Tugalo, takes between four and six hours and can be run twice in one day. Paddlers seem to enjoy the river's untouched scenery, but with so many boats on the river at one time, the people themselves make the run special.
"Just the crowds of people waiting in line at the put-in," Nick Pabst said about the most unique part of the weekend. "It kind of sparks the spring season."
"It's fun and there's a lot of people out," added Bryce Yarbrough. "It's really pretty when you're like in a 600-foot gorge, good rapids with your friends and good times."
Last fall the whitewater releases were canceled due to the ongoing state drought, and this year's release schedule will also depend on summer rainfall.
With whitewater flowing fast and frothy over landscape that is normally dry, rapids such as Bridal Veil Falls and the dreaded Oceana Falls flooded blood streams with adrenaline as hundreds of kayakers descended Saturday and Sunday upon the Tallulah River for the final whitewater release of the spring.
"It's a great, great river," Grant Green of Murfreesboro, Tenn., said. "It's my first time on it. I've had one swim, and I walked Oceana."
Twice a year, during the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November, Georgia Power opens the dam below Tallulah Falls Lake for the sole purpose of giving whitewater enthusiasts a chance to enjoy the river.
Aesthetic releases are done throughout the spring and fall to simulate pre-dam river conditions, but the water flow is only 200 cubic feet per second compared to the 500-700 CFS current of the whitewater releases. Normal river flow is 35-40 CFS.
"It's a rush the whole time," said interpretive ranger and boater Garrett Chism. "There's no stopping. It's just a wild ride."
Chism estimated that during the spring releases, nearly 100 boaters showed up per day to ride the rapids.
The two-mile trip, which ends in scenic Lake Tugalo, takes between four and six hours and can be run twice in one day. Paddlers seem to enjoy the river's untouched scenery, but with so many boats on the river at one time, the people themselves make the run special.
"Just the crowds of people waiting in line at the put-in," Nick Pabst said about the most unique part of the weekend. "It kind of sparks the spring season."
"It's fun and there's a lot of people out," added Bryce Yarbrough. "It's really pretty when you're like in a 600-foot gorge, good rapids with your friends and good times."
Last fall the whitewater releases were canceled due to the ongoing state drought, and this year's release schedule will also depend on summer rainfall.
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