Chattooga River
Encyclopedia
The Chattooga River is the main tributary
of the Tugaloo River
. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina
, and it stretches 57 miles (91.7 km) to where it has its confluence
with the Tallulah River
within Lake Tugalo
, held back by the Tugalo Dam. The Chattooga and the Tallulah combine to make the Tugaloo River
starting at the outlet of Lake Tugalo. The Chattooga begins in southern Jackson County, North Carolina
, then flows southwestward between northwestern Oconee County, South Carolina, and eastern Rabun County, Georgia
. The "Chattooga" spelling was approved by the US Board on Geographic Names in 1897.
The river was used as a setting for the fictional Cahulawassee River in the book and film Deliverance
.
The Chattooga River flows into Tugalo Lake where it joins the Tallulah River
. After flowing through Tugalo Dam the combined rivers become the Tugaloo River which, along with the Seneca River, becomes the Savannah River
below Lake Hartwell
. Downstream from that point, the water flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia
.
between Georgia
and South Carolina
after leaving North Carolina
near latitude 35°N
. The Chattooga River was not the original boundary line between South Carolina and Georgia. A treaty of 1816 extended the South Carolina boundary to its current location. Prior to 1816, the Chattooga was on the lands of the Cherokee Indian Nation
.
The Blue Ridge Mountains
, where the Chattooga starts, are considered to be ancient, even by geological standards. The rock is mostly sandstone
and shale
which were laid down approximately 600 to 750 million years ago. Geologists believe that the Chattooga may have made one direction change during its life. Originally, it probably flowed southwesterly into the Chattahoochee riverbed and on to the Gulf of Mexico, but at some point, the Savannah River eroded its northern headland until it intersected the Chattooga and diverted it to the Atlantic.
The rocks in the riverbed probably fell from the ridge above, but those rocks do not necessarily remain where they fall. In times of great downpours, high water, and fast currents, rocks can become dislodged and move downstream, taking other rocks and debris with them. During Hurricane Ivan
in 2004, the wind force and waters knocked down big boulders off the sides. The hurricane released enough water in the Chattooga watershed to bring the river to its highest recorded flow rate, around 26000 cuft/s to 28000 cuft/s, rivaling the typical flow of the Grand Canyon
.
which straddles three states (Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) and three National Forests (the Chattahoochee, Nantahala
and Sumter
National Forests). Much of the Georgia portion of the river is within the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest. One of the many factors that contribute to this virtually unchanged river is its inaccessibility. In the 50-60 miles that is the Chattooga, only four bridges exist to cross, the most heavily-used being the Highway 76
bridge, which had to be reconstructed after the flood-stage water level brought on by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
One of the largest tributaries in the Chattooga basin that flows mainly through private lands is Stekoa Creek, which flows primarily southeast for approximately 18 miles (29 km) from its headwaters in Mountain City, Georgia
, through Clayton, Georgia
, to its mouth at the Chattooga River. The Stekoa Creek Basin is approximately 45 square miles (116.5 km²) in size.
pink and white mountain laurel. Early spring is also a great time to go rafting
, kayaking
, or canoeing
because of the higher flows and cooler temperatures. The Chattooga is a free-flowing river (no upstream dam
to control the flow) which quickly responds to rainfall or drought
conditions. As a drop-pool style river, rapids are followed by calm pools for swimming.
The Chattooga headwaters start near Cashiers
as a small stream, but North Carolina Highway 28 is the start of the legally boatable section. Section I is the West Fork and is ideal for tubing and class II float trips. Section II starting at Highway 28 is a class II float. Section III has Class II-IV rapids which rafters and kayakers frequent. The minimum age requirement to raft this section is 8 years old. Section IV includes Class II-IV+ rapids, including the famous Five Falls (five class IV+ rapids in roughly a 1/4 mile stretch). The minimum age requirement to raft Section IV is 13. A number of signature rapids on this river were featured in the motion picture Deliverance
.
The Forest Plan
, issued in 1976 and revised in January 2004, restricted motorized craft, closed many roads to the river and prohibited floating on the upper 21 miles (33.8 km) of river. This plan was challenged by several boating advocacy groups, causing the United States Forest Service
to withdraw the plan of 2004 and ordering a Visitor Use Capacity Analysis. The USFS anticipates its final decision in the spring of 2010. Until then no boating is allowed above Highway 28.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Tugaloo River
Tugaloo River
The Tugaloo River is a river bordering the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina. It is fed by the Tallulah River and the Chattooga River, which each form an arm of Lake Tugalo, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam,...
. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina
Cashiers, North Carolina
Cashiers is a census-designated place and unincorporated village located in southern Jackson County, North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the community had a total population of 157. During the summer season , the population swells to 20,000...
, and it stretches 57 miles (91.7 km) to where it has its confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
with the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
within Lake Tugalo
Lake Tugalo
Lake Tugalo is a reservoir with of shoreline located in the northeastern Georgia in Habersham and Rabun counties, but also lies partially in Oconee County, South Carolina. It is the fifth lake in a six-lake series created by hydroelectric dams operated by Georgia Power that follows the original...
, held back by the Tugalo Dam. The Chattooga and the Tallulah combine to make the Tugaloo River
Tugaloo River
The Tugaloo River is a river bordering the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina. It is fed by the Tallulah River and the Chattooga River, which each form an arm of Lake Tugalo, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam,...
starting at the outlet of Lake Tugalo. The Chattooga begins in southern Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
, then flows southwestward between northwestern Oconee County, South Carolina, and eastern Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
. The "Chattooga" spelling was approved by the US Board on Geographic Names in 1897.
The river was used as a setting for the fictional Cahulawassee River in the book and film Deliverance
Deliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
.
The Chattooga River flows into Tugalo Lake where it joins the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
. After flowing through Tugalo Dam the combined rivers become the Tugaloo River which, along with the Seneca River, becomes the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
below Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah...
. Downstream from that point, the water flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
.
Geology
The Chattooga River serves as part of the boundaryBorder
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
between Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
after leaving North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
near latitude 35°N
35th parallel north
The 35th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 35 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
. The Chattooga River was not the original boundary line between South Carolina and Georgia. A treaty of 1816 extended the South Carolina boundary to its current location. Prior to 1816, the Chattooga was on the lands of the Cherokee Indian Nation
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
.
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, where the Chattooga starts, are considered to be ancient, even by geological standards. The rock is mostly sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
which were laid down approximately 600 to 750 million years ago. Geologists believe that the Chattooga may have made one direction change during its life. Originally, it probably flowed southwesterly into the Chattahoochee riverbed and on to the Gulf of Mexico, but at some point, the Savannah River eroded its northern headland until it intersected the Chattooga and diverted it to the Atlantic.
The rocks in the riverbed probably fell from the ridge above, but those rocks do not necessarily remain where they fall. In times of great downpours, high water, and fast currents, rocks can become dislodged and move downstream, taking other rocks and debris with them. During Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004, the wind force and waters knocked down big boulders off the sides. The hurricane released enough water in the Chattooga watershed to bring the river to its highest recorded flow rate, around 26000 cuft/s to 28000 cuft/s, rivaling the typical flow of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
.
Wild and Scenic River
Since May 10, 1974, the Chattooga River has been protected along a 15432 acres (6,245.1 ha) corridor as a national Wild and Scenic River. 39.8 miles (64.1 km) of the river have been designated “wild”, about 2.5 miles (4 km) “scenic”, and 14.6 miles (23.5 km) “recreational” for a total of about 57 miles (91.7 km). On the commercially rafted sections (III and IV) there is a 1/4 to 1/2 mile buffer zone of National Forest on both sides of the river, allowing no roads or development of any kind within that distance. The Chattooga also bisects the Ellicott Rock WildernessEllicott Rock Wilderness
The Ellicott Rock Wilderness was designated in 1975 and currently consists of surrounding the point at which Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina come together. It is the only wilderness that straddles three states...
which straddles three states (Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) and three National Forests (the Chattahoochee, Nantahala
Nantahala National Forest
The Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...
and Sumter
Sumter National Forest
The Sumter National Forest is one of two forests in South Carolina that are managed together by the United States Forest Service, the other being the Francis Marion National Forest. The Sumter National Forest consists of which are divided into several non-contiguous sections in western South...
National Forests). Much of the Georgia portion of the river is within the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest. One of the many factors that contribute to this virtually unchanged river is its inaccessibility. In the 50-60 miles that is the Chattooga, only four bridges exist to cross, the most heavily-used being the Highway 76
U.S. Route 76
U.S. Route 76 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:...
bridge, which had to be reconstructed after the flood-stage water level brought on by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Tributaries
The river is split into three forks. The Chattooga River is the main fork, running along the state line. The East Fork Chattooga River (sometimes East Prong Chattooga River) runs in from Jackson County, North Carolina and then Oconee County, South Carolina, and is 7.4 miles (11.9 km) long. The West Fork Chattooga River (variant name Gumekoloke Creek) runs 6 miles (9.7 km) in from Rabun County, Georgia, and is also a variant name for that county's Holcomb Creek, one of its own tributaries.One of the largest tributaries in the Chattooga basin that flows mainly through private lands is Stekoa Creek, which flows primarily southeast for approximately 18 miles (29 km) from its headwaters in Mountain City, Georgia
Mountain City, Georgia
Mountain City is an incorporated town in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 829 at the 2000 census. The town straddles the Eastern Continental Divide in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain front. The gap allows U.S...
, through Clayton, Georgia
Clayton, Georgia
Clayton is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Rabun County and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.-History:...
, to its mouth at the Chattooga River. The Stekoa Creek Basin is approximately 45 square miles (116.5 km²) in size.
Rafting and boating
In the late spring, the river is lined with bloomingBlossom
In botany, blossom is a term given to the flowers of stone fruit trees and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring...
pink and white mountain laurel. Early spring is also a great time to go rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, or canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
because of the higher flows and cooler temperatures. The Chattooga is a free-flowing river (no upstream dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
to control the flow) which quickly responds to rainfall or drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
conditions. As a drop-pool style river, rapids are followed by calm pools for swimming.
The Chattooga headwaters start near Cashiers
Cashiers, North Carolina
Cashiers is a census-designated place and unincorporated village located in southern Jackson County, North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the community had a total population of 157. During the summer season , the population swells to 20,000...
as a small stream, but North Carolina Highway 28 is the start of the legally boatable section. Section I is the West Fork and is ideal for tubing and class II float trips. Section II starting at Highway 28 is a class II float. Section III has Class II-IV rapids which rafters and kayakers frequent. The minimum age requirement to raft this section is 8 years old. Section IV includes Class II-IV+ rapids, including the famous Five Falls (five class IV+ rapids in roughly a 1/4 mile stretch). The minimum age requirement to raft Section IV is 13. A number of signature rapids on this river were featured in the motion picture Deliverance
Deliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
.
The Forest Plan
Forest plans
In the United States conservation policy, forest plans are land and resource management plans for units of the National Forest System under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the National Forest Management Act...
, issued in 1976 and revised in January 2004, restricted motorized craft, closed many roads to the river and prohibited floating on the upper 21 miles (33.8 km) of river. This plan was challenged by several boating advocacy groups, causing the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
to withdraw the plan of 2004 and ordering a Visitor Use Capacity Analysis. The USFS anticipates its final decision in the spring of 2010. Until then no boating is allowed above Highway 28.
External links
- Chattooga-river.net
- Photos & more info on Chattooga River Activities
- Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests official site
- Chattooga River History Project Literature Review and Interview Summary
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 00, paddling banned
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 0, paddling banned
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 1, paddling banned
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 2, Class II
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 3, Class III+
- National Whitewater River Inventory: Section 4, Class IV+