Open Walk-On from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
First three weekends in November: 2-3, 9-10, 16-17
Saturdays at 500 cfs and Sundays at 700 cfs
That’s right, Tallulah season starts this weekend!
Releases begin at 9:30 am and all boaters must start down the stairs by 3:00 pm to beat the flow down to the lake. You will need to sign a waiver at the top of the stairs to be permitted to paddle the river and veteran Tallulah boaters will need only to initial our registry. Please continue to park across the road from the put-in for a $2.00 fee per vehicle, and remember that you must go under the bridge to cross the road. As always, boater camping is across the bridge toward the Interpretative Center on the right; you will see the signs.
Last November’s releases on the Tallulah River were the most popular ever, with as many as 400 boaters per day climbing down the 653 steps into one of the South’s premier whitewater runs. This is opposed to the 120-boater limit under the old permit system. Thanks to boater cooperation, permit-free weekends are here for yet another year, but with this increase in use, the need for us to tread lightly increases. If we do, the chance of getting more releases in a few years also increases. If we don’t, then the permit system could return.
To help us keep permit-free access, here’s how you can help:
1. DON’T TRAMPLE THE TRILLIUM!
Keep boats and bodies on the steps, bedrock, or water at ALL TIMES, especially at the bottom of the stairs, where some boaters jump the right rail or throw their boats vertically over the back of the platform. These areas are home to the one thing that could effectively end ALL releases on the Tallulah: persistent trillium. Also, keep your impact on the riverbank to a bare minimum in connection with scouting rapids. This is absolutely CRITICAL because the protection of this endangered species literally makes or breaks permit-free releases in the Gorge. Remember, boaters now enjoy unlimited use of the Tallulah, but hikers and climbers are still limited to 120 visitors per day in the Gorge. Let’s keep the river open!
2. DON’T RUN THE TALLULAH IF YOU AREN’T READY!
Running the Tallulah successfully and safely requires confident Class IV-V boating skills. An increase in accidents would have a direct relationship with the 120-boater permit system returning and/or the denial of our efforts to secure additional release weekends. Please remember that the Tallulah is NOT a step-up run, especially from the Ocoee, and please know your skills before attempting the Tallulah. Because of the fragile ecosystem in the Gorge, frequent scouting is often difficult (thus, the ability to boat-scout continuous Class IV whitewater is recommended) and portaging rapids on any surface other than bedrock (like Oceana and Bridal Veil) could cause significant harm to the trillium species. So, be careful!
3. VOLUNTEER!
We can’t do it without you! We need help managing parking, working at the registration tables, working with the AW staff, carrying the med-kit in and out, managing parking and boater camping, and even doing some carpentry work on the stairs. And yes, ALL VOLUNTEERS GET TO BOAT TOO! Also, this year, if you volunteer for at least three hours, you get FREE PARKING, and for two days of volunteering, FREE CAMPING! If you would like more information about Tallulah volunteering, please e-mail me at sutton@suttonbacon.com.
4. DON’T LITTER!
Last year, some folks were a bit irresponsible with the medical kit at Oceana. We have a waste container in there now: use it! That also goes for PowerBar wrappers and water bottles. If you pack it in, please pack it out.
5. USE THE FREE SHUTTLES RESPECTFULLY!
We don’t require folks to use the free shuttles that Georgia Power, NOC, and AW supply, but it significantly helps with parking problems if folks use them. At the take-out, be nice, patient, and wait your turn. Also, please remember that shuttles do not begin until at 11:30 am at the earliest, so plan your run accordingly.
6. KEEP THE BEER LOW PROFILE!
Remember that although alcohol is technically prohibited in state parks, the wonderful Tallulah rangers have said as long as boaters remain discrete (plastic cups, etc), they would avoid writing any tickets. Since they are being understanding about this, we need to return the favor by being respectful of them. If you are planning on drinking at any of the state regulated areas (Gorge, parking lot, boater camping, etc), grab a complimentary plastic cup at the AW tent and please drink responsibly and discretely or you may get a ticket!
7. USE THE BOAT RACK!
Last spring, AW volunteers constructed a boat rack on the back of the platform. So by all means, use it instead of placing your boat on or off the platform! We hope this can lighten some of the crowding at the bottom of the stairs and give weary boaters ample room to rest their legs after the hike, but in case there is confusion at the bottom, PLEASE do not (or let your boat) venture from the stairs for ANY reason!
8. NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE!
Many of you noticed the new suspension bridge linking boater camping with the stairs, but the use of it during whitewater releases is prohibited by the state park. Not that we don’t think you and your boat could make it swinging 100 feet above Hurricane Falls, you’ll just have to go the long way around for now.
9. AW TALLULAH COOKOUT!
On Saturday, November 9, AW will hold a cookout at boater camping with FREE FOOD and DRINKS for all AW members, a paddling video show, and a bonfire. Anyone interested in contributing cooking skills or entertainment, please contact me. Of course, more information to come…
10. TALLULAH RACE!
Sorry if I got your hopes up. Once again, NO RACE THIS FALL. In coming years, an official race and rolling rodeo may be organized by American Whitewater, Georgia Power, and DNR, only at a time when we would ensure an open and uncrowded riverbed, with ample safety boats and rope positions set throughout the course — instead of during a crowded open release, particularly when releases are scarce to begin with. However, in the meantime, we welcome your feedback (positive or negative) about such an event.
11. AND FINALLY…
Don’t forget, there would be no releases in Tallulah Gorge if it were not for the hard work of the American Whitewater staff and volunteers AND that the continuation of permit-free access to Tallulah Gorge lays in the hands of the boating community! Let’s all continue to demonstrate our superb stewardship of this natural resource.
As always, for more information, check out the best StreamKeeper site on the entire SK network, Brad Robert’s Tallulah Gorge page: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/506
Also, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sutton@suttonbacon.com.
Thanks and we’ll see you at Tallulah!
Sutton Bacon
AW Tallulah Coordinator