MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Tennant, 828-749-3200
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OCOEE OLYMPIC SITE FLOWS FREE AFTER 7 YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS
Non-profit, river conservation group, American Whitewater and key Ocoee VIPs to sign new agreement
WASHINGTON, DC/September 25, 2003/ — The Ocoee Olympic Whitewater river will flow freely once again in 2004 thanks to an ad-hoc stakeholder group nick-named, “The Kitchen Cabinet” made up of whitewater advocates, utility company owners, forest service representatives, politicians and regional business leaders. Key VIPS will meet on Friday, September 26, 2003 at the Ocoee Olympic Whitewater Center to sign a new water agreement, open mountain biking trails and kick-off Ocoee River Days.
The plan is to sign an agreement that provides 54 annual days of recreational releases in the Upper Ocoee for 15 years. The group will present the agreement to federal, state, local and private funding sources to encourage their financial support for this effort.
While the signing is a private, invitation-only event, area whitewater paddlers are encouraged to show up to paddle below the bridge to show their support.
“This agreement represents a huge success for whitewater enthusiasts, mountain bikers, hikers and local businesses,” states Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater Eastern Conservation and Access Director. “We’ve been working on a commitment to insure that the Upper section of the Ocoee will flow freely since the 1996 Olympic Games were hosted at this site. It’s a fantastic resource for both people who enjoy the river and for members of the business community.” Colburn also credited the Tennessee Valley Authority and Outfitters Association for their willingness in crafting the historical agreement.
Colburn reports that American Whitewater’s 2002 Teva National Freestyle Championships acted as a rallying cry for regional recreational and economic development interests and a catalyst for TVA to reconsider the costs and benefits associated with providing recreational releases on the Upper Ocoee.
“American Whitewater is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004 and what a river-flowing win to report,” remarked Colburn.
American Whitewater is a national, non-profit group that works for river access, safety, and conservation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on behalf of the public who paddles, hikes, fishes or simply enjoys whitewater rivers. It is best known among whitewater enthusiasts for creating the class system that rates whitewater rivers (classes 1-6) and for its in-depth web resource that details all river information (levels, directions, history, etc.) throughout the nation at www.americanwhitewater.org. ###
EDITOR NOTE: Whitewater photos and interviews available by calling Michelle Tennant at 828.749.3200 or emailing michelle@tennant.org ###