American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers like the lower Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Hiwassee, and Catawba, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies, and discuss any issues with the release programs. We strive to create a schedule with minimal conflicts to maximize recreational value. Below are the 2023 dates for the Class IV/V Cheoah, Nantahala Cascades & Upper, West Fork Tuck, and Tallulah rivers. 

 

In addition to these releases, the Green River (Upper, Narrows, and Lower) now have a release schedule. While we don't have a 2023 calendar for the Green, it will closely follow the 2020 schedule. The short-term forecast can be found here. 

 

Please do what you can to help make these releases successful. A few ideas are to volunteer to help out onsite with Tallulah, purchase the Forest wristband/permit for the Cheoah and enjoy some Graham County businesses, respect private property along the West Fork Tuck, and don't block traffic on the Upper/Cascades and consider putting in a mile or so up Old River Rd or taking the shuttle. Enjoy these releases, big thanks to all the volunteers and agency staff that make these releases possible, be safe out there, and we appreciate your support of this work. 

 

February

2/25: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-12pm, 600 12pm-5pm (note 2/26 is @ 200 cfs)

 

March

3/18: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm, 600 4pm-12am

3/19: Cheoah @600 12am-12pm, 300 12pm through 3/20

3/25: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm 

3/26: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm 

 

April

4/1: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm 

4/2: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm 

4/8: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm; Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

4/9: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm; Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm 

4/15: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

4/16: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm 

4/22: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 10am-4pm

4/23: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 350 10am-4pm

4/29: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

4/30: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

 

May

5/6: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

5/7: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

5/20: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

5/21: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

5/27: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

5/28: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

 

June

6/10: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

6/16: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm

6/29: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm (Thursday)(Cancelled)

 

July

7/6: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm (Thursday)(Cancelled)

7/8: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

7/29: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

 

August

8/4: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm

8/5: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm 

8/12: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

8/17: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm (Thursday) (Resceduled to this day)

8/19: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

 

September

9/7: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm (Thursday) (Resceduled to this day)

9/23: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 300, 10am-5pm

9/24: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 425, 10am-3pm; @ 250 3pm-5pm

 

October

10/7: Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

 

November

11/4: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm 

11/5: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm

11/11: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm; Cheoah @ 1000 8am-4pm

11/12: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm

11/18: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm

11/19: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm

 

Have fun and be safe out there! 

 

Photo courtesy of https://www.davidhousephoto.com