2018 Advanced Southeast Release Schedule Set!

Posted: 01/07/2018
By: Kevin Colburn

It is looking like another great year to be a paddler in the Southeast! Over the past two decades American Whitewater has worked with affiliate clubs and partners to negotiate an awesome array of scheduled releases on river reaches previously dewatered by hydropower dams. Each year we are part of a process to schedule these releases in an integrated manner that aims to maximize their recreational value. Below you'll find the schedule for 2018, and it is always a great idea to check on the power company's website for any updates on the Cheoah or West Fork Tuckasegee and Upper Nantahala (Select Nantahala and then see Bypass Schedule links on right). 

We'd like to share a special thank you to all the volunteers that help pull off Tallulah releases every year, NOC for the free shuttles on the Upper Nantahala, and the Forest Service for all their support around releases.

For every Class IV and V release we have negotiated in the region, we've also secured vastly more Class II and III releases on rivers like the Tuck, Nantahala, Catawba, and Hiwassee. So no matter what your skill level, we hope you have a great 2018 in the South!

February

2/24: Cheoah @1000 8am-12pm, 600 12pm-5pm (note 2/26 is @ 200cfs)

 

March

3/24: Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm, 600 4pm-12am

3/25: Cheoah @600 12am-12pm, 300 12pm through 3/26

 

April

4/7: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm, Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm

4/8: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm, Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm

4/14: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm, Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

4/15: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm, Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm (note 4/16 is at 300)

4/21: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm, Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

4/22: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm, Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

4/28: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 10am-4pm

4/29: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 350 10am-4pm

 

May

5/12: Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

5/13: Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

5/19: Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

5/20: Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

5/26: Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

5/27: Cheoah @1000 8am-2pm & 850 2pm-4pm

 

June

6/9: West Fork Tuck @ 250 10am-4pm

6/15: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250 4pm-7pm

 

July

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

7/14: West Fork Tuck @ 250, 10am-4pm

7/20: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250, 4pm-7pm

7/28: West Fork Tuck @ 250, 10am-4pm

 

August

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

8/10: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 250, 4pm-7pm

8/11: West Fork Tuck @ 250, 10am-4pm

8/25: West Fork Tuck @ 250, 10am-4pm

 

September

9/29: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 300, 10am-5pm

9/30: Upper Nantahala / Cascades @ 425, 10am-3pm; @ 250 3pm-5pm

 

October

10/6: Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

 

November

11/3: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm, Cheoah @1000 8am-4pm

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

11/10: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm

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

11/17: Tallulah @ 500 8am-4pm

11/18: Tallulah @ 700 8am-4pm

 

Have fun and be safe out there! If you do have fun, please consider donating to American Whitewater to help us do more work like this in the region.

Associated Projects

Cheoah River (NC)

AW and regional paddling clubs spent 5 years relicensing the dam on the Cheoah and scored a huge environmental and recreational victory.

Nantahala Relicensing (NC)

AW has worked with regional stakeholders to relicense several dams on the Nantahala River and its tributaries since 2000.

Tallulah Gorge (GA)

The dams on Tallulah Gorge were among the first rivers in the Southeast to be relicensed and wow what a classic whitewater river it has become.

Tuckasegee Relicensing (NC)

AW signed a settlement calling for new dam releases, sweeping conservation measures, new access, and the removal of Dillsboro Dam in North Carolina.

Join AW and support river stewardship nationwide!