Ocoee

A watercolor painting of Marty Vaughn on the Upper Ocoee at Alien Boof at the Carolina Canoe Club Week of Rivers.

Saturday my son Jesse, Dave Beckner and myself removed all the wood from Alien Boof. We ran Alien on Saturday but the strainer did make it harder to run since it was right where we normally run Alien. There was quit a bit of wood piled up on the drop some pieces were 12 inches in diameter an 8 feet long. I will post some pictures of the wood before we removed it.

Photo taken by U.S. Forest Service Staff at the White Water Center. This is the Olympic competition channel after the sluice waters receded.

On Monday, January 5, 2009, the Division of Water Pollution Control, Chattanooga Field Office received a complaint from the U.S. Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest, and the Ocoee River White Water Center reporting that starting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2009, the Olympic Reach of the Ocoee River was suddenly overwhelmed by muddy-sludge that was black and smelled terrible. As a result, the Forest Service reported that sludge/sediment/ooze was deposited throughout the Olympic Reach of the Ocoee River and in some places up to 3.5 feet in depth (see Photograph 1).

Chattanooga Field Office staff visited the White Water Center reach of the Ocoee River on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, to document what had occurred. Driving up the Ocoee River Gorge, staff noted that the Ocoee River was flowing but that the water was very turbid. Upon reaching the Olympic reach of the Ocoee River, it was noted that the turbidity had increased and the Olympic competition channel portion of the Olympic reach was approximately ВЅ full (see Photograph 2). In addition, Forest Service employees were walking the stream bank picking up what dead fish they could find. Due to the magnitude of the mud/sludge/ooze release, fish were killed and washed down stream or killed and buried in the mud/sludge/ooze. Consequently, a count of dead fish was not possible. No live fish were seen.

It was learned from a telephone discussion on January 6, 2009, with Mr. Charles L. Bach, General Manager, River Scheduling, that the source of the mud/sludge/ooze was TVA Ocoee Dam #3. TVA had opened the bottom sluice gates at Ocoee Dam #3 to draw the water level behind the dam down to elevation 1420 in preparations for repair work on Ocoee #2 Dam. As explained by Mr. Bach, the drawdown was needed to protect workers as they worked to repair a leaking Dam #2. There had been no inquiries regarding permit requirements or coordination with TDEC concerning these special operations of the Ocoee series of dams and powerhouses. Link to official document: http://media.timesfreepress.com/docs/2009/01/TVA-Ocoee-Dam.doc

Sucking it up
Kieth was rippin' it up today
Theres plenty white here to share.

View upstream from bridge, river w/o water
View upsteam from bridge with water.
Down stream from bridge w/o water
Downstream from bridge with water

As a result of the the accident that occurred last weekend on Alien ledge, I think it is crucial that the streamkeeper add a warning about the terminal seive in order to prevent future tragedy. For more information, read the posts on boater talk or email me riekhof_b@acadmn.mercer.edu

-Ben

We'll always remember you, Stan.

Real Fun

This was our clean run, for that our camera died before the carnage run through the Olympic section. The next run, the puma surfed smiley's and we had to chase the boat on past the Olympic bridge while two of our people had some nasty swims. Park and Huck special.

The last stroke
The landing after a nice mid-air adjustment turning 90* to the right! So sweet!
Scott runs the alternate line at Alien

Signing day at the Ocoee Olympic Whitewater Center for an agreement that will bring 54 days per year of recreational releases in the Upper Ocoee for the next 15 years!

Congressman Zach Wamp and AW's Kevin Colburn shake hands on the bridge over the Ocoee Olympic Whitewater Course, moments after an agreement was signed that will provide 54 annual recreational releases in the Upper Ocoee beginning in 2004. Thanks Congressman Wamp!

Jason Foley on the Upper Ocoee River at 2,400 cfs in Tennessee.
Gordon Byrd hands paddling the Upper Ocoee River doing the Alien Boof at 2,400 cfs.
Jason Foley doing the Alien Boof move on the Upper Ocoee River at 2,400 cfs the Summer of 2003.
Gordon Byrd hands paddling the Upper Ocoee the Summer of 2003.

Ha ha...

3 quickys at Alien

Omer Hall doing the Alien Boof on the Upper Ocoee.
Adam Thomas doing the Alien Boof on the Upper Ocoee.

This is a 1. 8MB Quicktime movie of
Tao's practice ride before the 2002
American Whitewater Teva
Championships Men's Hole Riding
competition.

Rick drops left at huge, avoiding the diagonal wavetrain.
Surprisingly dry, this time.
Never mind the wildlife, Rick lines up for the 50 yard wavetrain dash.

Dave Wilson doing the Alien Boof at Dave's Pride Rapid on the Upper Ocoee River.
Gordon Byrd running Dave's Pride Rapid on the Upper Ocoee River in Tennese.
Jason Foley running Dave's Pride Rapid on the Upper Ocoee River at 1,400cfs.
Jeremy Perry raft guiding on the Upper Ocoee River at Dave's Pride Rapid, Summer 2002.
Gordon Byrd doing the Alien Boof on the Upper Ocoee River in Tennessee.

Guaranteed summertime action on the Ocoee River

Although slippery, the river right eddie is adequate enough for a peel-out.I aim for the seam about six feet off the bank.

The line here reminds me of 7 Ft. Falls on the Chattooga River.

Boaters need to be aware of this hazard located slightly upstream of the actual 'boof' line. If one is on line and charging for the 'boof,' the boater will pass almost directly over the sieve which will be at an approximate depth of three feet underneath the water at normal release levels. However, this is not a place to be out of one's craft (scouting or swimming). This photo was taken from downstream and to the river-right side of the sieve.
This is the standard boof line as seen from the river left shore. The sieve is located in the dark area underneath and approximately 1/4 up the white arrow from the right side of the photo. At normal levels the sieve should not be an issue so long as one is in his boat, in control, and going for the boof (the approach is in moving flatwater). However, for a swimmer or someone attempting the line at a low flow, it is a lethal hazard.
The standard boof line will pass almost directly over the sieve which is located in the flatwater approach to the actual boof. At normal release levels (1400cfs) the sieve opening will be approximately 3 1/2 feet under the surface and should not be an issue. However, at lower flows or if someone were swimming, it would certainly be a hazard.
This is the view of the sieve opening from within the grotto. Below the opening the sieve widens considerably and has an irregular depth of from four to seven feet. The water filters out through several small passages and one large opening in the river left wall.
A large opening exists in the river left wall of the grotto. The large bedrock slab seen in the sunshine is the one where boaters often take out and carry back up for another run of the boof, or carry back up and ferry across the river for a run of Mikey's Ledge. Whether or not this exit could be found when the grotto is full of turbulent water is an unknown.
Strange light patterns dance on the stone walls inside the grotto.
The 'Blue Hole' is actually a swimming hole located at the run-out of the long rapid above the 1996 Olympic Bridge (this rapid has been known to some of us as 'The Gauntlet' since the late 70s). The name 'Blue Hole' comes from the delightful experience of submerging oneself into the bottom of one of the nearby connected potholes and gazing up through the clear water at the blue sky framed by the pothole's opening. Goggles or a face mask help!
An underwater view of a pothole skylight taken from the grotto of an adjoining pothole.

Boof on upper Rio Chia Chia (Ocoee)

Alien Boof is where the upper Ocoee is split by an island. River right of the island is Mickey's Ledge and river left is Alien Boof.
Mickey's Ledge is where the river is split by an island. River right of the island is Mickey's ledge and river left is Alien Boof.
The bottom of Blue Hole is filled with hungry meaty holes. You can bomb down the center, like this paddler. Or sneak on river left.
Below the Olympic Section are the three largest holes found on the Ocoee. These holes come back to back to back and are referred to by a variety of names. (Trash Can, Roach Motel, and Glass Slipper) Each hole can be punched with enough speed. However, if you try this, be prepared for an extended visit. Here is a raft trip punching the meat of the second hole.
Below the Olympic Section are the three largest holes found on the Ocoee. These holes come back to back to back and are referred to by a variety of names. (Trash Can, Roach Motel, and Glass Slipper) Each hole can be punched with enough speed. However, if you try this, be prepared for an extended visit. Here is Tad Day skirting the right side of the last hole.
Edge-Of-The-World (aka Thunder Rock Rapid) can be run anywhere. Nolan Whitsell prefers the far right line. If you look closely, you'll see a paddler running far left.

Relaxing under the pavillion at OAR during a summer shower
How can you pull this on a stomach full of chinese buffet?
Whippersnappers out of the way, Mr Yell was representin'