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The Chattooga River (also spelled Chatooga, Chatuga, and Chautaga, variant name Guinekelokee River) is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River in the United States.
The Chattooga and the Tallulah rivers combine to make the Tugaloo River, which is considered to start at the outlet of Lake Tugalo. Downriver from the Tugaloo's confluence with the Seneca River, it is known as the Savannah River below Lake Hartwell. Downstream from that point, the water flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia.
The Chattooga was the model for the fictional 'Cahulawassee River' in James Dickey's novel, Deliverance (1970). Scenes for the 1972 film of the same name with Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox were shot along the Chattooga River.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, where the Chattooga starts, are considered to be ancient, even by geological standards. The rock is mostly granite. Geologists believe that the Chattooga may have made one stream capture during its life. Originally, it probably flowed southwesterly into the Chattahoochee River and on to the Gulf of Mexico. At some point, the Savannah River eroded its northern headland until it captured the Chattooga and diverted its waters to the Atlantic.
The rocks in the riverbed probably fell from the ridge above, but such rocks do not necessarily remain where they fall. In times of great downpours, high water, and fast currents, rocks can become dislodged and move downstream, taking other rocks and debris with them. During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the wind force and waters knocked big boulders off the banks of the river. The hurricane dropped so much water in the Chattooga watershed that the river was recorded at its highest flow rate, around to , rivaling the typical flow of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
Known as the "Crown Jewel" of the southeast, the Chattooga was the first river east of the Mississippi to be granted the Wild & Scenic designation, and is still the only one that is commercially rafted.
One of the largest tributaries in the Chattooga basin that flows mainly through private lands is Stekoa Creek, which flows primarily southeast for approximately from its headwaters in Mountain City, Georgia, through Clayton, Georgia, to its mouth at the Chattooga River. Stekoa Creek has been identified as the single greatest threat to the Chattooga's water quality. This is due primarily to raw sewage leaking from the City of Clayton's old sewage collection system, overflowing storm drains, runoff laden with sediment, poor agricultural practices, failing septic systems, and illegal dumping. Non-profit organizations, such as the Chattooga Conservancy, have made improving water quality in Stekoa Creek a top priority. The Stekoa Creek Basin is approximately in size.
The Forest plans, issued in 1976 and revised in January 2004, restricted motorized craft, closed many roads to the river, and prohibited floating on the upper of river. This plan was challenged by several boating advocacy groups, causing the United States Forest Service to withdraw the plan of 2004 and ordering a Visitor Use Capacity Analysis.
The USFS issued its final decision in January 2012. Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests – Home The decision expanded boating onto some sections of the upper Chattooga, including Section 1, with a number of restrictions based on season, section of river, property ownership, time of day, and water level. The decision has proved controversial due to the excessive number of deaths that have occurred on the river in this area. Boating remains illegal above Greens Creek and below Licklog Creek. This section is difficult, commonly contains flood debris, flows infrequently, and will likely see limited whitewater use.
Rafting and boating
In the late spring, the river is lined with Blossom pink and white Kalmia latifolia. Early spring is also a great time to go rafting, kayaking, or canoeing because of the higher flows and cooler temperatures. The Chattooga is a free-flowing river (no upstream dam to control the flow) which quickly responds to rainfall or drought conditions. As a drop-pool style river, rapids are followed by calm pools for swimming.
The Chattooga headwaters are located in the Whiteside Mountain area on the Blue Ridge escarpment near Cashiers, NC. Flowing through Cashiers as a small stream, the upper stretches (Sections 00, 0, and 1) are excellent trout waters and, depending on water level, are either not boatable or restricted. Section 1, beginning at Burrell's Ford, is very hazardous and restricted to certain months and water levels. The West Fork, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Section 1, is ideal for tubing and class II float trips. It begins at the Overflow Road Bridge and terminates at the Section 2 put-in. American Whitewater - Overflow Creek Road Bridge to Highway 28 Boater's Access, Chattooga, West Fork Georgia, US Section 2, starting at Highway 28, is a class II float. American Whitewater - Section 2 - Highway 28 Putin to Earl's Ford, Chattooga Georgia, US/South Carolina, US Section 3 has Class II-IV rapids which rafters and kayakers frequent. The final rapid in Section 3 is Bull Sluice. American Whitewater - Section 3 - Earls Ford to Route 76 Bridge, Chattooga Georgia, US/South Carolina, US Section 4 includes Class II-V rapids, including the famous Five Falls (five class III-V rapids in roughly a 1/4 mile stretch). American Whitewater - Section 4 - Route 76 Bridge to Tugaloo Lake Boat Ramp, Chattooga Georgia, US/South Carolina, US The minimum age requirement to raft Section 3 is eight, and Section 4 is twelve. A number of signature rapids on this river were featured in the motion picture Deliverance.
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External links
Categories: Protected Areas Of Rabun County, Georgia, Protected Areas Of Jackson County, North Carolina, Protected Areas Of Oconee County, South Carolina, Sumter National Forest, Borders Of Georgia, Borders Of South Carolina, Chattahoochee-oconee National Forest, Tributaries Of The Savannah River, Rivers Of Rabun County, Georgia, Rivers Of Jackson County, North Carolina, Rivers Of Oconee County, South Carolina
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