Ocoee info

[BEubanks]

So is the Ocoee running every day? The posted TVA schedule still shows the standard release (none on Tues and Wed). But unless the flume is repaired it's running every day, right? Hoping to go next week, but need those two mid-week days to make it worthwhile.

[druse]

It's running everyday at the moment, the non scheduled release days are at a lower cfs. The weekends are higher since the upper is running and seem to be consistently around 1500 cfs. Hope this helps.

[BEubanks]

Thanks. The lower level on Tues and Wed still has enough water for a decent run?

[Michele Jackson]

We were there there Tues/Wed June 1,2 and it was plenty of water. Felt pretty "normal" to me; don't know what the actual cfs was. Not as high as the weekend but great nonetheless.

[philllll]

not a forecast, but does show recent observations of #2 flows.

I'm likely doing some midweek boating there next week so I've been keeping tabs.
daily releases have been in the 1400 cfs range which i guess is driven by generation on #3.

http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo? ... =View+data" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T Yamashita]

We were there driving past today & the commercial guys were running people down. A pretty light crowd so you're in luck! ty

[mtnmanyaker]

I just got back from the ocoee on friday and they ran it everyday i was there some days were bigger... tuesday was bigger than the rest so you just have to get on and check the tva website... also on the off days they tend to release a little later.

[Dave Thomas]

Well the Ocoee was running good yesterday. Not sure of the exact cfm. Off days or non-scheduled release days are the days to go. You don't have to fight for space with the comm. rafts and the changing water levels add to the complexity of the river. However, as local rainfall continues to decrease, more and more folks are taking advantage of the off days.

[BEubanks]

Arrived in Cleveland this morning 2:00 AM local time. Got in a quick R2 run first to remind ourselves of the drops, lines, etc. Then got our second run in late afternoon. Water appeared to drop 5-6 inches by the time we took off at Goforth. Tomorrow we'll see how the mid week levels are.

The river was definitely not crowded today. We put on around 11:00 or so for the first run and got in between the rafting crowd. By the time we took off the second run, we were virtually alone on that stretch. A refreshing change.

[BEubanks]

Two great runs today. First in kayaks, second in R2. 1400+cfs and the river almost to ourselves. There were a few other rafts and very few kayakers today. But most of the time we could see no other boaters upstream or down. Easy parking by Hell Hole, too.

Five eddies at Broken nose and a double Watauga today!

Ocoee photos has a good six shot of us in the R2 at Double Trouble.

http://www.ocoeephotos.com/mp_includes/body.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 9812-17

[Jim Krueger]

Those are fine pictures Byron! I have to grin when I think about the differences in the Caddo River at Caddo Valley vs. the Ocoee :) It looks like you all are having just a great time there. I think I'd have to go for the raft myself.


Best Regards
Jim

P.S. Don't come home yet, it's hot here.

[ckuntz]

Hey Tim and Byron! Hope you guys are having a good time! Planning on trying the Ocoee myself at end of July.. Look forward to hearing about all the details
Chris K :)

[BEubanks]

Another great day with two runs: kayaks first followed by R2. A little bit late start on the second since someone left the pump charging it's battery back in the hotel room. Anyway, just over 1400 cfs all day. We'll finish with a short run in the morning and then head back to AR. Can't post much video or photo from here: slow wireless speeds!

Again, we had the river nearly to ourselves today. What a treat!

[Tim Eubanks]

What a great trip. Hope TVA never fixes that flume. We really had the river to ourselves. A few rafts on MOnday, but other than that, we were often the only boaters in sight all day. If you can go during the week, GO!

I don't know who the somebody was that left the raft pump at the motel but he looked a lot like me. We needed the extra hour of rest.

Big brother Byron really worked the Hero this week. All 5 eddies in Broken Nose and the Double Watuga move.

Yes, Byron said kayaks. I made a run in my Prophet to make sure my brain and body still communicated well, then got in the kayak. Wanted to get "comfortable" and build confidence in my quest to be a well-rounded boater: OC-1, raft (row, paddle) and kayak. Did all three on this trip. Did not row the Puma this year (see notes on flipping Puma at Double Suck)

I have a Riot Magnum 72 creeker. Really stable, hits eddies well, easy to paddle for this "open boater". Rolling is still a matter of operator training. I took a couple of unplanned wet exits after missing first roll attempt, but always at the bottom of a successful run: meat of Broken Nose and Cat's pajamas (missed line pretty bad there).

Here's a shout out for our hosts, the Applegate Inn, in Cleveland. $40 a night for a double double. Clean, quiet, cheap. About half a mile south of the exit to Ocoee on the 64 bypass. We usually camp but it was just too hot this year.