Nantahala River

Coordinates: 35°01′22″N 83°30′18″W / 35.022687°N 83.50502°W / 35.022687; -83.50502

Nantahala Bridge, showing the high water level even in late summer (September).
Playboater on the Nantahala River
Mist in Nantahala Gorge, where cold water is released from the dam

The Nantahala /næntəˈheɪlə/ [1] River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two-lane U.S. Highway 19/74, once part of the Trail of Tears, runs along the river, picnic areas dotting the route.

The River rises near the border of Georgia and North Carolina, close to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and the Appalachian Trail. It empties into the Little Tennessee River at Fontana Lake.

The word Nantahala is Cherokee and means "Land of the Noonday Sun".[2] The river runs through a narrow and steep gorge where in some areas the sun reaches the ground only when it is directly overhead during the middle of the day.

Paddling

This river is popular with whitewater rafters, canoeists, and kayakers. Commercial rafting began in 1972 when the Nantahala Outdoor Center opened, leading to thousands of paddlers annually running the river. The Nantahala River was recently the site of the 2013 Freestyle World Championships.[3]

Fishing

The Nantahala is also a popular destination for fly fishing. Trout Unlimited has named the river one of the 100 Best Trout Streams in America,[4] and it is widely regarded as one of the premier destinations for trout fishing in the Eastern United States. The river is frequently used for competitions, clinics, and practices held by the US Men's and US Youth National Fly Fishing teams. Most recently, the Nantahala played host to the 2015 US Youth National Fly Fishing Championship and the 2015 Men's Southeast Regional, with sessions held on the Upper and Lower sections, as well as the Raven's Fork on the nearby Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Lower Run

The part that can be rafted is 8 miles long and has Class II and III rapids. It extends from the Nantahala Powerhouse to the town of Wesser. Private paddlers must pay a user fee, and twelve commercial outfitters are permitted by the USDA Forest Service to run guided trips. Two launch sites provide access. The main access is just downstream of the Nantahala Powerhouse and upstream of "Patton's Run". The other is at the Ferebee Memorial Picnic Area near where US 74 crosses the river. There are two take-out points, one above and one below "Upper Nantahala Falls." Notable rapids include "Patton's Run," "Quarry," "Whirlpool," "Surfers," "Bulls Run," and "Upper Nantahala Falls." Just beyond the main take-out point in Wesser lies Lower Nantahala Falls, or Wesser Falls, which drops off at about a 45 degree angle with many sharp rocks. Immediately after this point the Nantahala flows into Fontana Lake.

The flow rate of this section of the Nantahala is dependent on releases from Nantahala Lake, which is controlled by Duke Energy. The Nantahala dam is a diversion dam; the water that normally flows through the river is diverted through a 5.5 mile penstock before flowing through the Nantahala Powerhouse and back into the original river channel far downstream. The river is "on" when Duke Energy is generating electricity and releasing water. From late spring to early fall Duke Energy follows a regular release schedule[5] to help support commercial rafting.

The opening of the main penstock is near the bottom of the Nantahala dam, and is underground for most of its length. Because of this the discharged water is always at or near the average groundwater temperature, which in this region is in the mid 50s (F).

This section of river is popular as a fly fishing destination. Although it is regularly stocked under North Carolina's Hatchery Supported regulations, it is home to one of North Carolina's healthiest populations of wild, stream-born Rainbow Trout. The river also has a self sustaining population of Brown Trout, many of which grow large. The current North Carolina state record Brown Trout, weighing 24 lbs 10 oz, was caught from the Lower Nantahala in 1998, and specimens of 10 lbs or greater are fairly common.

Upper Run

The upper section of the river extends from the Nantahala Dam to the Nantahala Powerhouse. The uppermost section just below Whiteoak Falls is known as the Nantahala Cascades and is an extremely steep and challenging whitewater route. Upon reaching the bridge, the river becomes the Upper Nantahala and flattens out to become a solid Class III-IV run. The regular Nantahala River flow is diverted through a penstock so the only water normally flowing through this section comes from tributaries like Dick's Creek. However, during periods of very wet weather, or the rare long-term outage at the powerhouse,[6] the river flows full. This section of the channel is narrow and features several Class III+ to V rapids including "The Horns of God", "Big Kahuna", and "Chinese Feet."

In the Winter months, the Upper Nantahala is maintained as a delayed-harvest trout fishery from the mouth of Whiteoak Creek downstream to the Nantahala Powerhouse. The state of North Carolina stocks approximately 10,000 Brown, Rainbow, and Brook Trout annually in the upper river on top of an already existing population of stream-born Rainbow and Brown Trout.

References

  1. ↑ Talk Like A Tarheel, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  2. ↑ Mohlenbrock, Robert H. (14 May 2014). This Land. University of California Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-520-93055-1.
  3. ↑ "Nantahala River Gorge North Carolina – Rafting, Trout Fishing, Hiking and Mountain Biking Adventures". How Much Pay. November 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ Ross, John (2013). Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams. Globe Pequot. ISBN 978-0-7627-8031-0.
  5. ↑ "Scheduled Flow Releases". Duke Energy. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  6. ↑ Colburn, Kevin (2009-10-28). "Nantahala Dam to Spill This Fall". American Whitewater. Retrieved 2012-07-13.

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