Coosawattee beyond Carters’ big dam
Last week I wrote about floating the Coosawattee from Ellijay to Carters Dam. But, what lies beyond the huge Carters Dam?
Located less than a mile and a half downstream of Carters’ main dam is a second dam. The Carters Reregulation Reservoir Dam serves two purposes. It holds water released through the turbines so that it can be pumped back into the main lake to be used to generate power again. The dam also allows a constant flow downstream instead of pulses such as those typical of hydroelectric dams.
The water level in the reregulation lake can go up or down 6 to 8 feet each day as the lake receives water or is pumping water back up through the turbines. The water leaving the reregulation dam’s gates mimics the constant flow of an undammed river and it also helps to reduce the amount of water going downstream during torrential rain events, easing flood threats.
Talking Rock Creek adds its flow to the Coosawattee. Talking Rock is a whitewater stream that can be canoed for 24 miles before entering the reregulation lake. The best whitewater is the section that begins at Ga. 136 about 1.5 miles north and west of the new traffic circle at the junction of 136 Connector and 136. The takeout is at the old 136 road at the reregulation lake.
This 16 miles of creek is Class I to III whitewater. It is mostly Class II or below at normal water levels and can become what we affectionately call “Walking Rock Creek” during the dry months. My friends and I floated the creek following heavy rains and this creek turned into a Cass III-IV monster that, even with full flotation bags in the canoes, many of us including me took a swim.
The creek keeps your attention no matter the water level, so fishing from a canoe can be difficult. Although part of Talking Rock is a trout stream, I have never seen a trout in the whitewater section.
Just below the reregulation dam there are two park-like areas on either side of the river. There are concrete fishing platforms along the banks and wheelchair ramps to allow for everyone to access the water for fishing. There are picnic pavilions that can be reserved for a fee and restroom facilities. The south side park has a trail, called Hidden Pond Songbird Trail, that follows a small creek back to an area with several