A few members on the Appalachian Chapter of TU attended the semi-annual Cold Waters Meeting and the quarterly Tennessee TU meeting.  We would like to extend our appreciation to TVA for hosting the meeting and for providing detailed information and answers at the meeting and on their outstanding website.  All briefings were succinct and informative.

On all of the TVA tailwaters discussed, save the Hiwassee, it appeared that the priority, adjusted for the need to increase or decrease flow for non-average precipitation years, is:

1. Water temperature requirements for TVA power plants.
2. A minimum flow requirement at Chickamauga Dam based upon (presumably vetted) downstream flow requirements.
3. A quality fishery.
   

1. Water temperature requirements for TVA power plants.
2. A minimum flow requirement at Chickamauga Dam based upon (presumably vetted) downstream flow requirements.
3. Water levels for the homeowners on the upper Hiwassee lakes.
4. A species of darter and muscles.
5. Rafting (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
6. A quality fishery.
   

This priority was apparent but was not directly stated or declared.  One pundit stated that rafting was important because of the money generated for Polk County—and he was correct and that is important.  What he did not state was that the rafting industry is only a 3 month industry and many of the tourist support shops are closed except during the rafting period.   

We feel that if the Hiwassee can be managed to be a viable rafting resource AND can be managed to be a quality fishery, thus extending the “tourist season” by 3 months on each end.  If the Hiwassee was the quality fishery that it could be, it is easy to suggest that it would be a destination fishery for anglers throughout the South and East, providing almost a year round income for Polk County—everybody wins.   A clear model is the White River area of Arkansas—a destination fishery that produces millions of dollars of income for the area AND great fishing for all.   We can do that here.  LETS GET MOVING.

- Roger Duckworth