New Portages at Alcoa's Cheoah, Calderwood, and Chilhowee Hydro

Through Paddling on the Little Tennessee River –New Portages at Alcoa’s Cheoah, Calderwood, and Chilhowee Hydro Developments Presented by: Marshall L. Olson Oliver L. Ammons Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) Tapoco Division The Tapoco Project • Four hydro developments in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina: Santeetlah Reservoir on the Cheoah River Cheoah, Calderwood, and Chilhowee reservoirs on the Little Tennessee River • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses the project; relicensed in 2005 A Unique Opportunity • During the relicensing of the Project, stakeholders characterized the mainstem reservoirs as offering a highly desirable wilderness travel experience for the touring kayaker/canoeist – Primitive recreation experience: few access areas/minimal motorboat traffic – Aesthetics: towering cliffs, waterfalls, plunge pools, undeveloped shoreline and undisturbed viewsheds – Wildlife: Bald eagles, osprey, otter – Water: clean, clear, and cold Cheoah Reservoir Calderwood Reservoir Agreement • APGI and the stakeholders agreed that APGI would construct portages around the Cheoah, Calderwood, and Chilhowee dams and five primitive campsites on Calderwood Reservoir • In accordance with the new Project license, the portages and campsites would be constructed within the first five years of the new license and would allow recreationists to “through‐paddle” the Project reservoirs, with opportunities for an overnight stay Pre‐Construction Consultation • After receiving a new FERC license, APGI continued to work with the following stakeholders to locate and design the portages and campsites: – National Park Service – US Forest Service – US Fish and Wildlife Service – NC Division of Parks and Recreation – Sierra Club – Western NC Alliance – Various outfitters • Stakeholders reviewed and commented on two sets of drawings and attended annual meetings and numerous field visits Cheoah Portage • Cheoah Dam is located at RM 51.2 • The Cheoah take‐out is approximately 250 feet upstream of Cheoah Dam on river right • The portage follows Highway 129 to below the dam, where it crosses Highway 129 • The put‐in is located at the existing Magazine Branch boat access area on Calderwood Reservoir Cheoah Portage Cheoah Portage Calderwood Portage • Calderwood Dam is located at RM 43.7 • The Calderwood take‐out is located approximately 400 feet above the dam on river right • A series of stairs leads to an existing dam access road; paddlers must take the access road up to Highway 129 and drive to the put‐ in below the dam at the Calderwood Village access area Calderwood Portage Calderwood Campsites • Five primitive campsites located along the banks of the Little Tennessee on Calderwood Reservoir; designed and constructed with the help of the USFS • The campsites are accessible only by water • The campsites include the following: – Tent pad(s) – Fire pit – Picnic table – Lantern pole • No reservations (first come first serve); pack it in pack it out Canoe Portage and Campsite Locations Step One Making the Frame Gravel Delivery One Bucket at a Time Filling the Tent Pad Lantern Pole & Fire Pit with Grate Primitive Campsite on Calderwood Reservoir Ready for Customers Chilhowee Portage • Chilhowee Dam is located at RM 33.6 • The Chilhowee take‐out is located at the north entrance to Chilhowee Dam • The portage follows Highway 129 to below the dam • The put‐in is located approximately 300 feet below the dam Chilhowee Portage Chilhowee Portage Summary • APGI and the various stakeholders worked together from start to finish (a period of 7 years) to locate, design, and build the portages and campsites • The campsites are now fully functional and open to the public • The portages will be complete and open to the public by March 2010 • APGI is currently working to post appropriate signs at the take‐outs and put‐ins • APGI will maintain these facilities Questions? • Visit the Tapoco Project website at: www.alcoa.com/tapoco • Contact Information: Marshall Olson [email protected].

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