Welcome to the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Ocoee River information page. This Web page will be updated regularly during the 2006 rafting season with the latest monitoring information for the Ocoee River.

Portions of the Ocoee River and some upstream tributaries experienced some isolated incidents of elevated e.coli bacteria levels in 2005. The cause of those incidents is unknown. A number of agencies – including the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Water Pollution Control and Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park, USDA Forest Service, TVA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – are working together and are actively engaged in monitoring and investigative activities.

The cooperating agencies share the common goal of preserving public health and providing the public with the information they need to be assured the river is safe for their enjoyment.

Monitoring Activities

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is monitoring the Ocoee River weekly. Water samples are collected during periods of recreational use in order to give an accurate picture of readings at recreational flows.

Samples are collected at the following locations:

• Ocoee River above Dam #2 (raft staging area)
• Ocoee River at the bridge at Ocoee Powerhouse #2
• Ocoee River at take-out area
• Ocoee River at the pedestrian bridge at the Whitewater Center on those weekends when flow is available on the upper Ocoee.

A geometric mean of multiple samples is the most accurate method of assessing risk from this type of bacteria. Once five weeks of data is collected, the geometric mean using the most recent five weeks of data will be displayed on this Web site along with individual sample results. This information is updated weekly.