Great Falls Long Channel

The Long Channel of Great Falls of the Catawba has been largely dewatered for a century. Negotiations between Duke Energy, American Whitewater, and many other parties starting in 2002 led to a settlement agreement and new dam license that calls for significant flow restoration. Base flows and recreation flows began in March of 2023. The Long Channel is 2 miles long, but so wide you'd have to run it several times to see it all. Expect to be paddling through a forest in some areas if you get off-route, because trees have grown in the long dewatered riverbed. Generally, after the first couple rapids head toward the island that forms river right, and you'll find a mellow flatwater channel that leads you around a tree-filled section and back into the open rapids. Note that standing and down trees are a serious entrapment hazard, so only experienced groups of paddlers should run this section. Expect long series of class II+ and III- rapids with lots of eddies and surf waves and holes. The whitewater is akin to Section 9 of the French Broad though in a much bigger more spread out river. When you hit the reservoir paddle across to Stumpy Pond River Access Area to take out. Paddlers should launch at the very nice new Nitrolee Access Area just upstream of Highway 200, and enter the Long Channel through one of two man-made channels over the dam, which are entered near the island on the river right side of the Long (lefthand) Channel. Expect very different conditions in the man-made channel depending on flow, as follows: \- Base Flows: On days without recreational releases the large lefthand channel will have continuous flows of 450 or 850 depending on season, while the paperclip (righthand channel) will be dry. Expect nice small surf at 850 and easy passage at both base flows in the large channel. We'll gather more information over time on what the natural river is like at these flows. It is almost certainly navigable at both flows, and probable fun at 850 if not at both flows. \- Recreation Flows: On scheduled recreation release days the paperclip channel offers the easier paddling option, with 8 drops that range from waves to holes that offer excellent surfing. Navigating this channel requires whitewater skills and equipment, as the drops will easily flip the unprepared. Between each drop is an opportunity to get out, but the currents are fast, and swimmers could be in for a ride. Scout on the right via the concrete landing and path, and if you are unsure, portage on the right. You can get out on the right immediately after running the paperclip and walk back to the top on the concrete path. The lefthand channel changes dramatically at release levels and is not recommended for inexperienced whitewater paddlers without a solid roll. It boasts several big powerful waves that offer some excellent surfing, powerful hits, and very continuous powerful currents. Be careful and scout and portage as needed. There is a schedule of 2,940 cfs releases, from 10am to 3pm, two Saturdays per month and a total of 4 Sundays, March 1 - October 31. In addition, there is a continuous base flow of 850 cfs February 15 - May 15, and 450 cfs the rest of the year. American Whitewater worked with local volunteer Andrew Lazenby, the Carolina Canoe Club, and many other groups to negotiate this great suite of enhancements. The best way to tell if the Long Channel is running is via the USGS gage on the reservoir upstream. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/sc/nwis/uv?site\_no=021474095. The gage ranges on the AW flow tab depict what the ranges mean.