McCaysville, Ga. – The Tennessee Valley Authority hosted an event last week that saw media members from north Georgia, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee gather.
On May 22, the attendees got together for a TVA-hosted reception at Tooney’s Music Venue in McCaysville, Ga. The evening included speakers from the TVA and other local organizations, as well as heavy hors d’oeuvres catered by Burra Burra, a restaurant next to Tooney’s.
There were also tables where those in attendance could get information on the area from groups such as the TVA, Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited, Fannin County Chamber and Friends of Hiwassee/Ocoee State Park.
On Thursday, those in attendance got to choose between whitewater rafting down the Ocoee River or fly fishing. Those who chose whitewater rafting got to raft the middle section of the world renowned Ocoee River located in Polk County, Tenn.
The event was led by the Ocoee River Outfitters Association and TVA, since the Ocoee is a managed body of water. The Ocoee hosted events in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and hosts thousands of visitors each year coming to experience the world class rafting.
Those who chose fly fishing were treated to a guided outing on the Toccoa River in Fannin County, Ga. The fishing was hosted by TVA staff and the Trout Unlimited Clinch River and Blue Ridge chapters.
Many people at the event said that the Trout Unlimited and TVA staff guides were great and helped them learn fly fishing. Fishers from novice to expert enjoyed a day on the river whether they caught any fish or not.
In western North Carolina, the TVA owns and operates four hydroelectric dams– Apalachia and Hiwassee in Cherokee County, Chatuge in Clay County and Fontana in Swain and Graham counties. They also manage four reservoirs – Apalachia, Fontana, Hiwassee and a portion of Chatuge.
As of 2019, the TVA covers 5,535 square miles of North Carolina and has provided 379 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to 34,000 households through local power companies.