| Tallapoosa River | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| States | Alabama,Georgia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Tallapoosa River |
| • location | Draketown, Georgia |
| • coordinates | 33°50′48″N85°00′45″W / 33.84667°N 85.01250°W /33.84667; -85.01250[1] |
| • elevation | 1,155 ft (352 m) |
| Mouth | Alabama River |
• location | Wetumpka, Alabama |
• coordinates | 32°30′09″N86°15′48″W / 32.50250°N 86.26333°W /32.50250; -86.26333[1] |
• elevation | 125 ft (38 m)[1] |
| Length | 265 mi (426 km) |
| Basin size | 4,700 sq mi (12,000 km2) |
TheTallapoosa River runs 265 miles (426 km)[2] from the southern end of theAppalachian Mountains inGeorgia, United States, southward and westward into the Appalachian foothills inAlabama. It is formed by the confluence of McClendon Creek and Mud Creek inPaulding County, Georgia.Lake Martin atDadeville, Alabama is a large and popular water recreation area formed by a dam on the river. The Tallapoosa joins theCoosa River about 10 miles (16 km) northeast ofMontgomery nearWetumpka (inElmore County) to form theAlabama River.
There are four hydroelectric dams on the Tallapoosa: Yates, Thurlow, Martin and Harris dams. They are important sources ofelectricity generation forAlabama Power (a unit of theSouthern Company) and recreation for the public.
The Tallapoosa River, especially its lower course, was a major population center of theCreek Indians before the early 19th century. The contemporary name of the river is from the Creek wordsTalwa posa, which mean "Grandmother Town". The Creek consider the Tallapoosa branch of their tribe to be one of the oldest.
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, aU.S.National Military Park managed by theNational Park Service, is located along the banks of the Tallapoosa River just upstream from Lake Martin.[3] It preserves a battle site associated with theCreek War.
The river below Thurlow Dam provides a short run of outstanding Class II, III and IVwhitewater kayaking.[4]
Tallapoosa, Georgia is named for the river, which runs near the town.[5]
The firsthydroelectric dam in Alabama was built on the Tallapoosa River in 1902, by Henry C. Jones, anAuburn Universityelectrical engineer, at the site of the current Yates Dam. It was destroyed in the flood of 1919 but rebuilt. The dam then belonged to the Montgomery Light & Water Power Company. In 1928 it was replaced by the Yates Dam.[6]
There are four hydroelectric dams on the Tallapoosa River: Yates Dam, Thurlow Dam, Martin Dam, andR.L. Harris Dam.
The table below outlines the four impoundments (dams) on the Tallapoosa River from south to north.
| Impoundment | Description | Images |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Thurlow (Lower Tallasee Dam) | Lake Thurlow was impounded in 1930. Thurlow Dam was built inTallassee at the site of an early 19th-century textile mill. During theCivil War it was converted to operate as a uniform and ammunition plant. The Benjamin Fitzpatrick Bridge spans the river immediately south of Thurlow Dam. |  |
| Lake Yates (Upper Tallasee Dam) | Lake Yates was impounded July 1, 1928 and named for Eugene A. Yates, the Chief Engineer for Alabama Power dam building, who was hired in 1912. The nearest town isTallassee, Alabama. Alabama Power maintains one public access site here.[6][7] |  |
| Lake Martin | Lake Martin was impounded December 31, 1926 and named for Thomas Martin. He was president of Alabama Power Company from 1920 to 1949, and chief executive officer from 1949 to 1963. The lake impounds 44,000 acres (160 km2) with 700 miles (1000 km) of shoreline. The nearest town isDadeville, Alabama. Lake Martin is an Alabama Power lake with a 154,200-kilowatt generating capacity. It is a recreational lake with fishing opportunities forlargemouth bass,Alabama bass,bluegill and other sunfish,crappie,catfish,striped bass andwhite bass. Alabama Power maintains eleven public access sites on the lake.[8] | |
| Lake R. L. Harris (Lake Wedowee) | Lake R. L. Harris Lake was impounded April 20, 1983 and named for Rother L. "Judge" Harris, an Alabama Power director and vice president of electric operations. The lake covers 10,600 acres (43 km2) with 271 miles (436 km) of shoreline. The nearest town isLineville, Alabama. R. L. Harris is an Alabama Power lake with a 135,000-kilowatt generating capacity. It is a recreational lake with fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and other sunfish, crappie, catfish, striped bass, hybrid and white bass. Alabama Power maintains six public access sites on the lake.[9] |  |
The Tallapoosa River's drainage has many significant tributaries which reflected below based on their location within thewatershed.
| Location | Tributaries |
|---|---|
| Headwaters to H.L. Harris Dam | Little Tallapoosa River |
| H.L. Harris Dam to Martin Dam | Emuckfaw Creek, Sandy Creek, Wind Creek,Chikasanoxee Creek, Hillabee Creek |
| Martin Dam to Yates Dam | Saugahatchee Creek |
| Yates Dam to Thurlow Dam | No Major Tributaries |
| Thurlow Dam to Coosa River Confluence | Tumcheehatchee Creek, Chubbehatchee Creek, Cubahatchee Creek, Calabee Creek, Line Creek |
TheCoosa-Alabama River Improvement Association, founded in 1890 in Gadsden, Alabama to promote navigation on the Coosa River is a leading advocate of the economic, recreational and environmental benefits of the Coosa and Tallapoosa River systems.[10]
TheAlabama Rivers Alliance works to unite the citizens of Alabama to protect peoples right to clean, healthy, waters.[11]
Alabama Water Watch is dedicated to volunteer citizen monitoring of water quality in Alabama Rivers.[12]
TheAlabama Power Foundation is a non-profit foundation providing grants for watershed, environmental and community projects along the Tallapoosa River and within the state of Alabama[13]
TheCoosa River Basin Initiative is a grassroots environmental organization with the mission of informing and empowering citizens so that they may become involved in the process of creating a clean, healthy and economically viable Coosa River Basin.[14]
A number of significant cities lie on the banks of the Tallapoosa River. They include:
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