Tennessee General Assembly passes resolution supporting Ocoee

The Ocoee River runs between Ducktown and Benton, Tenn., in this 2014 file photo.
The Ocoee River runs between Ducktown and Benton, Tenn., in this 2014 file photo.

WHAT THE RESOLUTION SAYS

- Urges Gov. Bill Haslam, the Tennessee Congressional delegation and TVA leadership to come to a solution that will preserve the Ocoee as the nation's premier whitewater destination * Supports the continued management of the Ocoee recreation area by Tennessee State Parks and a solution that will provide water releases for the same number of days as the current agreements provide. * Urges that a final solution be realized before December 2016 to provide outfitters with adequate notice and incentive to maintain their operations. * Urges that the management of Ocoee recreation and fees be consolidated under the purview of Tennessee State Parks.

A joint resolution in support of preserving the Ocoee River as a whitewater destination was passed unanimously by the Tennessee General Assembly last week.

State Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, wrote Senate Joint Resolution 166 and shepherded it through the Senate. State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown, carried it through the house.

Bell, who has represented Polk County for the last five years, said a resolution spelling out the legislature's support was necessary because of the Ocoee's economic impact on the area.

"The Ocoee whitewater industry is by far the largest economic driver in Polk County," Bell said. "Fifty-four percent of the county is federal land, so the county is limited in what it can do."

Bell cited a 2012 University of Tennessee study that found that the Ocoee whitewater industry generated nearly $44 million dollars' worth of economic activity in the area. Deals between rafting outfitters and the Tennessee Valley Authority, which operates the water releases that provide the Ocoee's reliable whitewater, are set to expire at the end of 2018. Preliminary figures TVA provided outfitters for a new contract are significantly higher, and outfitters have said it would effectively shut down the nation's most popular whitewater destination.

Bell said that talks between outfitters and TVA in advance of the contract expirations have been happening since he's been in office, but he said nothing was getting done, so he took action.

"The purpose was to shake things up," Bell said. "To let the federal delegation know how important this is to our area."

Spokesmen for Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker have previously said the senators are monitoring the situation. Bell said that 3rd District U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann has sat in on discussions with Ocoee outfitters in the past, and said he would raise the issue with him again.

"It will be a topic of discussion the next time I see him," Bell said.

David Brown, coordinator of the Ocoee River Council, welcomed the resolution.

"It's a great recognition of the value of the Ocoee River to the recreational, economic and social benefit of the state of Tennessee," Brown said.

Brown said the council's campaign to save the Ocoee has continued to receive local support, with the Athens Chamber of Commerce recently declaring its support of the council's efforts, and national support coming from American Whitewater, an organization of whitewater enthusiasts.

TVA Spokesman Chris Stanley said he hadn't seen the resolution, but said TVA is "looking forward to continuing those conversations with all of the groups involved, including the state of Tennessee, the U.S. Forest Service, and the outfitters to reach an agreement. We know this is an important matter for the state, the region, and us at TVA as well."

Contact Will Healey at whealey@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.

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