Archived Outdoors
Ocoee River warning system restored
The high-water warning system at the Ocoee Whitewater Center in Tennessee is working once more after incurring damage in the April 26 fire that destroyed the building.
The strobe and siren system is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority and alerts recreationists ahead of water releases that cause rapidly rising water in the river channel. U.S. Forest Service rules prohibit entering the river between Ocoee #3 Dam and Ocoee #2 Dam during a water release.
The fire that damaged the warning system also destroyed the Ocoee Whitewater Center, which opened to serve as a venue for the 1996 Olympic Games. It was a key recreation site on the forest, receiving about 300,000 visits each year.
