Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River is a river in the Southeastern United States. It forms the southern half of the Alabama and Georgia border, and also touches the border between Florida and Georgia. The river is about 430 miles (690 kilometers) long, making it an important waterway in the region.

The Chattahoochee River flows into the Apalachicola River, which is formed when the Chattahoochee meets the Flint River. Together, these rivers empty into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. This whole system is known as the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, or the ACF River Basin.

The Chattahoochee River is the largest part of this basin, playing a big role in providing water for the areas it passes through. It helps support plants, animals, and many communities along its path.

Course

The Chattahoochee River starts in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian Mountains, near Union County. It flows south through Atlanta and its surrounding areas, then turns to form part of the border between Georgia and Alabama.

As it continues, the river passes by cities like Columbus and joins with the Flint River to become the Apalachicola River, which flows into the Florida Panhandle. The river ends in the town of Chattahoochee, FL, after which it is known as the Apalachicola River until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

Etymology

The name Chattahoochee is believed to come from a Muskogee word meaning "rocks-marked" or "painted." This name likely refers to the colorful granite outcroppings found along part of the river. The river runs through an area known as the Brevard fault zone, which has many interesting rock formations.

History

The Chattahoochee River has a long and interesting history. Its current path has existed for at least 100 million years, with ancient valleys and river systems shaping the land. Indigenous peoples lived near the river as far back as 1000 BC, building large earth mounds like those at the Kolomoki Mounds near Blakely, Georgia.

During the American Civil War, the river was very important for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s campaign to capture Atlanta. The river had defensive fortifications built by the Confederate Army, which Sherman tried to go around. Two major battles, West Point and Columbus, happened at important river crossings.

In more recent times, the river has been used for transportation, power, and recreation. In the 1940s, Congress approved building dams to create lakes like Walter F. George Lake, which flooded many old communities. Today, groups work to protect the river’s environment. In Columbus, Georgia, a special whitewater course was built between 2010 and 2013, returning the river to its natural path and creating a unique urban whitewater area.

Main article: Atlanta campaign
Main articles: Walter F. George Lake, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

Modifications

See also: List of crossings of the Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River has several large lakes created by dams. These lakes, such as Lanier, Lake Eufaula, West Point, and George W. Andrews, are managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dams were built to help control flooding, supply water, create energy, offer places to enjoy the outdoors, and make it easier for boats to travel on the river. Most of these lakes were finished by 1963.

The Georgia Power Company also has a few smaller dams along part of the river near Columbus. There are even smaller lakes and dams that help with local needs, like Bull Sluice Lake, which is held back by the Morgan Falls Dam. This dam was built in 1902 to make electricity for Atlanta’s old trolley system, which is no longer used today.

River borders

The Chattahoochee River helps form the border between several places. In Georgia, it separates different areas like Habersham County and White County, Forsyth County and Hall County, and many more places. It even helps make up part of the border between Alabama and Georgia.

Atlanta

Atlanta is built on a ridge, not in the floodplain of the river. This helps keep the natural beauty of the river as it flows through the city. North of Atlanta, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area protects parts of the riverbanks.

The river winds through the hilly northern suburbs of Atlanta. Some wealthy areas near the river include Vinings, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, East Cobb, Roswell, Dunwoody, Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Johns Creek, and Berkeley Lake.

As Atlanta has grown, it has taken more water from the river. This affects areas farther down the river, like the oysters in the Apalachicola Bay of Florida, which need a mix of fresh and saltwater. Some groups and the state of Florida have asked the U.S. Congress to help balance water use among Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. This disagreement over water rights is still being worked out in court.

Flooding

The Chattahoochee River has experienced significant flooding over the years. In November 2009, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Ida caused major flooding, especially in areas downstream from Roswell. Another major flood happened in 2009, with water levels much higher than earlier floods, caused by Hurricane Fred. These were some of the highest water levels recorded since the Buford Dam was built.

Gauges

The main stream gauges along the Chattahoochee River are found in several places. These include locations near Helen, Cornelia, Buford, Norcross, Roswell, below Morgan Falls Dam, at Vinings, near Campbellton, at Whitesburg, Franklin, West Point, Columbus, Walter F. George Dam, and George W. Andrews Lake.

Water-level forecasts are mainly given for Vinings and Atlanta, with extra forecasts during high water at Norcross, Whitesburg, West Point, and the dams at Lake Walter F. George and Andrews. Other locations only have observations.

Tributaries

The Chattahoochee River has many smaller rivers, creeks, and streams that flow into it. Some of these include Dukes Creek, Smith Creek, Chickamauga Creek, Soque River, Lake Lanier, Peachtree Creek, Sweetwater Creek, and Lake Seminole. These tributaries come from different areas and add their water to the main river as it travels. The list of tributaries is long and not completely shown here, and they do not join the river in a specific order. Some have been covered by lakes created by dams, making it hard to know exactly where they once met the river.

Popular culture

The beauty of the Chattahoochee River has inspired many artists. In 1877, the poet Sidney Lanier wrote a famous poem called "The Song of the Chattahoochee" about the river. A lake on the river, Lake Lanier, is named in his honor.

Country music artist Alan Jackson wrote a popular song titled "Chattahoochee" in 1993. The song won important awards from the Country Music Association. Another artist, composer Juan María Solare, even wrote a piano piece named Chattahoochee River.