ID`s Released in Ocoee River Deaths - TVA Says Water Levels Not to Blame

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WTVC NewsChannel 9

WTVC NewsChannel 9

11 жыл бұрын

Authorities have released the identities of two women who were killed in separate incidents while rafting the Ocoee River over the weekend.Marnita McGruder from Rex, Ga., 52, died Saturday (Aug. 24) Katherine Tyler Luna from Smyrna, Tenn., 37, was killed Sunday (Aug. 25).Both deaths occurred at a rapid called Grumpy's. It is considered a Class IV level rapid. A Class V is considered the most dangerous. It is a rapid to be very respected. this whole river deserves respect, said Cole Henderson, an experienced kayaker.Under normal conditions TVA has the ability to regulate water flow down the Ocoee. Some rafting outfitters have complained that TVA was allowing too much water to flow down the river over the weekend.TVA released this official statement via e-mail Monday afternoon:Initial media reports over the weekend misreported the river flow rate at the time of the accident on Saturday, Aug. 24, as exceeding the 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) level for suspending commercial whitewater operation on the middle section of the Ocoee. This section is between Ocoee Dam No. 2 and the Ocoee No. 2 powerhouse, which is 5 miles downstream. Some water is diverted at Dam No. 2 to bypass the river and travel down a manmade channel or flume to the No. 2 powerhouse. Under agreement, TVA notifies the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation when the flow rate exceeds 3,000 cubic feet per second, and TDEC suspends rafting. On Saturday, around the time of the incident, the flow rate on the middle section of the Ocoee was approximately 2,300-2,600 cubic feet per second. On Sunday, around the time of the second incident, the flow rate on the middle section of the Ocoee was approximately 2,200 2,500 cubic feet per second. TVA uses real-time monitoring equipment that measures water elevations and calculates flow rates going over the top of the Ocoee No. 2 Dam that supplies water for rafting. Information on TVAs website about Ocoee Dam No. 2 is a combination of river flows at the Ocoee No. 2 dam and the volume of water diverted by the Ocoee Flume, which bypasses the middle section of the river where recreational rafting is held. TVA is reviewing the river condition data it recorded in real time over the weekend and will provide that information to assist any agencies investigating the tragic incidents. TVA is not conducting an investigation, as water releases and notifications were within TVAs established policies. Water on the Ocoee River is carefully controlled to meet the benefits of recreation, water quality, water supply and power generation, said John McCormick, senior vice president River Operations and Renewables. We want everyone to enjoy the excellent recreational opportunities all across the Tennessee Valley and rafting on the nationally recognized Ocoee River can be a thrilling adventure. However this is a difficult reminder that this and other water activities carry some risk.

Пікірлер: 17
@ariellerenee747
@ariellerenee747 5 жыл бұрын
This was TVA’s fault. I watched both deaths happen as a 3rd year guide. The river was well above 3,500 cfs. There is absolutely no way that it was “2400”. This man in this video is a liar and anyone who is familiar with Ocoee knows that
@alowatsakima8950
@alowatsakima8950 Жыл бұрын
BS. There is no digital gauge on the middle Ocoee. Their measurements do not record the level of the river just below the middle ocoee dam where these ladies died. A week before this happened I was standing up near the swinging bridge over the dam with a state park ranger. I asked him why the raft companies no longer set up safety rafts at the Grumpy rapid. His comment was, "well, we haven't had any problems". This was TVA's fault.
@tinalandrey5104
@tinalandrey5104 2 жыл бұрын
also rafters be advised that when they run the upper there will be a spike when they shut upper off.. if it was 1600 the spike will be 2000.. so if it was 2400 the spike could have been 3200.. understand that raft guides get killed all the time.. last one i believe was alien ledge he swam to free a stuck raft and was pushed under it and pinned. pure stupidity no kayaker with skill would do.. new kayakers and tired kayakers also get punished.if you like gambling you will love rafting because you are gambling with your life because you dont have the self swim rescue skills as a skilled kayaker and neither does a raft guide.. also we thought about buying a raft company but when we say how underpaid and over complacent the system was we declined.. back then raft guides were lucky to get 25 bucks a run. which i 75 bucks a day..
@stephenedwards5567
@stephenedwards5567 2 жыл бұрын
A lot of outfitters simply see $
@garrisonbrumblay9137
@garrisonbrumblay9137 4 жыл бұрын
They say that they aren’t responsible if anyone dies!!! That is totally bull shit!!!
@tinalandrey5104
@tinalandrey5104 2 жыл бұрын
i am a class 5 whitewater kayaker.. TVA did nothing wrong.. we train all year to stay safe.. rafters never train and rafters are not skilled.. they think that raft and that guide will protect them.. it is up to the outfitter to cancle and be advised that rafting is DABBLING and dabbling with action sports is the number one cause of incidents.
@chriscox4936
@chriscox4936 6 ай бұрын
I'm a raft guide and a better kayaker than you. I was on the ramp that day. There were long pulses of water pouring over the dam. Surges of 600 to 800 cfs we all saw it and we know that river intimately. People were launching boats and another surge of water would spill over the dam. Just because you've never guided a commercial rafting trip does not mean you're qualified to speak on the topic. Kayaking is easier than rafting.
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