Chattahoochee, Georgia, US

8 - Metro Columbus/Phenix City (City Mills Dam to Dillingham Street Bridge)

Joey trying to throw down

Joey trying to throw down
Photo of Joey Hagan by David Brown taken 10/05/05 @ 10100cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

Gauge Description:
The scale located 1 Mile downstream. The dam release is controlled by Bartlett's Ferry Dam upstream. The schedule can be obtained by calling 706-317-6000. This number's information is so vague that usefulness is questionable. It usually says something to the effect of water being released from 9-5 with subject to change depending on power needs. I recommend getting there about 4:30 in afternoon with about a 2 hour window of good release.

The Scoop:

The Chattahoochee River awaits you in beautiful downtown Columbus / Phenix City. There are a series of dams along the fall-line of the Chattahoochee. Below two of the dams there is enough exposed gradient to attract boaters. The upstream dam is City Mills a small, low-head dam with a few 360 holes at the right level. And a small pour over ledge that has the potential for air at lower water. The downstream dam is Eagle Phenix Dam, the rapids located below this are the more popular of the two. Before the dams were erected this stretch of river was known as Coweta Falls.


City Mills Dam (little dam)

Access - The best access is from the Phenix City side. From the 13th Street bridge take a right on the first light in PC. At the housing development follow the road to the left then immediately right and continue north. At 20th street turn right, continue until it dead ends at the gate. Follow the trail under the power lines towards the sound of the dam. This trail will ends at the Alabama Wall, this is the westernmost retaining wall for City Mills Dam. From the top of the Alabama Wall the entire river can be seen in great detail. The put-in would be just downstream of the wall. At the downstream end of the wall is the aforementioned pour over “Pacman” rock.

Level - This park and play always has water, albeit a narrow window of enjoyable levels. The mentioned levels here are outdated. If any care to help with updating just message at the bottom. The low level is below 5 feet. At around 6-6.5 the best surfing rapid starts to wash out, creating a pour-over ledge hole behind “Pack Man Rock.” This Pack Man Rapid has steep front surf with a pour-over ledge feature that enables some aerial moves.

Fun - This is a beautiful old mill with most of the buildings intact. Paddle up to the old grist house, it is really interesting. The whitewater is located on the Alabama wall on the dam. As the water level rises this play spot tends to be unreachable from downstream. The dam has been run on the far river-right at the wall mentioned above.

Dangers - This is a serious low-head dam, just a warning for ignorant, do not get between boil line and dam.

Eagle Phenix Dam (big dam)

Access - Easiest way to Columbus WW from Atlanta. If heading south into Columbus on I-185 take exit ten (J.R. Allen Parkway) West (towards Alabama). Then exit on exit one. This is the last exit before crossing the river into Alabama. This will place you on 2nd Avenue. Continue for about two miles make a right on 13th street. Go two blocks. Take a Left on Broadway. If you cross the river you have gone too far. Go one block. Take a right on 12th street. Continue straight through the light. The road bends to the left then becomes Front Ave. At this point you are on a small bluff over the river. If you look just upstream you can see the Play section. Sectioned parking spots are up ahead on the right. Enjoy!

Level - Unfortunately the level is difficult to predict. It has been noticed if that the gauge height plus the stream velocity correlate to give an indication of what the water is doing. It seems that the basins downstream can backfill the waves effectively washing tout the "great wave". The means it is best to catch it rising - usually 4:30 in afternoon it starts to rise to playable levels.

Fun - At around 4-6 feet the Good Wave develops. For visual level reference, water will be completely coming over the dam and a nice curtain developed. This is a diagonal breaking wave/hole. This is located on river left, to the right of the powerhouse discharge chute. As the rapid washes out a bigger wave develops downstream. The "Great Wave" is really sweet and offers a lot of big moves.

On the river right at less than 15 feet is "Cut-bait" Rapid. This is nice big chute that has been run at many levels. The HOLE at the bottom is mean though not retentive.though can deliver a nice thrashing. At higher levels the islands that funnel the water start be inundated. On the far river right at 6 feet to 10 feet is a small waterfall (4 feet). The higher the water level the more the river pool backs up on the drop.

Dangers - This is twenty-something feet high dam with some nice rollers in spots. Fortunately you are already below it. A swim in some spots causes a long downstream trip with an excellent recovery on the big steps of the Columbus River Walk a ¼ mile downstream. The Alabama bank is usually in use by the local fisherman. It is difficult to not get fishing lines crossed up with your boat and person on this bank due to the massive eddy for Cut-bait hole. In the past there have been some tensions between hardboaters and fisherman. Let’s do what we can to improve this.

The Long Detouring Portage

When done with some good boating - treat yourself to some good craft beer and a pizza at Cannon Brew Pub on the corner of 11th and Broadway. You did bring a change of clothes didn't you?

Update

August 2007 - work continues on the Columbus Riverwalk. This improvement has created what is probably the most hazardous rapid - known as climbing the green steel fence and descending the concrete wall into the river. This remains the quickest way to the "Great Wave" and "Good Wave". If the water is at maitaince leve it is possible to attain from the riverboat steps three-hundred yards downstream. If the water is rising or up do not try to attain.

October 2006 - the Columbus river walk is being extended through the old Eagle Phenix Mill area. The defunct mill is being converted into loft condominiums (sweet front yard).