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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Tennessee Valley Authority's benefits and cost for rehabilitating the Ocoee No. 2 hydroelectric project

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6781955

The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) No. 2 hydroelectric project on the Ocoee River in Tennessee was originally constructed in 1913. In 1976 TVA took it out of service because of deterioration of trestles used to support the 4.6-mile wooden flume which transported water between the dam and powerhouse. In 1979 TVA decided to rehabilitate the trestles and flume to restore generation of electricity. Since the powerplant was shut down in 1976, water has been released through the dam into the natural riverbed. This created conditions along this stretch of the river favorable to recreational whitewater rafting which were projected to attract an estimated 100,000 visitors in 1983. TVA's decision in 1979 to rehabilitate the project created controversy between recreational users and TVA. This report provides information on TVA's efforts to identify the benefits that were expected to accrue from the rehabilitation project, the total costs incurred for rehabilitation, the cost of power generated from Ocoee, the estimated number of recreational visits for 1983, the estimated total revenues or dollar value of those visits, and an agreement resolving the recreational controversy.

Research Organization:
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
OSTI ID:
6781955
Report Number(s):
GAO/RCED-84-143; ON: TI85900087
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English