Drought Conditions Affect on the Pigeon River

By Frorabeck • August 28, 2024

Drought Conditions Affect on the Pigeon River

Changes To The Water Release Schedule

A red brick building sits by a river with people in rafts near the shore under a blue sky with lush green hills.

The Impact of Seasonal Changes on Hartford's River Conditions
Hartford, TN, offers thrilling rafting experiences, and the water levels of The Pigeon River play a significant role in shaping these adventures. Seasonal changes greatly impact river conditions, with spring typically bringing increased rainfall that allows for plenty of opportunity for whitewater rafting. In contrast, in fall we often witness a reduction in water levels, especially during periods of drought.
Navigating the Effects of Drought on Rafting
Drought conditions can significantly affect water levels on the Pigeon River, leading to less regular water releases from Walter’s Dam. During droughts, river flow decreases so much that it makes it impossible for us to provide a whitewater rafting experience that’s worth your while.  It's important to stay informed about current water levels and drought conditions when planning your trip. We try to keep everyone informed on the conditions of the river throughout the season. Currently, we are experiencing extremely low levels of the lake that feeds our river, which has greatly impacted our schedule for this week. Typically, we would raft every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Unfortunately, due to the lack of rain, we only have Tuesday and Saturday as our guaranteed water release days for the last week of our summer season.

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