Dams serve an essential purpose in controlling water levels in rivers to meet the needs of humans, such as domestic and industrial water supplies and electricity generation. The Walters Dam on the Pigeon River is a significant example of this, serving as a hydroelectric dam that produces energy and regulates the flow of the river, making it popular for recreational activities such as white-water rafting. The construction of the dam, which stands 180 feet high and 800 feet long, started in 1927. Today, it's owned by Duke Energy and is an active hydroelectric facility. The functioning of a hydroelectric dam depends on the potential and kinetic energy of water, which is transformed into electrical energy through a turbine and generator. Factors such as the head (the water drop) and the flow (water's distance from its topmost level to the turbine) influence the amount of electricity produced.
The Walters Dam releases water periodically, especially during the summer months, creating class III and IV rapids on the Pigeon River that make for exciting rafting experiences. For hard boats, the minimum runnable flow is around 300 cfs. However, for rafts, you might want to wait until the flow is 600 cfs. Each of the three turbines from the power station generates slightly over 600 cfs at full flow. The scheduled releases are usually two turbines plus the flow from Big Creek and the creeks in the 'Dry’s' between the dam and the power station. This usually results in approximately 1300-1400 cfs on release days. CFS or Cubic Feet per Second is the flow rate or discharge equal to one cubic foot of water per second. This rate is equivalent to approximately 7.48 gallons per second.
The water levels are dependent upon natural conditions, like rainfall and water temperatures, before Memorial Day weekend and after Labor Day weekend. These are unpredictable and rafting days are not guaranteed at these times of the year. During the summer season, the Walters Dam controls the flow of the river with scheduled white water level releases. The release schedule during the season is every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There are a few extra releases during holidays in May, July, and September. The dam releases provide water levels that create class III/IV rapids on the Upper Pigeon for those adrenaline-seeking groups and Class I/II on the Lower Pigeon River for a nice family, scenic float.
