Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1982

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Planning

Major

Planning

Major Professor

Walter L. Shouse

Committee Members

Pat L. Fisher

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the institutional and social-psychological aspects of managing Whitewater recreation on the Ocoee River in Polk County Tennessee. Recreational use of the river has increased greatly since the river was first used for recreation in 1976. The study focuses on the years 1977-1979, which are the years that the Ocoee was included in a nation-wide study of attitudes of river users toward crowding and toward management practices on the river.

This study examined the differences between users with different levels of experience, the attitude of all users toward management actions that would limit use on the river, and whether the environmental quality of the river was deteriorating in the opinion of the river users.

The primary source of information about the users' attitudes was the National River Recreation Study. Another aspect of the thesis, the management of the river by TVA, was explored through the use of interviews with personnel from the Land and Forest Resources Division of TVA, as well as with people from other agencies who also have jurisdiction on the Ocoee River. Commercial outfitters, private canoe and kayak clubs, and other river users were also interviewed.

It was found that most of the respondents to the questionnaires enjoyed their river trip. The increased crowding does not yet seem to have created general dissatisfaction, and the river environment was found to be in good condition by most of the users. There were differences between the novice users and those who had more experience on the Ocoee in their responses to certain questions. The more experienced users were slightly more sensitive to the effects of crowding. That is, they had more complaints about seeing too many people and seeing litter than did the first-time visitors. Management actions which would limit use on the river were opposed by the more experienced users, but were generally supported by the people on the river for the first time.

A literature review of the carrying capacity concept as it applies to river recreation was presented, but it was determined that it would-be impossible to apply this concept to the Ocoee to produce a range or level of suggested use. The environmental physical and social conditions that the managing agency seeks to maintain must be established, before the carrying capacity concept can be applied. These factors should be set out in the Management Plan as clear and definite objectives.

In order to continue to provide recreation on the Ocoee, TVA, the managing agency, must be able to coordinate not only the outside agencies and interested recreation users, but TVA must be coordinated from within. The Division of Land and Forest Resources and the Division of Power must agree on scheduling recreational releases and the agency as a whole must devise an overall policy toward the problem of power production versus recreation, and then decide upon commitments for improvements and land acquisition near the river for the future.

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