a sample of LIFE ON THE WATER Summer 2013 by Life on the Water magazine

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com |

Prizer Point Marina & Resort means outdoor recreation on the water ... and land. As Western Kentucky’s premier family vacation destination, Prizer Point offers ... Premium waterfront RV sites Lakeside cabins, cottages and condos Tons of lake access for boats

Amenities Include Lakeside Lodging and Camping Hassle-free Houseboats that Sleep 10 to 12 “The Landing” Floating Restaurant Full Service Marina & Mechanics Pet Friendly! Rentals - Boats, Toys, & Golf Carts Boat Slips up to 80’ Splash, Play, and Swim Pool “The Iceberg” Playground, Basketball, Soccer Volleyball, Hiking, Bike Trails, Mini Golf Hayrides, Movie Nights, Sporting Events Slidezilla - The Ultimate Family Fun Boat “Jumping Pillow” - a Huge, Safe Trampoline! New for 2013! The World’s Largest Inflatable Water Slide Great Theme Weekends All Season & Reserve Early for our Famous Halloween Weekends!

Book online at prizerpoint.com | Cadiz, Kentucky 270-522-3762 Interstate 24 to exit 56 then follow the signs

Front porches Antique boat houses Fishing rod in the back seat Sunset cruise before supper Cold drink at the marina Just a glimpse of the SMALL TOWNS along Southern waterways. Which is your favorite? Vote now through April 30, 2013 lifeonthewater.com

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spring 2013 contributors Southern ways. Sunshine days. Water is the canvas on which we Southerners paint our lives. Life on the Water explores and introduces with a blend of people, lakes, rivers, towns, food, history and culture. It’s life in the South…on the water. publishers | Billy and Christy Martin info@lifeonthewater.com

This is Fred Myers’ 56th year as a corporate and freelance writer, editor, photographer and publisher including 26 “challenging and interesting” years with the TVA. He has piloted his own boat for more than 30,000 miles on the inland river system, traveled in 73 percent of all the counties in the U.S. and been around the world…twice.

Dana W. Todd is a professional freelance writer who enjoys paddling her kayak and canoe on the Broad River in South Carolina. She lives and works on the shores of the river and reminds her son every day how fortunate he is to be able to see the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily in his backyard. Reach her at dana@danawtodd.com.

editor | Kim Broyles kim@lifeonthewater.com

designer | Cindy Young

art@lifeonthewater.com

sales & | Sherry Proctor marketing 256-777-4108 sherry@lifeonthewater.com

business | Mary Catherine Lee operations marycatherine@lifeonthewater.com

Chris Welch met Jeff Cook several years ago at one of Alabama’s fan days. While his band mates were inside guarded by security, Cook was outside interacting with his fans. That impressed Welch, so when Life on the Water contacted him about interviewing the musician he was happy to oblige. Welch is an award-winning journalist with more than 36 years of experience.

marycatherine@lifeonthewater.com

special thanks to:

Jerry Hamby, Stephanie Cooke and Ocoee Inn Rafting; Jessica Arnold and Doug Underwood, Erwin Marine; and Lisa Kruse with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

distribution

Now available at select bookstores. To become a distribution point call 256-882-1972 or contact marycatherine@lifeonthewater.com

contact information

Daymarker Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 12171 • Huntsville, Al 35815 3313 Memorial Parkway SW, Suite 108 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-882-1972 877-274-0767 – toll free 256-882-7809 – fax info@lifeonthewater.com friend lifeonthewater follow lifeonthewater

on the cover Legendary country music star Jeff Cook of the group Alabama talks fishing, music and his Alabama home. photo: Bobby Martin

search lifeonthewater.com find lifeonthewater look for lifeonthewater

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All rights reserved. All advertisements and documents provided by LIFE ON THE WATER Magazine and Website and DAYMARKER ENTERPRISES, LLC (publisher) are solely owned and used by LIFE ON THE WATER Magazine and Website and DAYMARKER ENTERPRISES, LLC. Publisher may use any advertisement published in the Publication for its own promotion purposes in any media. Publisher shall remain sole owner of all art, designer and photographic work produced. Reproductions or use without written permission in any manner is strictly prohibited. The information in this magazine in not intended to replace authorized maps or information from official charts, maps, guides or educational sources. ©2013

Watching coots on Roseberry Creek in Scottsboro, Alabama is a Waldrop family springtime tradition. photo: Susan Waldrop

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Fishin’ & Fiddlin’ Jeff Cook of the legendary group Alabama

That’s Impressive! TVA tames the Tennessee River

Southern Beauty Discover the endangered Spider Lily

Departments

In Every Issue

15 | Above Board C is for... 21 | Q & A 5 interesting facts about buoys 24 | Escape Ocoee River rush hour

46 | Food Dock & Dine 52 | Scrapbook Water dogs...and a cat

66 | Living Water Time Travel

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take me to the river

Rushing Water

Water. What other natural element has as many states or as many moods? It can be a solid, a liquid or a gas. It can be smooth as glass or churning and angry. It can soothe and heal or it can destroy. We love it when it serves us, tolerate it when it falls from the sky and fear it when it overflows. Is it any wonder we find it fascinating? Poems and songs have been written about the tranquility of still water. That very phrase was used in the 23rd Psalm in conjunction with peace and restoration. There is definitely something soothing about still water. But it’s rushing water that’s exciting. Anytime water is rushing in a movie, you can bet it is a drama or action film. TV reporters don’t hurry to the scene of a tranquil pond. But you will find them standing outside in bad weather, umbrella blowing inside out, anytime water is misbehaving. This issue of Life on the Water explores rushing water from several different angles. Fred Myers takes an indepth look at the science, technology and intuition used to keep the Tennessee River and her rushing waters in check. It is a complicated business to regulate the flow 6

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and level of water through nine dams and reservoirs. The Ocoee River in Tennessee is famous for its rushing waters. In fact those waters are in such demand they serve two masters. TVA diverts them to Ocoee Dam Number 2 and uses the power of the rushing water to produce electricity. But for 116 days a year it is released to flow freely down America’s whitewater playground. Canoeists and kayakers from around the world visit the Ocoee to take on the challenges of those same waters. In her article “Southern Beauty,” Dana Todd uncovers the mysteries of the lovely and fragile-looking spider lily. Looking at its long, slender stems and delicate blooms you might surmise it would require a gentle habitat to thrive. But this beauty only blooms in a few Southern rivers, and only in rushing water.This pristine lily thrives where not much else can, and its habitat is declining. Water. It is a surprisingly diverse topic with one simple truth…most people take pleasure from it in the form of recreation, transportation or simply gazing at it. Our goal with every issue of Life on the Water is to introduce you to new places, new ideas and new knowledge, all centered around the complex element of water. Enjoy!

Kim editor

Blessed are a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands which hold, nurture and embrace. Serving hands, proud, never yielding in belief. Hands that lift you up in faith before the splendor of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Love. - reflections by Tim Haston -

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voices From our newsletters

Response to the article on underwater logging “It is illegal to remove submerged logs from water bottoms claimed by the state of Alabama. We are in the process of reviewing the potential to begin a permitting process, but at this time you cannot obtain a permit to harvest submerged logs from state claimed water bottoms.” Chris Smith - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thank you for the information. Who knew…..underwater logging. Response to our link about the “world’s largest raft-up” in Kentucky “That looks really neat .I know they will have a great time with this again, as the article shows. However, what about challenging area boaters across the various lakes and waterways to a ‘raft up contest?’ Or maybe publish a couple of dates that will be raft up days? Maybe get some boats to spell something about fun on the water? I thought about how cool it would be if boats made the title of the magazine, Life on the Water. Allow them to send in some photographs for a special, upcoming article. This is just a thought. Since I can’t be on the water in and around Pickwick, I can’t wait to see the magazine come in.” Jeff Pruett - Mississippi

Sounds good to us. If you want to organize a raft up or p hoto opportunity let us know. We will help you promote it! You can send photos on this or any water-related subject to photos@lifeonthewater.com.

Moving Mountains

“I read the article about the towboat crew in Alabama. My father was a towboat engineer for many years. It is very hard work and they are a group that seldom gets any recognition. I especially liked your article at the end of the magazine, “River Men.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s time we praise regular people that work hard and pay taxes.” Jackie Knowles - Memphis, Tennessee “I read the latest copy of your magazine yesterday. One of the articles, “Moving Mountains,” features my brother Randal Handley. I would like to know how to receive a copy of your winter edition? I would also like to add that I thought the article was very well written. The description of the area, boat, and life were perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Susan Uptain - Empire, Alabama It was an honor to do this story. These are REAL people. And we think they’re precious and the rest of the world should, too. You can buy back issues while supplies last at lifeonthewater.com/archives.

What’s on your mind? editor@lifeonthewater.com

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com |

can’t miss calendar

Complete list of festivals, concerts, events, fishing tournaments and more at lifeonthewater.com/calendar. E-mail your events to marycatherine@lifeonthewater.com

Bon Appetite

LOUISIANA: The Louisiana Crawfish Festival is a can’t-miss, Cajun event offering fun, food and festivities for the entire family. From March 21-24, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana - known for its rich heritage, shrimp boats and moss-covered oak trees – will host the festival in its 38th year. It’s the perfect time and place to experience authentic Cajun cuisine such as crawfish stuffed crab, alligator sausage on a stick and seafood balls with crab bisque. Kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy the carnival game and music. louisianacrawfishfestival.com

Step Back in Time

ALABAMA: Mooresville, Alabama, population 53, is a charming southern town on the shores of the Tennessee River. Once every two years the town welcomes visitors to celebrate its heritage during Historic Mooresville Weekend. What better way to get acquainted with the charming Tennessee Valley town than with the Mooresville Walking Tour on May 18? Stop at the picturesque 1839 Brick Church with its distinctive carved wooden hand atop the steeple, pointing toward heaven. Visit the oldest functional post office in Alabama, where many of the families have had the same box number for generations. Make a weekend of it! Register at mooresvillealabama.com for workshops, and a concert and picnic supper on May 17. Walking tour admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12.

And Down the Stretch they Come

KENTUCKY: For 139 years, the Kentucky Derby has been known for its fast horses and big hats. But if fillies and fancy headgear aren’t your thing, no worries; there are plenty of other events during the Kentucky Derby Festival to keep you trotting all around the Bluegrass State. While the actual race is May 4, festival week is jampacked with activities. Sample your way through Bourbon Country and a few of the distilleries that produce the state’s most famous export. Or be a part of one of the country’s oldest river traditions, the Kentucky Derby Great Steamboat Race. May 1 the Belle of Louisville will race against the Belle of Cincinnati. Belvedere Waterfront Park and the Louisville Water Tower are favorite viewing spots. Or really get into the action and purchase a ticket to ride aboard one of these floating tributes to Americana. The Kentucky Derby Festival runs from April 15 through May 5. gotolouisville.com

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W heeler L ake on the T ennessee R iver

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above board This page is brought to you by the letter C.

C is for:

Just because you love homemade cookies, doesn’t mean you like to make them at home. Not to worry. Mama Wilson does! At Mama Wilson’s, real people - not machines - make delicious, mouth-watering cookies and cakes right here in the South using family recipes. The humble chocolate chip cookie is hard to beat, but don’t let your taste buds stop there. Go nuts over the pecan pecan cookie. Raise a glass to the “spiked” eggnog cookie. Or go all out with a chocolate caramel monster cookie. And don’t forget the six kinds of cakes! Mama Wilson ships anywhere in the U.S., and her boxed cookies and cakes come in a simple white tin all tied up with a pretty blue bow. Prices vary. mamawilsons.com

chacos Chaco has a new line of versatile sandals for spring that are a little more down-to-earth... literally. Chaco’s NearGround Collection is the brand’s first line of sandals built on a minimal platform. This new sole is Chaco’s lightest, thinnest and most cushioned platform ever, but still provides the support the sandals are loved for. And the simple design and non-slip soles are perfect for a day by the water. Prices vary. chacos.com

clocks

“Simple H2O makes it go. Tick Tock!” So says the catchy jingle for the Bedol Water Clock. This fun little timepiece runs on water. That’s right. No batteries. No electricity. No oversleeping when the power goes off. The technical explanation for how it works might sound like a seventh-grade science lesson but who cares. It looks cool and it works, and isn’t that really all you are interested in. The fully-functional, digital, easy-to-use clock comes in five fun colors and is surprisingly inexpensive at $26. bedolwhatsnext.com

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Jeff Cook - of the Legendary Group

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’ n i l d d i F & ’ n i h Fi s by Chris Welch

Most country music fans know the accolades Jeff Cook of the group Alabama has earned during the last 40 years. A lead guitarist, fiddle player and founding member of the group, Cook and Alabama have sold over 73 million records. They have earned two GRAMMY™ Awards and over 150 industry awards, including eight Entertainer of the Year Awards from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. The group is enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame and many people have walked on their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But here’s something that you might not know about Cook: He’s the Alabama ambassador…of fishing. “I’m not sure what it means,” Cook said, laughing, “but it looks good on the side of my truck.” Cook is being a little modest. “I think the real reason I was given the title is I had a bass tournament for 16 years at the June Jam and most of them were on Guntersville Lake,” said Cook, 63. He grew up fishing on the Tennessee River and in ponds around North Alabama with his father and grandfather. The last five Alabama governors bestowed the title of State Fishing Ambassador on Cook. In 2007, Governor Bob Riley made things easier for all future governors, giving him a lifetime appointment. He also declared August 27, Cook’s birthday, as Jeff Cook Day in the state. “Jeff has been great for Guntersville, and not just financially,” said Rhonda McCoy, who is directing the Jeff Cook Day for her third year. McCoy says Cook annually donates $25,000-$28,000 to the United Way of Marshall County and the Georgia Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. That is his share of the funds designated from the June Jam for charities. McCoy said Cook will be eating at an area restaurant and offer to sit in and play with the house band. He’s also helped countless local musicians, including her son, learn about the music business. In 2011, McCoy said Cook and his wife Lisa went into the community and helped those hit by tornados. Cook put together his passion for helping others and fishing during the 16 years between 1982 and 1997 when the June Jam fishing tournament was held. During that time Cook brought in celebrities such as former University of Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett, former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jack Youngblood and stars from country music, including Lori Morgan, Ricky Van Shelton and Porter Wagoner. The tournament raised millions of dollars for childhood cancer research and gave Cook a chance to share something he loved. continued on page 18

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“It did well through the years,” Cook said of the fishing event. “I’d do a show, go do the fishing tournament, then try to catch a nap before the show the next night.” When Alabama said farewell to their fans in 2004, Cook decided to focus on his duties as State Fishing Ambassador. He moved his residence from Fort Payne, Alabama to a nice spot on Lake Guntersville. “With the title of State Fishing Ambassador, I feel like I need to live on a lake,” Cook said at the time. As you might guess, Cook didn’t really need a reason or fancy title to live on the lake. As much as Cook loves fiddlin’ and playing music, fiddlin’ around with his fishin’ pole is right up there with it. “I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’ve never gotten it out of my blood. It’s like music. Once you get music into your blood, it’s hard to get it out. There are a handful of things I like to do – and fishin’ is two of them,” he jokes. “I grew up fishing with my dad and granddad doing every kind of fishing,” he said. It was just a way to pass the time at that point, catching 18 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

catfish, crappie, bass, running trout lines, hanging lines. Most of it was in the Tennessee River and ponds, creeks and lakes around Fort Payne.” However, Cook laughed, “I won’t be reaching up there under the banks trying to get a catfish, because the first thing I’d pull up would be a snake.” When Cook and his wife were looking for a home on Guntersville Lake, it had to be the perfect place. They say a man’s home is his castle, and Jeff literally had a castle in Fort Payne. It was a fortress built by his construction company, BassBuilders. He may have downsized slightly from The Castle in Fort Payne when he moved to Guntersville Lake, but for Jeff, Lisa and their two dogs, it still has everything they need. “It’s in a residential neighborhood and I have great neighbors up and down the street,” Cook said. “Most of them like to fish. It’s a great spot for me, like something you’d see on ‘Leave it to Beaver.’ “I know I’m a little prejudiced,” said Cook, who has fished in Mexico and Canada, “but I think there’s great fishing in Alabama and I hope TW to do a lot more.” LO

photos: Nichole Alred

Watch Jeff Cook and his All-Star Goodtime Band at youtube.com/lifeonthewater or visit jeffcookagb.com.

The seventh annual Jeff Cook Day will be celebrated August 17 at Civitan Park in Guntersville, Alabama. For information contact rhondawoodwardmc@yahoo.com.

Jeff and Lisa Cookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home on Lake Guntersville in Alabama

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Q&A

5 interesting facts about buoys. There are rules for navigating the rivers just as there are rules for navigating the roads. A river has its own kind of traffic signs marking intersections, warning of dangers and establishing the safe path. They are buoys. We asked Chief Warrant Officer Dan Payne, Aids to Navigation / Waterways Management Chief for the U.S. Coast Guard – sector Ohio Valley, to answer a few questions about buoys. You may think there’s not that much to know, but you might be surprised.

Q: How much does a buoy weigh? filled with lightweight polyurethane foam, buoys are heavy. The A: Though outer shell is steel. Buoys are divided by class based on weight and size.

The water depth and swiftness of the current dictates the size buoy needed. Larger fourth-class buoys weigh about 470 pounds. Smaller sixthclass buoys weigh about 160 pounds. You definitely do not want to run over one of these with your boat!

Q: What is the difference between a green buoy and a red buoy? buoys, or cans, mark the left bank of the channel when going A: Green upstream. Red buoys, or nuns, mark the right bank. Thus the sailor’s

adage… red – right – return. Cans and nuns get there name from their shape. Green buoys are shaped like a can and red buoys, with their pointed top and side extensions, resemble a nun’s cap. Cans and nuns are the official U.S. Coast Guard names, proving they do have a sense of humor.

Q: What keeps a buoy from floating away? one-half-inch chain or wire rope attaches the buoy to a 2,000-pound A: Aconcrete sinker. But buoys still occasionally move out of position. If you

see a buoy out of place, missing or damaged contact the closest U.S. Coast Guard Sector. Find the sector and contact information closest to you at uscg.mil / units. You can also find this information in the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules. All boats over 39 feet are required by federal law to have a copy of this on board.

Q: Who is responsible for setting, maintaining and repositioning buoys? U.S. Coast Guard has the primary responsibility for buoys on A: The American waters, both inland and off-shore. The Coast Guard determines

where buoys should be placed, sets them and maintains them with occasional assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. Between 6000 and 8000 buoys are replaced every year on rivers from the Mississippi east at a cost of $282 to $520 each year, depending on the size.

Q: Is the buoy system as we know it going to be updated or even eliminated? have been discussions among local and federal agencies about A: There ways to improve the buoy system, but right now there is no replacement system to properly mark the channels, according to Payne. Buoy marks are on some electronic charting systems; however the actual buoys are moved regularly due to changing shoals and water levels. “Do I think we are going to totally go to us setting buoys to a virtual, electronic system? Not anytime soon. The buoys are there for everyone, not just the big tow boats or boats with electronic charts.”

Up or Down? Rivers are charted by the mile, and these mile markers serve as the physical address of any location on a river. Mile marker numbers for rivers from the Mississippi east get larger as you go upstream with the exception of the Ohio River, where the numbers get larger as you go downstream. According to Bill Kline, president of The River School and retired chief to Aids of Navigation and Waterways Management for the U.S. Coast Guard, this historical anomaly dates back to the westward expansion of America following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Pittsburg, near the top of the Ohio, was a popular starting-out point for travelers and freight heading west. As river travel and steamboats became a major mode of transportation, rates were established by the mile beginning at Pittsburgh and going downstream.

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S cottsboro on L ake G untersville â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T ennessee R iver

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escape

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escape photos: Christy Martin, Stephanie Cooke and the Ocoee Inn

ur Ocoee Rush Ho

by Christy Martin I’m a boy mom. I can take a fish off the hook and have sported bruises on my legs for the last 17 years. So vacation options like whitewater rafting fit perfectly on the Martin to-do list. Stephanie Cooke manages the Ocoee Inn Marina and Ship’s Store in Benton, Tennessee. Her father, Jerry Hamby, owns the complex which includes Ocoee Inn Rafting. Located in the Cherokee National Forest, the Ocoee River is the most popular whitewater river in the world. When I first met Stephanie she asked all the right questions about our family and our hobbies, assessing our likelihood of enjoying whitewater rafting. We passed the test and booked a cabin for early June. The road to Benton, Tennessee is a favorite of mine. Highway 64 meanders parallel to the border of Alabama and Tennessee, taking you to destinations seemingly foreign to our busy, digital world. The lower Appalachian Mountains set the tone for the ”up and down” of conversation. A slower pace. Focused on every word. The lack of continuous cell service was welcomed. Reminders of whitewater country dot the highway with rafts, cabins and zip-line adventure. One of the leastpopulated counties in Tennessee, Polk County is also one of the geographically largest. We pass Miss B’s Purple Bus, a local attraction of sorts that sells homemade jewelry, beads and hemp crafts. Her sign reads “Crashed in 1995.” In sharp contrast to Miss B’s there’s Lottie’s Diner, a gathering place for locals to complain about politics and the weather. Hippies. Free spirits. Mountain folk. They live and let live in Benton. This is a simpler place with a shorter to-do list. I like it here. Arriving at the Ocoee Inn Motel felt as if our time machine has come to a halt. A telephone booth prompted the boys to inquire as to its use. The parking lot sign is adorned with a caricature of an American Revolutionary patriot, a throwback to the 1960s when the Inn opened. We checked in and headed for cabin 16. As we descend the steep driveway, the trees open to a spectacular view of Parksville Lake. An expansive new dock right in front of the cabin calls our name. “I can see the bottom,” my son Jake said as we trailed behind him. He was right. This was the clearest water I’d seen in a while. Once we unpacked, we were off to the Super Saver grocery store with list in hand. In small towns like Benton, Tennessee, the local grocery store gives great insight to the personality of the community. Browsing the store brought back memories of my childhood in a rural community. Fresh ground sausage. Pig’s feet. Produce from local farmers. Warm, friendly workers actually guided me to the location of my hard-to-find items. continued on page 26

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escape Lance Butler, Julie Thornton and Jim Kibler â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ocoee River guides

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escape Dinner by the grill our first night led to relaxed conversation. The only other sounds were tree frogs and waves lapping against the shore. We speculate on tomorrow’s trip. I am apprehensive about my physical abilities, but you can’t show fear around men. What if I fall out of the raft? Hit my head on a rock? Or get pulled under by the current and they can’t find the body for weeks? I will discuss this with the guide tomorrow. If I see hesitation, I’ll fake a weak knee and go check out Miss B’s Purple Bus. I go to bed with my plan in place.

The trip

We wake to heavy rain, the “cats and dogs” kind. There’s a slight coolness to the air but that’s expected in the mountains. As we head for the Ocoee Inn rafting center, I’m glad we chose to raft on a Monday. It’s less expensive and less busy. We board the yellow school bus to our destination, the Middle Ocoee. Our river guides have diverse backgrounds. Julie Thornton is tall and fit. And smokes Pall Mall’s. I like her a lot. This will be her 14th summer as a river guide and she bartends in the off-season. “I like simple,” she adds as I ask questions about life as an Ocoee river guide. Jim Kibler has been a guide for 25 years. His schedule as a P.E. teacher and golf instructor for Lake Forest Middle School and Bradley High School fits perfectly with the Ocoee’s rafting timetable. He’ll be in our raft today. Lance Butler has that mountain-man look, almost nonapproachable. My impression at a glance - tourists are a necessary evil Lance tolerates in order to be on the river he loves. But he proved me wrong once we were in the midst of our trip, giggling like a young boy and praising us at every rapid. One sentence in the safety presentation stuck. “Do what I tell you to do,” said Jim. Sit where he says sit. Paddle when he says paddle. Lean when he says lean. I can do this. But I’m petrified. Julie’s intuition sensed my apprehension. “What you’ll accomplish today you’ll remember for a lifetime,” she said, looking directly at me. Before I could come up with my bum-knee story, we were underway. My husband Billy is like a teenage boy. My sons, Cole and Jake, are beaming. The fresh air at the Ocoee is intoxicating. The scenery, breathtaking. We ride the Ocoee roller coaster over Grumpy and Gonzo, Broken Nose and Double Trouble. This is five miles of intermediate and advanced rapids. I listen intently to Jim as he instructs us how to maneuver and survive each rapid. To my surprise, a rapid may only last five to 10 seconds. Then you float calmly to the next one. This allows for sightseeing and appreciating nature. The water is cool but not cold since it’s the end of spring. We float by lifejacket in the river along the way, experiencing the rushing water firsthand. It’s glorious. Hearing about the deep-rooted history of this area from our river guides is a part of the trip we did not expect. Jim recommends a book, The Rebirth of Parksville by

Gertrude Matlock chronicling the displacement of families and construction of the power system, as he points out the wooden flume above us. Originally built by the East Tennessee Power Company in 1913, the flume takes water from the Ocoee to a hydro-electric plant at the Ocoee Dam Number 2. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the power system in 1939. In the mid-70s the wooden flume had to be shut down for reconstruction. The Ocoee River ran unabated, attracting whitewater enthusiasts from around the world. Rafting companies started to dot the area. Ocoee whitewater was born. Today, TVA schedules 116 days of recreational whitewater releases per year on the Middle Ocoee. The number of kayaks increases as we approach Hell Hole, the final rapid of our trip. The eddies form the perfect venue for freestyle kayaking. This was the location for that event in the 1996 Olympics and has been a favorite in national competitions since. We watch for a time, and I realize how fit and strong anyone needs to be in order to participate in this sport. Our ride is over. Roughly four hours have passed. The trip down the Upper and Middle Ocoee would have taken about seven hours according to our guide. But we were happy to get a taste of what brings more than 300,000 visitors a year to little Benton, Tennessee.

Cruise the lake

Parksville Lake may be small but it overflows with beauty. Renting a pontoon boat to explore the lake seemed a must. We departed The Ocoee Inn Marina and headed toward the Ocoee Dam Number 1. This is the oldest dam in the TVA system. As we make our approach, the illusion of the lake floating on air at the edge of the dam was surreal.

Relax a spell

Do not go to the Ocoee River looking for souvenir stores, amusement parks or fast food restaurants. The river is your amusement park. You can get the t-shirt that reads “I’ve been to the Hell Hole and back” in the rafting centers, but not much else in the way of souvenirs. The Ocoee River and surrounding towns like Benton, Ducktown and Copper Hill are places that exude relaxation. You’ll play checkers or Uno. Fish from the dock. Sit in the swing and look at the stars. And you’ll have meaningful conversation about more than the next day’s schedule. You may even go to bed early. We needed this trip. The allure of whitewater brought us. The charm and genuine hospitality of the area was a welcome bonus. And that really-on-vacation feeling will TW bring us back to the Ocoee. LO

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For almost 70 years the TVA-tamed Tennessee River has served as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest example of how to make the most of every drop of water. 30 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

That’s impressive! by Fred Myers

rive across it going to work, enjoy it as you live along it, play on it as a boater, fish on it or see it for the first time as a traveler or visitor. Regardless of where, how or why you come in contact with the Tennessee River, it’s big. In terms of stream flow, it’s the seventh largest river in the United States. For the most part, it’s also much wider than most other rivers. That’s because along its course are nine huge dams behind which are lakes ranging from 15 to 184 miles long and up to two miles wide. The effect is startling. The Tennessee appears not to be a river at all but rather a string of lakes. Navigation locks at each dam make it possible to cruise the river’s entire 652-mile length. Each dam also has a hydropower plant for generating electricity. The course of the Tennessee resembles a flattened “U” beginning seven miles east of Knoxville, Tennessee, where the Holston River and French Broad River come together to form the Tennessee. From that beginning, the river runs southwest past Chattanooga, turns west across the top of Alabama, then nips the northeast corner of Mississippi before heading north through western Tennessee and Kentucky to join the Ohio River at Paducah. You could easily believe that’s the main story. But not so fast. Or as famed radio commentator Paul Harvey would have said, “Here’s the rest of the story.” The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) created an engineering marvel resulting in the Tennessee being recognized as the world’s most controlled river.

The Makings of the System An early October dawn breaks on the first dam built by TVA, Norris Dam on the Clinch River. photo: Fred Myers

When it comes to describing the Tennessee, it’s easy to get lost in a mass of statistics. Yet, only by looking at the numbers can anyone even begin to grasp the size and complexity of the effort. The best way to begin is to understand a river’s watershed is defined as being the total area drained by the river. In the case of the Tennessee, that amounts to 42,000 square miles sprawled over parts of seven states. If you have trouble imagining how large that is, think 27 million acres. continued on page 32 spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 31

From Paducah upriver to about Chattanooga, that watershed is relatively narrow, extending outward from the river for less than a hundred miles. Then it becomes wider and finally toward its beginning near Knoxville it fans out across east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, western North Carolina and northern Georgia to include several tributary rivers and thousands of streams. The most distant point of the watershed is on Laymond Barger’s farm in Bland County, Virginia. Near his house is a year-round spring flowing an estimated 50 gallons per minute. His fields above the spring stretch upward to the easternmost limit of the watershed more than 2,800 feet above sea level. Water from the spring plus water runoff from those fields is the beginning of the North Fork of the Holston River. That water takes a longer trek to get to the Tennessee than any other water in the river’s entire watershed. On its way, it’s stopped by the Cherokee Dam before reaching Knoxville. Then it’s stopped by each of the dams on the Tennessee -- Ft. Loudoun, Watts Bar, Chickamauga, Nickajack, Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick and Kentucky -- before reaching Paducah, a total distance of 926 miles. Near Rural Retreat, Virginia, about 13 miles south of Laymond’s farm, farmer Mike Jones has a pond that’s kept filled by a small spring and water runoff from the slope behind his house. 32 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

The pond, the beginning of the Middle Fork of the Holston, is the first water impounded in the Tennessee’s watershed. It’s a miniature version of what the TVA has done on a far more massive scale to get the most from every drop of water. Simply said, on the entire watershed of the Tennessee are a total of 49 dams at strategic and carefully calculated locations. Controlling the tremendous amount of water behind all of them is how the TVA addresses the five commitments for which it has been directly responsible and held accountable. Controlling floods: Flooding has always been a threat, particularly in the spring when cold air from the north clashes with warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to cause extremely heavy rains. Floods are destructive, extremely costly and cause immeasurable heartbreak for years afterward. The only way to prevent them or reduce the damage is to be able to hold back water during times of heavy rainfall, then slowly release it so as to lessen the threat or the damage. Producing electric power: By far, the least expensive way to produce electricity is by taking advantage of gravity as water runs through turbines. The challenge, however, is to regulate stream flow so production is nearly constant even during severe drought when water levels drop well below normal. TVA’s ability to do that laid the foundation for coal-fired and nuclear plants to be added.

Opposite page Water from this spring plus runoff from distant fields on the Laymond Barger farm in Bland County, Virginia, combine to form the beginning of the North Fork of the Holston River, the most distant point in the entire Tennessee River watershed. photo: Fred Myers Photos at RIGHT The River Control Center in Knoxville is where the TVA monitors all water and weather conditions throughout the entire Tennessee Valley. From here, engineers in Chattanooga are informed as to what changes they are to make in water conditions at each dam in the system. photo: TVA Fontana Dam is on the Little Tennessee River at the south end of Smoky Mountain National Park. Its 480-foot height makes it not only the highest dam in the TVA system but also the highest dam in the eastern U.S. photo: TVA

As a result, the TVA has become one of the nation’s leading electricity producers. Guaranteeing year-around navigation: Millions of tons of such bulk commodities and raw materials as coal, petroleum, gravel and grain are shipped by barge on the Tennessee. So are objects too large to ship by rail or highway. For all of that to happen, an all-weather navigation channel at least nine feet deep is maintained throughout almost the entire length of the river. Providing for recreation: People enjoy the wonder of water. Although the positive effects can’t be measured, the economic value certainly can. Local, state and federal parks and properties plus hundreds of resorts and marinas and water-associated businesses attract many thousands of local users and tourists from all over the U.S. and foreign countries. All of this is a powerful ingredient of the Tennessee Valley’s economy. Improving water quality and supply: This involves regulating the timing and amount of water flow for the benefit of all aquatic plant and animal life. Of equal concern is the quality and quantity of the 12 billion gallons of water pumped every day from the river by cities, towns and industry. If all that weren’t enough, the TVA must also care for the 293,000 acres of public lands it manages.

Where the Near Impossible Happens

The TVA’s River Control staff in Knoxville must address all those commitments and concerns as it determines exactly how all that water is to be controlled. It uses a mix of art,

science, experience and common sense to create a constant stream of decisions. Once the staff determines what needs to be done, it sends specific instructions to Chattanooga. There, in a single room, engineers are able to remotely control how much and for how long water is to be held back or released at every dam. The action never stops. Switches are always being turned and screens filled with data are constantly being read. That task is straightforward, orderly and fairly routine during normal times. As on summer days when people are playing on the water or watching it from their waterfront homes. As towboats ease their way up and down the river. And as the hydropower plants generate electricity for operating everything from hairdryers to industrial assembly lines. But all bets are off when the spring rains come from late February through much of April. Or during the hurricane season when heavy rain producing remnants of hurricanes sometimes move northward from the Gulf of Mexico into the Tennessee Valley. During those times, water must be held back to limit flooding downstream. At the same time, some space must be kept available behind the dams so, if necessary, even more water can be stored for gradual release later. The extent to which that’s possible was severely tested back in 1973. continued on page 34

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 33

The Supreme Test

The first rains moved into north Alabama from the southwest on Wednesday, March 14, and quickly swept over the entire watershed. The deluges, so intense that rain gauges overflowed, kept coming over the next three days. All the lakes behind all the dams in the watershed were soon filled to near capacity. As that was happening, rainfall records, some going back into the 1800s, were being broken. Along the entire river, people in cities such as Huntsville and Florence, Alabama, saw flood water where none had ever been seen before. Large swaths of historically flood-prone Chattanooga were under water. Valuable industrial areas, including such normally high and dry areas as the airport, took a huge hit. Nearby residential areas fared no better when the floodswollen Tennessee caused Chickamauga Creek, already overflowing its banks, to back up even more. In fact, the river stage at Chattanooga reached 36 feet, 9 inches, the highest since TVA was created. Farther downstream, a record breaking 4.4 million gallons of water per second was pouring through the floodgates at Pickwick Dam, the highest discharge ever recorded at any TVA dam. The river kept rising until it eventually crested. Normally, engineers would have been able to relax a little bit. But not

source: TVA

34 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

that time. What would eventually be called the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate test was far from over. The same weather fronts that had moved through the Tennessee Valley had continued to move northeastward to also cause serious flooding on the Ohio River. So a flood crest was moving down the Ohio River as the flood crest on the Tennessee was moving downstream through northern Alabama. The crest not only was very high, it also was very long. That meant several days would pass before it would begin to drop. Of the two crests, the one on the Ohio was a bit slower. That provided a little more time for the TVA to adjust the flow of the Tennessee. But its options were severely limited. Huge Kentucky Lake, the last reservoir in the system, was very close to being full. Still, TVA engineers used a lot of white-knuckle tweaking to limit the discharge at Kentucky Dam to only 200,000 cubic feet per second as the crest on the Ohio passed Paducah. That directly resulted in flooding being significantly reduced as far downstream as Memphis on the Mississippi River. A final accounting of all rainfall for the year revealed the Tennessee Valley had averaged a whopping 65 inches of rainfall, 14 inches above normal. Nothing like that had ever happened before. Those who remember hope it never happens again.

The Cost of Success

Similar stories, although maybe not nearly as dramatic as this one, can be told about how control of the river has either solved or eased a serious problem or prevented one from happening. It’s impossible to place a total dollar value on the worth of those happenings. At the same time, however, this ability to control the Tennessee has come at a price. Many millions of dollars were needed to build the system. Millions more were spent to relocate people, towns and such things as cemeteries and roads. Valuable farmland, timber and even some wildlife habitat were lost forever. Most of those losses are increasingly being thought of in the historical sense because they occurred during the 1930s and 1940s. Yet, they figured prominently in 1973 when the TVA announced plans to build Tellico dam on the Little Tennessee River. Farmers objected because it would flood valuable farm land. Sportsmen didn’t want it because it would destroy one of eastern America’s last free-flowing trout streams. The Cherokee Indians strongly resisted because sacred sites and lands would be inundated. In a last ditch effort to stop the dam, environmentalists took the TVA to court on grounds the habitat of the snail darter, a small and endangered fish, would be destroyed. In the end, however, the TVA successfully argued the dam was needed to further protect downstream areas from flooding and would promote industrial growth in the greater Knoxville area. The dam was built, and as they say, the rest is history. About the same time, the TVA, anticipating little opposition, designed and began building the Columbia Dam on the Duck River in south central Tennessee. But eventually, strong public opinion and threats to endangered species forced the TVA to dismantle the almost completed dam after upward of $80 million had already been spent for construction and the buying of nearly 13,000 acres of land needed for the reservoir. Except for a few much smaller projects, that marked the end of the TVA’s dam building, an activity reaching all the way back to 1933 when the TVA was created by an act of Congress. The TVA was hardly alone in that respect. The era of building dams was also drawing to a close throughout the entire nation.

The Final Tally

Designing, building, operating and maintaining the entire watershed system for controlling the Tennessee to maximum advantage has involved many tough and sometimes costly calls. Although it has demanded the best from those willing to face such a complex challenge, at times not even that has been good enough. There have been mistakes. Yet, no one can deny the incalculable positive results. In one bold and sustained stroke, the TVA moved a part of the southeastern U.S. once mired in poverty and hopelessness to much higher levels of productivity and quality of life. Many may perceive that surely by now the job must be finished. It isn’t. Indeed, constantly changing priorities, whether established by man or nature, dictate it never will be. So far, however, the TVA has been able to deliver on its commitments of flood control, navigation, electric power, recreation, water quality and quantity and protecting the natural environment. In those respects, no other river in the world regardless of size or TW length, comes close to doing as well, much less any better. LO

DID YOU KNOW... •A n acre-foot is the term used to express the amount of a large quantity of water. For example 10 acre-feet means the amount of water needed to cover 10 acres with one foot of water. •T he total amount of water storage capacity behind all TVA dams is about 11,000,000 acre-feet. •W hen it was created in 1944, Kentucky Lake was the world’s largest man-made lake. Its 2,400-mile shoreline is longer than the entire U.S. west coast. •G eologic studies show that more than 20 million years ago, the Tennessee continued to flow southwest from Chattanooga to the Gulf of Mexico. An upheaval of the earth’s surface caused it to change to its present westward course across northern Alabama. •T he small town of Dandridge, Tennessee was scheduled to be relocated to make way for the water behind Douglas Dam. But the citizens appealed to then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for help because Dandridge was the only town in the U.S. to be given its name by First Lady Martha Washington. Bowing to a request from President Roosevelt, the TVA changed its plan and built a saddle dam to save the town. • I n a news release dated February 6, 2013, information was released exemplifying the magnitude of what an engineering feat the Tennessee River system of locks and dams actually represent. With rainfall estimates as high as 10 inches in some areas during January 2013, TVA estimates it averted more than $800 million in flood damage. (visit IN THE CURRENT for the full story at lifeonthewater.com)

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 35

Locks and Dams on the Tennessee River K E Y

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Lock and Dam

Year Completed

Height in feet

Length in feet

Miles of Reservoir Shoreline

Fort Loudoun

1943

122

4,190

379

Watts Bar

1942

112

2,960

722

Chickamauga

1940

129

5,800

784

Nickajack

1967

3,767

179

Guntersville

1939

3,979

890

Wheeler

1936

6,342

1,027

Wilson

1924

137

4,541

166

Pickwick

1938

113

7,715

490

Kentucky

1944

206

8,422

2,064

source: TVA statistics

36 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

3 8

Holding Back the Water The system of locks and dams on the Tennessee

4 7

6 5

River is an engineering marvel that has forever changed the landscape of Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. The lakes created behind each of the nine dams on the river offer fishing, recreation and beauty.

Deep South River Map is copyrighted, and property of DayMarker Enterprises, LLC. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without written permission. Map is not to be used for navigational purposes, general vicinity only.

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 37

38 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

V isit Wayne C ounty on the T ennessee R iver

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 39

photo: Dana Todd

Southern Beauty Rare and threatened, the Spider Lily is truly a special plant. by Dana W. Todd

he Rocky Shoals Spider Lily (Hymenocallis coronaria) is one of the world’s rarest plants. In fact, it blooms in only a few dozen colonies worldwide. Here in North America, it’s native to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina and found in rivers with fast moving water flowing over rocks. All known populations of the plant, commonly called the Shoals Spider Lily in Georgia and the Cahaba Lily in Alabama, occur on the Fall Line. That’s a low cliff paralleling the East Coast where the Appalachian Piedmont region meets the lower Atlantic coastal plain. Common along this geological feature are rivers with falls, rocky shoals and rapids, perfect places for the Spider Lily to flourish. In Alabama, that includes the Cahaba River and Tallapoosa River; in Georgia the Broad River, mid-Chattahoochee River, Flint River and upper Savannah River; and in South Carolina the Catawba River and Broad River. The aquatic flower’s white petals, some of which are long and thin like spiders’ legs, are touched with a spot of yellow in the center. The plants long, glossy, succulent leaves enfold one to three flower stalks, with several flowers on each stalk. By looking at it, you can tell it’s a cousin of the more common Amaryllis. It shoots up between small spaces in rocky shoals in the middle of rapids, where the swirling water is welloxygenated. After peak blooming from mid-May to midJune, the lily drops heavy seeds into the water that wedge into the rocky crevices below or wash downstream to the next shoals and anchor themselves. From the bulb that forms, a long “radical root” germinates immediately. The quick germination in warm Southeastern waters causes intermittent flowering outside of the showy one-month blooming season, sometimes well into early fall. continued on page 42

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 41

photo: Dana Todd

“A river is a living thing, so we have to protect the habitat in order to protect the plant.” Larry Davenport – Samford University biology professor “Most plants have a difficult time in the water,” says South Carolina Department of Natural Resources botanist Bert Pittman. “The lily is unique by living in such a difficult environment. Sometimes plants live where they do because nothing else does.”

In Jeopardy

Despite its threatened status, the lily is a hardy plant well adapted to flood waters that wash away such predators as insects and caterpillars. With a little help from man, it can thrive. Conservationists say the precarious situation of the Spider Lily is due to three main reasons, all of them manmade. To begin with, increased residential and commercial development near waterways greatly increases the amount of stormwater runoff that makes its way into rivers. Land clearing and a large number of paved spaces and rooflines, combined with poor storm water management practices

results in less water sinking into the ground and more rolling off in large quantities into rivers. This causes more sediment to be deposited in riverbeds, in turn lowering the water’s flow so vital to the plant’s survival. “Today, the biggest problem for the Cahaba Lily is sediment,” says Larry Davenport, biology professor at Samford University. “Anything put in upstream from logging, mining, or development is going to settle out at these shoals [in the Cahaba River,] and this, of course, is what the plant depends upon. To the north is Birmingham. Anything done in Birmingham that creates and adds sediments to the river means that the rocky shoals far below Birmingham will be obliterated.” According to the national non-profit conservation organization American Rivers, a one-acre parking lot causes runoff of 16 times more rainfall than a similarly sized meadow. In sharp contrast, one acre of wetlands can store up to 1.5 million gallons of water. Urban sprawl is affecting continued on page 44

42 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

Spider Lillies are most showy in late spring and early summer. photo: South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 43

photo: Dana Todd

not only wildlife, but potentially every part of the ecosystem. Careful stormwater management planning can do much to prevent the Shoals Spider Lily from being flushed out of existence. Dams operating upstream from lily colonies also divert water for hydroelectric power production. Huge fluctuations in water controlled by these dams sometimes deprive Spider Lilies of the rapidly moving water necessary for survival or flood the habitat enough to wash away seedlings. According to Gerrit Jobsis, senior regional conservation director for American Rivers, the re-licensing of dams upstream from Spider Lily colonies provides an opportunity to review hydroelectric power generation processes and change them to perfect flow rates for optimal Spider Lily growth. “It’s difficult to undo history,” Pittman admits. “We have altered the rapids, and it’s difficult to reintroduce the Shoals Spider Lily.” The lily is also threatened by people trying to collect it for garden use. Although botanists have propagated a few in greenhouses in repopulation studies conducted, they say the plants just do not make good garden perennials and are best left to growing in the rapids in which they thrive. A couple of natural predators 44 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

endanger the lilies. Pittman says he personally has seen evidence of deer eating the plant and lily seeds being attacked by a fungus or bacteria. “Several years ago, there was a microbial infection that began at the radical root and traveled up the plant,” Pittman says. “We are concerned that as rivers get warmer they will become a perfect habitat for bacteria to thrive.” That will be harmful to the lily. The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily, or Cahaba Lily, is part of an ecosystem, part of a food chain, and part of a balancing act performed by Mother Nature. Losing one part of the system, in this case the Lily, sets up a chain reaction that negatively impacts all parts of the system, and threatening to drive this TW already rare plant into extinction. LO

For a list of additional rare or endangered plants that grow near Southern waters, visit lifeonthewater.com/resources.

W ilson L ake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T ennessee R iver

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 45

Dock & Dine

food This is the first in a series of articles featuring some of the best restaurants (and recipes) in the South. Most anything is better by the water, and food is no exception. Pairing delicious dishes with a lakeside view is an inviting combination. The South is blessed with a temperate climate that makes dockside dining possible for much of the year. Most river towns, large and small, can boast of one or more waterfront restaurants, and they are frequently a dining destination for locals and tourists. Dockside dining feels like a vacation, even in your own town. Why drive your car to dinner when you can ride the pontoon? Nothing beats enjoying fresh seafood on the deck with some good friends and an amazing view. Whether you get there by land, by sea or by river, enjoying a sunset over the water and a delicious meal is about as good as it gets!

46 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

food by Shelly Anne Adams

The Sunset Grille Restaurant in Perdido Key, Florida and Cypress Inn in Tuscaloosa, Alabama have at least two things in common - besides great food. They are both on the water and accessible by boat. At The Sunset Grille you and your party can enjoy a view of the Intracoastal Waterway from a dockside table. This family-friendly restaurant is well known for its grouper reuben, fish tacos, tuna dip, burgers and crab claws (both sautéed and fried are excellent). The dinner portions are hearty, the atmosphere is casual and the wait staff friendly. Relax with the day’s cocktail special and let the ocean breeze blow your worries away! myholidayharbor.com/sunsetgrill

Sunset Grille’s Excellent Shrimp Salad 5 lbs. of 98/100 count shrimp 1 qt. water 2 bottles of your favorite beer ¼ cup Cajun seasoning 2 lemons, quartered 2 limes, quartered 1 orange, quartered garlic powder 1 bell pepper, diced 2/3 cup mayo 2 tbs. Creole mustard 2 tbs. dill

Boil the water. Add the shrimp, beer, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and the lemons, limes, and orange. Make sure all the citrus is quartered. After the shrimp is cooked, (20 minutes or until shrimp is ready), drain the pot and let cool. Remove the fruit from the pot. Add diced bell pepper, creole mustard, dill, and more or less mayo to taste. Enjoy!

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 47

food

Cypress Inn is a stunning riverfront restaurant on the banks of the Black Warrior River. Built with cypress wood, the Tuscaloosa landmark blends beautifully with its wooded backdrop. Cypress Inn owner Drew Henson has been in the restaurant business for almost 30 years and is always looking for new and exciting ways to build on southern staples. What began as a collection of family recipes has grown into something much larger. With its top-notch views and casual atmosphere, you can’t walk into Cypress Inn without immediately feeling at home. It is a great place for families and friends to get together to celebrate special occasions and big football wins, but it’s also

48 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

the kind of place locals stop by after a long day at work to relax on the deck over drinks and appetizers. Cypress Inn is known for its famous smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce as well as the fried catfish. The chicken is marinated and smoked in house, and the catfish comes from Emile, Alabama so it is guaranteed fresh. The fried green tomatoes are always crispy, never soggy, and are topped with feta cheese and served with their Memphis dressing. And you’ll love the raisin bran muffins they serve to all their customers. Don’t believe us? Make a batch and see for yourself ! cypressinnrestaurant.com

food

Cypress Inn Bran Muffins 1 15 oz. box Raisin Bran Cereal 3 Cups Sugar 5 Cups all-purpose flower 5 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. salt 4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil 1 quart buttermilk 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl and then stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 15 minutes. The batter will last about a month in the refrigerator.

spring 2013 | lifeonthewater.com | 49

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scrapbook

Water dogs...and a cat 1 - Patriotic pooch. photo Candyee Corcoran 2 - Oliver the corgi on Lake Guntersville. photo Kelli Agnew 3 - Jack sails to Key West. photo Dan Corcoran 4 - Leaping lab! photo Nichole Alred 5 - Sweet Girl on top of hatch, enjoying a spring day on Lake Chickamauga. photo Shawna Mercer 6 - Duke the wonder dog and his best bud Hairy in the cuddy. photo Terry Moy 7 - Team work by Sammie and Gabbie. photo Roxanne Green 8 - I am NOT happy! photo Kathy Milligan

3 52 | lifeonthewater.com | spring 2013

scrapbook

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Boaters! TN River a short 10 minute drive to Dayton Marina/ launching ramps

- Spectacular 33 acre Ranch overlooking Sequatchie Valley and the Cumberland Plateau - 1300’ of gently sloping Brow/Bluff line for hiking or building (Unrestricted!!) - 3BR/3BA, 3000 sq. ft. built 2009, w/rich details like stone, exotic granite, hardwoods - Four (4) spring fed ponds - rock waterfall and fountains - 35 min. to Chattanooga, TN. - Nashville, Knoxville, Gatlinburg 1 1/2 hr drive For full details and photos galore go to: www.facebook.com/littlefeatherranch $1,200,000 - Offers Welcomed. Contact owner 423-447-8948 or littlefeatherranch@gmail.com

26 Laura Lane, Pickwick Lake - $90,000 Resort community - 2BR, 2BA. Vaulted ceilings accent the spaciousness of open kitchen, dining w/bay window & living w/fireplace, exposed dormer windows, ceiling fans, recessed lighting & tile flooring. Both BRs, w/French doors leading to screened porch, Berber carpet and walk-in closets. Melissa 770.540.9682

Vacation/Rental Options

COTTAGES Joe Wheeler State Park & Resort VACATION or GETAWAY RENTAL, ten (10) lakeside cottages, 2 & 3 BR, linens and kitchen needs furnished, satellite TVs, DVD players, Central H & A, fireplace. Golf course, boat slips, restaurant, walking trails, swimming pool, fishing, shopping in Rogersville, or just relaxing! alapark.com/JoeWheeler to view cottages, 256-247-5461 for reservations.

Goose Pond Colony Scottsboro on Tennessee River Take a break from the water and stay in one of our relaxing cottages or lodge rooms. Both are located on the water and are accessible from our full service marina. 800-268-2884 Visit goosepond.org.

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LIST WITH US as low as $150.00 for 6 months. lifeonthewater.com/marketplace or call

877-274-0767 Boat Rental - Joe Wheeler State Park Marina Enjoy the Tennessee River on a 24-ft pontoon. Call for half-day and full-day rates. Plus fuel fill-up upon return. Max 12 people, life vests-all safety equipment provided. 48-hour cancellation required. Also offer fishing boat and paddle boat rental. Some rules & restrictions apply. 256-247-6971 8am-5pm.

Prizer Point Cabins, Forts & Treehouses on BARKLEY & KENTUCKY LAKES

From 3 bedroom cabins and duplexes, to forts with covered decks and treehouses that sleep 4, Prizer Point is your destination for creating the best family memories ever! Seasonal rates…call 800-548-2048

marketplace 215 Clairvaux, Scottsboro, AL

353 Till Davis Road, Langston AL - $589,500

Custom Built Main Channel Waterfront home in beautiful St. Christopher Point, featuring 121+/-’shoreline 4br/3 full baths,3730+/-sqft, Hardwood floors, granite counters, all stainless appliances, screen porch, 1 slip open/covered boathouse with deck area. $969,500

843 Monte Sano Drive, Scottsboro, AL

SOLD

Main channel waterfront home featuring .82+/acres, 100+/- ft. dockable shoreline, deep water, 3800+/- sf, 4BR/3.5BA, granite countertops, all new appliances, hardwood, security system, 2nd kit area, living, dining, family, game rm, glamour bath & more. Bank owned. $539,500

1188 Snug Harbor Rd, Grant, AL

SOLD

Main Channel Waterfront home featuring 135 ft. shoreline, excellent water depth, stone seawall, 2 slip bh w/hoists, plus jet ski slip/lift, 700sf decking, & sec sys. Home offers 3200+/- sf., 4BR/2.5BA, lakeside great rm w/cathedral ceiling, Thermopane window wall w/great view, fireplace and built-ins, dining rm w/view, lakeside rec & family rm w/wet bar, kitchen w/granite countertops & bkfast bar, hdwood floors, new metal roof, lake fed irrig & more. $799,500

Custom Built fully furnished Main Channel Waterfront Home on Prestigious Buck Island professionally landscaped 4.6+/- acres featuring 310+/-ft manicured shoreline w/stone seawall,2slip boathouse, 5,969+/-SQFT,5BR/7BA, private tennis court. MUST SEE! $2,699,500

4 BR/5.5 Bath Main Channel Waterfront Home on 1.74 acre level lot. Home offers 171+/-ft of shoreline, 2 slip open boat house, rock seawall, in ground salt water pool, professional gourmet kitchen, hardwood, slate flooring, 3 fireplaces, 3 car garage. $879,500

1720 Buck Island Drive, Guntersville, AL

4 br/3ba Waterfront Home featuring 100 +/- ft shoreline, good water to a 2 slip boat house w/ 30x8 covered deck. Inside the home you will find 3200 +/- sqft offering hdw & tl flooring, kt with vaulted ceilings, stack stone gas fp, built in cabinets/shelves, kt w/ granite counter tops and breakfast area, master br with lake view and oversized master bath, laundry with built in cabinets and sink area. Porch on 3 sides of house, lake side deck and very nice 53x9 heated/ cooled lake side sun room. $659,500

655 Signal Point Rd, Guntersville, AL New main channel waterfront home featuring, level lot, 2855+/- sf, 4BR/4BA, great rm, dining rm, open kit, hearth rm, study, breakfast rm, hardwood, 2 fp’s, lakeside cvd deck, security system, lake fed irrigation & more. $699,500

2660 Buck Island Drive, Guntersville, AL

SOLD

2356 Buck Island Drive, Guntersville, AL

244 Browns Creek Road, Guntersville, AL

147 Carlton Road, Scottsboro AL

SOLD

Main Channel Waterfront Home offering a 2 slip boathouse with 2 electric roll up doors and 1 manual roll up door and boat ramp. This house has 2,577 sqft+/-, 3 bedroom / 4 bath, bonus room, eat in kitchen, living room with stacked stone fireplace and built-in entertainment center, lake side deck & screened in porch, lake fed irrigation, & 2 car front entry garage. $589,500

Beautifully remodeled premier main channel waterfront estate featuring 6.95+/- acres, point lot w/1060+/- ft. on the water w/seawall, 2 slip boathouse, excellent water, 5841+/- sf, 4BR/ 6BA, gourmet kit, new master suite & bath, new whole property professional landscaping, keyless gated entry & much more. $2,995,000

Main channel waterfront estate featuring 1.52+/- level acres, 490+/- ft. shoreline, 2 slip boathouse, stacked stone seawall, lakeside walk, 7000+/- sf, 5BR/8.5BA, 3 car garage, 3 bay “carriage house,” custom green house, outdoor BBQ deck, back-up generator & more. $1,975,000

871 Signal Point Road, Guntersville, AL Main Channel Waterfront Home offers 4br/3.5ba, eat in kitchen, hardwood floors, 9ft ceilings, master suite w/ laundry room & sun room w/ fire place and view of lake, 2slip boathouse w/ 2 electric hoist and gazebo, good water and seawall. $649,500

2008 Signal Point Lane, Guntersville, AL Main channel waterfront home featuring 160+/- ft. shoreline, custom 2 slip boathouse, excellent water & view, 4700+/- sf, 4BR/4.5BA, great rm, dining rm, sunroom, breakfast rm, game rm, his/her master bath, screened veranda, intercom, lake fed irrigation, lakeside decking & more. $1,199,500

THE KEN WILLIAMS SALES TEAM LAKE GUNTERSVILLE REAL ESTATE • YOUR LAKEFRONT SPECIALISTS 237 Gunter Ave., Guntersville, AL 35976 • Cell: 256-302-1510 Email: Ken@DiscoverOurLake.com Visit Our Website at: DiscoverOurLake.com

It’s a perfect time to Live Life on the Water...

marketplace

Commercial Property

Clubs and Organizations

Riverwalk Yacht Club Join Decatur, Alabama’s RIVERWALK YACHT CLUB Dedicated to boating and seamanship, RIVERWALK YACHT CLUB is a private organization that provides its members an exchange for knowledge, safety, environmental conservation, waterway improvements and lots of social activities. Riverwalkyc.org for membership info or call 256-351-0433 to attend the next event.

Great Loop Information & Inspiration Get information and inspiration by joining AGLCA today! Visit greatloop.org and become a part of the largest organization exclusively dedicated to those cruising, dreaming of or planning to navigate America’s Great Loop. Browse the products in the SHIP’S STORE at greatloop.org! 877-GR8-LOOP, ext. 5070.

North Alabama Boaters Association Join the North Alabama Boaters Association, a non-profit organization based at Huntsville, Alabama’s Ditto Landing Marina (Tennessee River MM 334) dedicated to promoting fellowship, education, community outreach and environmental integrity among boaters and water-lovers in North Alabama. northalabamaboating.com

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Tennessee Marina Association Kentucky Marina Association

Providing strong communication in the marine industry in Kentucky and Tennessee, KMA and TMA work with federal and state organizations on behalf of their membership to promote the benefits and economic impact of recreational boating on our communities. For a list of member marinas, affiliated companies or membership information, kentucky-marinas.com and tennesseemarina.com. Director, Michele Edwards 270-388-2532.

Wheeler Yacht Club, Rogersville, Alabama Join the Wheeler Yacht Club (WYC), a non-profit organization based in Rogersville, Alabama’s Joe Wheeler State Park. We are a community of boaters dedicated to promoting fellowship, education, community outreach and environmental integrity among boaters and water-lovers in North Alabama. Contact us at 356-476-3205 or check us out on Facebook or www.wheeleryachtclub.com

TENNESSEE TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY 234 miles of business and industry opportunity, connecting the heartland to the Gulf Coast. 40,000 acres of lake and recreation abundance. The largest civil engineering project of our time. Find out more about the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway at tenntom.org, or call for brochure 1-800-457-9739.

RESOURCE marketplace DIRECTORY Thank you for doing business with the companies that support life on the water. Trusted Resource Page # Aqua Lantern Lighted Buoys 14 BARKLEY LAKE Green Turtle Bay 20 CUMBERLAND RIVER Clarksville Marina 51 Prizer Point Resort 2 DALE HOLLOW LAKE Sunset Marina 38 DOUGLAS LAKE Swann’s Marina 38 Erwin Marine 38 Jack Martin & Associates 68 LAKE CUMBERLAND Beaver Creek Resort 12-13 Burnside Marina 12-13 State Dock Houseboat Rental 9 LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Alred Marina 67 Alred Photography 55 Aqua Services, Inc. 55 Café 336 54 Chalakee Cabins 54 Guntersville Marina 55 Marshall County Tourism 54 The Rockhouse Eatery 54 LAKE HIWASSEE Mountain View Marina 14 Mama Wilson’s Southern-Made Cookies & Cakes 9 MARKETPLACE Boats 58-61 Clubs & Organizations 64 Commercial Property 64 Vacation/Rental Options 62 Waterfront Property 62-63 Merco Marine 14 Norman’s Marina Service 51 PICKWICK LAKE Florence Harbor Marina 28 Hardin County Tourism 65 Marine Sales of Pickwick 29 SCOTTSBORO-LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Angler Marine 22 Goose Pond Colony 23 The Docks Restaurant 22 SHIP’S STORE Aberdeen, Mississippi 56 America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Assn. 56 Capt. Billy Martin 56 Diesel Don 58 Honor Marine Services 56 Norman’s Marine Service 57 Performance Propeller 57 Southern Marine Towing & Salvage 57 TJ’s Boat Repair 51 Trouble Free Docks and Lifts, LLC 8 True Course Captain’s School 28 WATAUGA LAKE Watauga Lakeshore Resort 51 WAYNE COUNTY TENNESSEE Roger Smith Agency 39 Chamber of Commerce 39 Tennessee Fitness Spa 39 Clifton Marina 39 WHEELER LAKE Hard Dock Café 11 Decatur Morgan County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau 11 Ditto Landing 50 Joe Wheeler State Park & Resort 11 WILSON LAKE J’s Landing 45 Waterfront Marina & Dry Storage 45 YachtSouth BRC

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living water According to the 2010 U.S. Census, more than half of the nation’s population lives in towns with fewer than 25,000 people or in rural areas.

T i m e T r av e l by Christy Martin, publisher

I’m from a small town. But I admit I spent most of my years growing up dreaming of how I would get out. The stories I share with my boys are sometimes met with disbelief. They can’t believe that our Sunday afternoons were often spent ridin’ around to no particular place. We would navigate to a town where we had never been and discover huge watermelons for sale, participate in a cakewalk or attend a tent revival. They also can’t believe one of my favorite pastimes on vacation was reading the small-town names on Rand McNally maps. I like the back roads…the scenic route. But only when I have the time. Time. With all of our technology and megabytes, time seems to be increasingly harder to come by. Time stands still in many small towns. Beliefs and values are more constant from one generation to the next. Time seems to pass more slowly. The landscape doesn’t change as dramatically. Things that matter in small towns seem trivial to those in larger cities. Small towns put up a sign when the local high school football team wins the state tournament. Or when one of their own becomes famous. Large cities don’t do that. You always see water towers in small towns…never in big cities. Why is that? And the towns on the rivers, lakes and coastlines of the South epitomize the time travel we all need now and then. Our readers are sending us their picks for the 2013 Best on the Water Awards-Small Towns. We’ll announce the winners in the fall 2013 issue. Browsing the rationale from reader nominations makes me miss my hometown. The picnic tables by the creek. Soft-serve ice cream cones from a walk-up window. And those lazy summer drives.

Visit us at lifeonthewater.com to see the towns nominated so far and to vote for your favorite small town on the water. Be sure to tell us what makes your town so special.

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Better yet, get in your car or boat and go for a little time travel of your own to one of these small-town gems.

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Scan this QR Code to learn more from Jon Horton, Sales Manager at Jack Martin & Associates.