Oconee River

Quick Facts about the River

  • The Oconee’s headwaters are in Hall County. The Middle Oconee and North Oconee flow 55-65 miles before joining below Athens to form the Oconee River. The Oconee River then flows freely for about 20 miles until it joins the northern end of Lake Oconee, which is formed by Wallace Dam. Lake Sinclair is below Wallace Dam and is formed by Sinclair Dam. The Oconee River below Sinclair Dam flows freely, with the exception of one abandoned diversion dam near Milledgeville, for about 143 miles to its confluence with the Ocmulgee to form the Altamaha River.

  • The Altamaha River was declared the 7th most endangered river in the United States in 2002 due to the loss of water flow that has resulted from reservoirs and power plants.

  • The Oconee River basin drains a total of 5,330 square miles.

  • The Upper Oconee contains 10,973 acres of lakes.

  • Land use in the upper portion of the basin is primarily rural.

  • Poultry farming, dairy farms, and grazing for beef production are found in the watershed.

  • The Oconee provides drinking water through 14 surface water intakes: North Oconee River, Sandy Creek, Middle Oconee River (2), Curry Creek, Barber Creek, Bear Creek, Apalachee River, Oconee River/ Lake Oconee, Hard Labor Creek, Jacks Creek, Mulberry River, Cedar Creek (Barrow Co.), and Masseys Lake.

  • The Oconee River basin supports a diverse and rich mix of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and is home to a number of federally and state-protected species. The Altamaha Shiner and the Robust Redhorse have State Endangered status.
     

Environmental Concerns

Impoundments
The Upper Oconee contains 5,467 impoundments which cover 175 square km in the entire watershed. The Oconee River basin contains three major surface water reservoirs, Lake Sinclair, Bear Creek Reservoir and Lake Oconee. Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair are Georgia Power Company facilities designed and operated for the production of hydroelectric power.

Fishing Advisories
Fish consumption advisories are issued by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the Oconee River. Current advisories can be found on the web at http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us.
 

Tourist Sites / Significant Parks Pertaining to River

  • River Rendezvous, sponsored by the Upper Oconee Watershed Network, is an "annual watershed-wide monitoring event that provides a ‘snapshot’ of water quality for streams and rivers throughout the Upper Oconee."

  • Hard Labor Creek State Park and Fort Yargo State Park are in the Apalachee River drainage, which flows into the Oconee. See www.gaparks.org for more information.