Tallapoosa River

Rivers

Quick Facts About the River

The Tallapoosa River originates in Paulding County, Georgia, flows westward, crossing into Alabama at the Haralson County border. The Tallapoosa River continues to flow westward, eventually merging with the Coosa River, which also originates in Georgia, to form the Alabama River. The Alabama River then flows southward to empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The Tallapoosa River is one component of the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basin system.
Only about 15% of the Tallapoosa River Basin is located in Georgia; the rest is in Alabama.
The Tallapoosa River Basin occupies a total area of 4,680 square miles, of which 720 square miles (15 percent) lie in Georgia, and 3,960 square miles (85 percent) lie in Alabama.

River Uses

Municipal and Industrial Uses
- NPDES Discharges: As of 2018, there are approximately 23 facilities, including industries and municipalities, authorized to discharge wastewater into the Tallapoosa River Basin pursuant to NPDES permits.

Agricultural Uses
- As of 2018, the EPD had issued 14 agricultural water withdrawal permits in the Tallapoosa River Basin.

Impoundments
- The Alabama Power Company has constructed four dams across the Tallapoosa River in Alabama: Harris Dam, Martin Dam, Yates Dam, and Thurlow Dam.

Recreation

Dub Denman Canoe Trail: The Tallapoosa River Water Trail encompasses 27 miles and has four established access points. For more information, visit https://www.garivers.org/ddct.html.

River Groups

Upper Tallapoosa Watershed Group

Click on the name of the group to view additional details in our online group directory.

Environmental Concerns

305(b)/303(d) Listings:In the Tallapoosa River Basin, there are approximately 20 rivers and streams listed on the 2012 integrated 305(b)/303(d) list as waters not supporting their designated uses. These impaired waters include roughly 120 miles of rivers and streams in the Tallapoosa River Basin.
Fish Consumption Advisories: View EPD’s “Guidelines for Eating Fish from Georgia’s Waters” online: https://epd.georgia.gov/fish-consumption-guidelines
State agencies and citizens in Alabama have been critical of the Carroll County Water Authority’s proposal to construct an off-stream, pump-storage water supply reservoir on Indian Creek.

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