What to Know Before You Shoot The ‘Hooch This Summer

The Chattahoochee is calling—but before you grab your float and your six-pack, there are a few things you should know before jumping in.

Even though the river is cleaner than it used to be, this is still nature we’re talking about. Conditions can change quickly. And if you’re not paying attention, that leisurely float down the ’Hooch can turn into a bacterial bath or worse.

🧪 What’s Happening: The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy is warning paddlers, waders and tube-flingers to check water quality before heading out. Why? Because E. coli levels can spike after heavy rain, making it a bad day to take an accidental gulp. The river’s flow and depth can also shift fast depending on water releases upstream. Translation: What was a lazy river in the morning might be a rollercoaster b