Upper Chattooga River open to boaters on Friday

LONG CREEK, S.C. (AP) — The upper sections of the Chattooga River will be open to boaters beginning Friday.

The U.S. Forest Service says boaters with permits will be allowed in designated sections when the water level is high enough.

Paul Bradley with the Forest Service says the stream will be open when there is enough water in the river. Bradley says the open sections are only for those experienced in high, rapid water conditions.

The new stretches of the river have been closed to boaters since 1976.

Conservationists and boaters and the Forest Service have been wrangling for about three years on whether to reopen those sections of the river.

The Forest Service says the new areas are expected to be usable only about 30 days out of the year.