Lake Martin at Dadeville, Alabama is a large and popular water recreation area formed by a dam on the river.

They are important sources of electricity generation for Alabama Power (a unit of the Southern Company) and recreation for the public.

The Tallapoosa River, especially its lower course, was a major population center of the Creek Indians before the early 19th century.

The river below Thurlow Dam provides a short run of outstanding Class II, III and IV whitewater kayaking.

[12] The Alabama Power Foundation is a non-profit foundation providing grants for watershed, environmental and community projects along the Tallapoosa River and within the state of Alabama[13] The Coosa River Basin Initiative is a grassroots environmental organization with the mission of informing and empowering citizens so that they may become involved in the process of creating a clean, healthy and economically viable Coosa River Basin.