Water Trail Sponsorships

About our Water Trails Project

Georgia River Network believes that getting people out on rivers is an effective way to introduce people to river issues and engage them in protecting local waterways. We view river recreation and water trails as an important gateway for additional conservation opportunities for Georgia’s rivers. We also believe that the relationships we build with communities around the development of water trails will strengthen our ability to effectively advocate for clean water protections.  Together we have accomplished a lot over the past year:

  • Georgia Water Trails Website– We officially launched a new Georgia Water Trails website in February 2011 – and we are really excited!  You can look at what we created at www.garivers.org/gwtc/.  The website is continuously updated with new information and includes a directory of all existing Georgia water trails. It also includes links to resources that allow visitors to plan a river trip and a clickable map where they can click on rivers of interest to learn where they can access the river, outfitters serving the river, and other details that they might need to plan their own trip. The site also compiles a list of resources for communities wanting to create a water trail, including economic benefits, how to plan a water trail, conservation options for water trails, design resources, funding sources and more. The Georgia Water Trails Website provides an avenue for families to plan excursions out on the river.

  • Weekend for Rivers Annual Conference– A water trails workshop and conference track were featured at the Weekend for Rivers in February and were attended by over 40 water trail advocates.  Participants told us the sessions were really helpful for their efforts to build water trails in their communities. 

  • Water Trails Workshops- GRN planned and organized two Water Trails workshop in 2010 with over 140 attendees from a variety of backgrounds.  Topics included water trails in Georgia, private property easements, river navigability laws, permitting for boat launches, launch design, and partnering with county governments. We are planning our next round of workshops now.

  • Georgia River Guide Books– GRN is partnering with the University of Georgia Press to develop a series of River Guide Books based on the information we’ve gathered on our many Paddle Georgia trips and the knowledge of our local river protection partners.  The first in the series is under development and will be a guide to the Etowah River. 

  • Water Trails Partnerships – GRN is working with the University of Georgia School of Environment and Design to develop partnerships for the design and development of water trails and connecting communities to their rivers in Georgia. 

  • Water Trails Monthly E-Newsletter – GRN is now distributing monthly water trails e-newsletters to more than 237 members of Georgia’s growing water trails network.  You can sign up for water trails news at http://garivers.org/gwtc/

    Without good friends like you we couldn’t accomplish all this.  Your generous support is vital and makes such a big difference.  I hope you will consider a gift of $50 or more to support GRN and the Water Trails Project. You can give online or you can send a check to Georgia River Network at 126 South Milledge Avenue, Suite E3, Athens, GA 30605. If you give online, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to alert us that the donation is for the water trails project. We will put your donation to good use - working with communities, river groups and businesses to develop more water trails throughout the state.

 

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