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  River Projects: Water Trails

 

Image of a kayak headed toward Seattle on the Lakes to Locks Trail.

Water trails embody the nexus between rivers and trails. They provide recreational boating opportunities along a river, lake, canal or coastline; most water trails are managed in public-private partnership with the philosophies of environmental stewardship, environmental education, and accessibility for all users.

examples

resources

Examples:

Nine Days-One Hundred Miles
on the Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail

Summer Event Makes Blueway Shine: Seattle, WA (July 2002) - Washington Water Trails Association (WWTA) hosted a 100-mile paddle trip of the Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail in a series of nine day trips that took participants across Lake Sammamish, down the Sammamish River, around Lake Washington, and through the Chittenden Locks into Puget Sound. NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program sponsored the event on behalf of the trail's 16 partners as part of their 2002 NPS Partnership in Recreation Award. Sixty-eight paddlers traveled the route, with at least 11 paddlers participating each day. Sixteen speakers, including mayors, park directors, historians, and naturalists greeted the group along the way. Congressman Jim McDermott accompanied 40 paddlers through the locks on the ninth day. On day four, WWTA, NPS, and the City of Kirkland installed the first official Lakes-To-Locks sign at Houghton Beach Park. Partnership Award monies are providing signs at all launch and landing sites along the water trail. For more information, please contact Sue Abbott, Seattle, WA, at sue_abbott@nps.gov or 206-220-4116. To access the Nine Day--100-mile Daily Web Journal, visit www.wwta.org/journal.html

Tennessee River Blueway opens to much celebration

50 mile flatwater paddling opportunity in Tennessee: Chattanooga, TN (May 11, 2002) - This May National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, Congressman Zach Wamp, and others marked the grand opening of the Tennessee River Blueway. Stretching from just upriver of Chattanooga to Marion County, the Blueway provides a close-to-home outdoor experience featuring designated and well-marked access locations, campsites, and color brochure to serve as a guide.

Since spring of 2001, the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program has been working in close partnership with Tennessee River Gorge Trust, which initiated the project, and others to provide technical assistance in the form of project organization, partnership development, site selection, brochure development, and trail implementation. It is envisioned that a long-term, grassroots, self-sustaining organization will be created to coordinate stewardship and development of a broad network on Blueways within the Tennessee River Watershed. For more information, contact Jeff Duncan at (423) 987-6127.

First Two in a Series of Eastern Shore
Water Trail Maps Published

Guides provide information on routes, paddling safety, resource interpretation and other amenities: Worcester County, MD (June 2000)-The county and nearby Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS) have published the first two in a series of water trail maps designed to provide visitors with easy-to-use guides to canoeing and kayaking the region's rivers and coastal bays. The NPS-Rivers & Trails Program (RTCA) staff researched, tested and wrote the guides, with assistance from ASIS staff, and RTCA assisted with design and printing. The two brochures are "Exploring the Pocomoke River & Nassawango Creek of Worcester County" and "Exploring Coastal Bay & Salt Marsh Flats of Assateague Island." Both are based on water trails that can be navigated by relatively inexperienced paddlers. They include maps with several route options; basic paddling and water safety information; sources of equipment outfitters; launching sites; locations of parking, food, camping & toilet facilities; any fees & reservations required; some interpretation of the natural & cultural history of the area; and rules for protecting fragile resources. The water trail series is part of a regional ecotourism partnership to promote the low impact use of Delmarva's (the coastal peninsula consisting of parts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia) natural and cultural resources to enhance local economies and to insure the preservation of quality of life. Other goals of the project include packaged multi-modal ecotours, organized educational boat trips, and bike trails. Other partners include The Nature Conservancy, Assateague Coastal Trust, Furnace Town Foundation, Bob O Dell Club, and Assateague State Park. For more information, please contact: Sherry Peck, Rivers & Trails Program, Philadelphia, PA, 215-597-6478.

Housatonic Valley River Trail
Takes Shape in Western Connecticut

Hard work by volunteers pays off: Housatonic Valley, CT (November 2001) - Volunteers installed two key access points on the Housatonic Valley River Trail in November 2001. An Eagle Scout candidate, assisted by fellow Scouts, installed log steps on November 12 and 13, 2001. The steps stabilize the bank and provide paddlers with a rest stop and means to enjoy the Still River Bird Sanctuary. On Saturday, December 1st, 35 volunteers installed the trailhead launching site next to a Marriott Hotel in Danbury, Connecticut. The put-in marks the beginning of the Housatonic Valley River Trail, which will ultimately become a 38-mile route to Long Island Sound.

Volunteers placed 246 of the 53-pound paving blocks (6 tons) to create an apron for launching canoes and kayaks. Other contributions (valued at $14,000) included heavy equipment and engineering. During the work day, the newly-acquainted volunteers suggested creating a canoe & kayak club. Key partners are the Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership and Housatonic Valley Tourism District. More than 35 members of the Advisory Group represent interests from paddlers and youth to tourism and natural history. NPS Rivers & Trails staff helped to convene the Advisory Group and the strategy to engage volunteers. For further information, contact John Monroe, Director of Connecticut Program, Boston, MA, 617 223 5049.

Northern Forest Canoe Trail Opens

Trail Connects New York's Adirondacks With Maine's Northern Border: Rangely, ME (July 8, 1999) - Over 40 people gathered in the rain in Rangeley, Maine's town park to dedicate 50 miles of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The dedication included a day paddle of Rangeley Lake and a three-day paddle along the trail. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a project of Native Trails, a small nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of pre-mechanized travel routes, stretches from the Adirondacks of New York to northern Maine, crossing every major watershed in the Northeast. For the past year, the Rivers & Trails program of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club, guided an effort in the Rangeley region to create the first Northern Forest Canoe Trail guide and map, to identify landowners and to sign all portages. Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust was the lead partner with Maine Conservation Corps/AmeriCorps, several local businesses, and Trails for Rangeley Area Coalition also playing key roles. Sale of the Rangeley region guide, published by the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, will provide funds for maintaining a portion of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Contact: Julie Isbill, National Park Service/Appalachain Mountain Club, Rivers & Trails Program, Brunswick, Maine, (207) 725-5028

Lake Superior Water Trail,
Bayfield Peninsula/Apostle Islands Section Opens

92 mile trail links new and existing sites, including Apostle Island National Lakeshore: Washburn, WI (June 15, 2000)-An open house marked the debut of a 92-mile section of the Lake Superior water trail that opened in time for the summer 2000 season. The water trail project includes existing sites and new sites from Port Wing, WI to Ashland, WI, including the Apostle Island National Lakeshore, as well as a map and brochure. The Rivers & Trails program (RTCA) provided overall project coordination by establishing and chairing the advisory committee and by providing technical assistance on water trail development and management, funding, and public involvement. Other project partners include: the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Inland Sea Society, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin (UW) Sea Grant, UW Extension, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Northland College, Apostle Islands Realty. Funding for the project was received from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the Northern Wisconsin History Center, local area chambers of commerce, local economic development council, and a local printer. For more information, please contact: Angie Tornes, Rivers & Trails Program, Milwaukee, IL, 414-297-3605.

Resources:

NEW! Water Trails page on American Trails website

NEW! Blue Trails Guide by American Rivers

Water Trails Database on American Canoe Association website, Learn about and link to water trails in your state, or list your own water trail.

Sea Kayaker Magazine's Water Trail database

Logical Lasting Launches, This guide provides design guidance for developing canoe and kayak launches; case examples, designs, and photos are included.

Case Studies of Water Trail Impacts on Rural Communities,A comparative analysis of rural communities with calm water trails. Case studies illustrate impacts of calm water trails and trends are drawn from community ecomonic development associated with water trails.

Websites:

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network - an online toolbox for developing water trails

American Canoe Association

State Specific Resources:

Washington Water Trails Association

Maine Island Trail Association

North Carolina Paddle Trails - online series on how to build a paddle trail

Pennsylvania Water Trails - information on safety and Leave No Trace

 
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