PRESS RELEASE

Freedom to Float Live Stream Series

July 18, 2024

Media contact: Andrea White | andrea@garivers.org | 615-482-5570

Hear how river recreation boosts the local economy in Columbus, GA

Our panel conversation with Dan Gilbert, Peter Bowden and Todd Rehm show us how valuable Georgia rivers are for local economies and our quality of life

ATHENS, GA, July 17, 2024 – This summer, a new Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams has been charged with determining where citizens can recreate on Georgia rivers and streams. This committee will convene later this year to collect data and testimony from Georgia citizens, residents and municipal officials about the role that river recreation plays in local communities and make recommendations for future legislation. 

This has opened up a conversation about the ways river recreation introduces us to hidden gems across Georgia and the role river recreation plays in our local economies. On Monday, the Freedom to Float Coalition sponsored a Live Stream broadcast featuring the success story from Columbus, GA. During this first episode of the series, Dan Gilbert from Whitewater Express and Peter Bowden from Visit Columbus spoke eloquently about ways river recreation on the Chattahoochee River builds businesses, creates jobs and attracts visitors who return to this whitewater destination city several times each year. This Live Stream is the first in a series of episodes highlighting different river recreation destinations across Georgia every Monday night in July and August.

Over twelve years ago, Columbus embarked on a river restoration project to replace two decommissioned hydroelectric dams with a dam-controlled environment for whitewater kayaking. Today, Columbus boasts the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world.

“In Columbus you can float 2.5 miles of whitewater from an easy float trip in the morning to an almost class five in the afternoon,” said Peter Bowden. “We’ve seen an explosion of economic development because of that.”

The Chattahoochee River, the urban core of Columbus, is the main draw for the 1.9 million visitors who spent $300 million in the last fiscal year. Because of this visitor revenue, locals benefit as well with the average local household in Columbus saving over $600 each year in property taxes.

“Many cities from all over the country come in each year to see what we’ve done and try to do the same thing,” said Dan Gilbert from Whitewater Express. “This is a great success story of private investors, government and recreation coming together.”

Columbus built on the success of their rafting and kayaking river experiences by shaping the river to include a course for Freestyle Kayaking. In the last two years, Columbus has hosted two international Freestyle Kayaking events of Olympic caliber competition that included many local,  homegrown paddlers who trained on other rivers in Georgia.

“We had great engineers involved on this section of the river, and great luck, and ended up with one of the best waves in the world,” said Dan Gilbert. “One of our waves is considered one of the top ten waves for kayakers in the entire world, and we have some of the best whitewater in the southeast.”

Other regions in the state with river and water trail access could use the successful model created by Columbus to envision their own niche river recreation destination. “It doesn’t have to be a whitewater destination experience; in other places it could be a kayak fishing, tubing, or paddle boarding destination experience. There could be any number of other ways that a community could rally to build a destination experience around river recreation that could have similar impacts,” said Andrea White, who serves both as Community Programs Coordinator with Georgia River Network and as Southeast Regional Chair for the American Canoe Association. 

However, current debate over public access to Georgia’s rivers could stifle the bold visions of local leaders across the state who wish to build their region through river recreation. “If we don’t have access to our rivers, we have limited access to entrepreneurial and community opportunities,” White warned. 

The Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams has indicated they will be determining where citizens should have the right to recreate on Georgia rivers based on an 1863 law defining “Navigable Streams” that was originally defined for purposes of river freight. Legislative debates have raised much concern among paddlers, boaters and fishermen that their favorite river destination may soon be declared “non-navigable” for recreation and the entrepreneurial businesses who depend on income from these recreational pursuits may be forced to shut down.

The success story of river recreation tourism in Columbus will be used as part of the Freedom to Float campaign to urge legislators to support the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy and protect existing river recreation uses. River recreation boosts tourism and impacts local economies, but more importantly increases our quality of life. The freedom to create memories and explore Georgia’s rivers is priceless!

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Watch the Freedom to Float Livestream Series:

About Freedom to Float Livestream Series:

The Georgia Freedom to Float Live Stream Series seeks to highlight the businesses and communities that will be most affected by the policy debate over navigable streams and start a statewide conversation about what is at stake when our access to Georgia rivers is at risk.

Hear more panel conversations with Georgia entrepreneurs and river advocates in LIVE panel conversations each Monday in July and August at 6:00 pm broadcast on the Georgia River Network Facebook page, the GRN YouTube channel and the ACA Georgia Facebook page.The broadcast will also be recorded on each of these pages for on demand viewing later.

Georgia Freedom to Float Live Stream Schedule:

July 8 at 6 pm: LIVE announcement

Moderator: Durrell Smith, Minority Outdoor Alliance

Panelists:

Rena Peck, Georgia River Network

Joe Cook, Georgia River Network

Andrea White, Georgia River Network and ACA Southeast Chair

 

July 15 at 6 pm: The Success Story in Columbus GA

Moderator: Todd Rehm, Editor, GA Pundit

Panelists:

Dan Gilbert, Whitewater Express

Peter Bowden, Visit Columbus
Andrea White, Georgia River Network and ACA Southeast Chair

 

 

July 22 at 6 pm: Cartecay River/Ellijay, GA

Moderator: Jonathan Mann, GCA/Former CNN 

Panelists: 

Tripp Janssen, Cartecay River Experience

Robert Ferguson, Georgia Mountain Trails Partnership

 

July 29 at 6 pm: Ebenezer Creek,Savannah, GA

Moderator: Jonathan Mann, GCA/Former CNN 

Panelists: 

Brian Cohen, Backwater Expeditions

Sara Brune, Visit Savannah

 

August 5 at 6 pm: Upper Chattahoochee, Helen, GA

Moderator: Todd Rehm, Editor, GA Pundit

Panelists:

Tim Brenner, Wildwater Outfitters/Festive Watersports

 

August 12 at 6 pm: Cedar Creek, Rome, GA

Moderator: Todd Rehm, Editor, GA Pundit

Panelists:

James Lossick, Cedar Creek Outdoors

Janet Cochran, former Explore Georgia and Georgia Rural Center

Virginia Galloway, Paulding County Commissioner

 

August 19 at 6 pm: South and West Chickamauga Creek, Ringgold, GA

Moderator: Todd Rehm, Editor, GA Pundit

Panelists:

Julie Wolff, Kayak Ringgold

Mayor Nick Millwood of Ringgold, GA

 

August 26 at 6 pm: Etowah and Chestatee Rivers, north Georgia

Moderator: Durrell Smith, Minority Outdoor Alliance

Panelists: 

Ben LaChance, Appalachian Outfitters

Sam McDuffie, Visit Dahlonega

We need everyone to tell their stories about river recreation! For more information on the Freedom to Float issue and to use our Action Alert to contact Georgia Legislators check out the Freedom to Float home page:
garivers.org/protect-our-freedom-to-float-georgia-rivers/

Interview Contacts:

  • Rena Ann Peck, Executive Director Georgia River Network, rena@garivers.org
  • Andrea White, Community Programs Coordinator, andrea@garivers.org, 615-482-5570

About Georgia River Network:

Georgia River Network is a statewide 501c3 organization with the mission to protect and connect people with Georgia’s rivers. Georgia River Network serves as Georgia DNR’s non-profit partner running the Georgia Water Trails Network and works to map rivers on the free Georgia River Guide mobile app. Georgia River Network connects people to Georgia rivers by hosting paddle trips across the state, including the signature week-long Paddle Georgia camping adventure hosted on a different Georgia river each year, and  kayak training and safety classes. Georgia River Network also serves as fiscal sponsor of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition and Georgia Water Coalition.

Visit garivers.org to learn more about paddle trips, water trails and ways you can protect Georgia rivers. 

About the Freedom to Float Coalition:

Georgia River Network is advocating for legislation that will protect the public’s right of passage on streams capable of supporting small, person-powered watercraft, and a “recreational boat test” to give everyone the freedom to enjoy Georgia’s rivers. We are working in collaboration with the Freedom to Float Coalition including: American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Georgia Canoeing Association, and the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club.

Learn how you can take action to protect the freedom to float by visiting garivers.org/protect-our-freedom-to-float-georgia-rivers/