PRESS RELEASE

Freedom to Float Live Stream Series

July 18, 2024

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

 

Hear how the Cartecay River boosts the regional economy and quality of life in Ellijay


Our panel conversation with Tripp Janssen, Robert Ferguson and Jonathan Mann show us how valuable Georgia rivers are for local economies and our quality of life

 

ATHENS, GA, July 24, 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 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 outfitters and entrepreneurs who have built business and community around the unique Cartecay River in Ellijay, GA. Tripp Janssen from Cartecay River Experience and Robert Ferguson from Georgia Mountain Trails Partnership discussed ways river recreation on the Cartecay River builds businesses, creates jobs, attracts visitors and serves as healing waters.  

“The Cartecay is one of our favorite Georgia rivers right at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It’s one of the first places in the region whitewater paddlers go when they are just learning their skills and just getting started in whitewater.” said Andrea White who serves both as Community Programs Coordinator with Georgia River Network and as Southeast Regional Chair for the American Canoe Association. 

For example, the Hargrove family grew up taking family trips to the Cartecay River and used the rapids to train for whitewater paddling. Today, siblings Mason and Makinley Kate Hargrove are Georgia’s homegrown, gold medal world champions in freestyle kayaking. 

Whitewater kayaking group Team River Runner also enjoys conquering the rapids of the Cartecay River. They host a program called River to Recovery for disabled veterans and those overcoming PTSD to use outdoor recreation to overcome challenges. “They get out on this whitewater river, focus and connect with nature and all kinds of amazing things come out of that,” White added. 

Downstream, the Cartecay River is a place where recreational kayakers can opt to paddle over shoals rather than ride rapids, and further down river, hundreds of tubers go with the flow to relax on the river. 

One of the most thriving businesses on the Cartecay is owned by father-son team Tripp Janssen and his father Woody Janssen. In 2009 father Woody Janssen opened Cartecay River Experience for tubing and kayak rentals,  and in 2020 son Tripp Janssen expanded the business to include a lazy river experience to introduce more people to the river. 

“People love to come float. Our lazy river option is great for any age group,” said Tripp Janssen with Cartecay River Experience. “The adventure section, or whitewater section, is big for paddlers, but you can also tube that section if you are looking for a super crazy whitewater tubing.” 

Tripp Janssen represents the next generation of river outfitters with a vision to expand the ways people can connect with Georgia’s rivers. “We love providing a lot of fun for people who have never done it. We get people from all over the country who don’t know what Georgia water is like, they come up here and have a ball, and keep coming back, we get repeat business. It’s fun to see the same folks who come year after year,” Tripp Janssen said. 

According to Robert Ferguson with Georgia Mountain Trails Partnership, both new and repeat visitors have a great economic impact on the region. “86.5% of visitors to Cartecay River Experience in 2023 were overnight stays. That was up 30% from 2022. Those visitors stayed an average of 2.5 nights in Gilmer County and Ellijay,” Ferguson said. “Visitors are spending their dollars here, and tourism is a huge part of our community. The numbers speak to how important the Cartecay, the Ellijay and Coosawattee, are for our community.” 

The hope is that river recreation will continue to grow and tourism dollars will continue to flow to Ellijay and Gilmer County. However, the public use of Georgia’s rivers is threatened by proposed legislation that could limit access to streams like the Cartecay. Last spring, legislators proposed a bill that would define which rivers in Georgia were navigable and therefore available for public recreation. 

“If the list bill had passed, and all other rivers would be presumed unnavigable, we would be in a situation where Cartecay River Experience and other river recreation outfitters would be asked to shut down their business. The community would suddenly not have all of those river recreation tourism dollars they worked so hard to build up,” White said. “For a small mountain community, this is big money.”

The Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams has indicated they will likely determine 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 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. 

The success story of river recreation tourism on the Cartecay River 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:

Recording from 7-8: Announcement about the series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtmtuSsn7og&t=4s

Recording from 7-15: Episode 1 The Columbus Success Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-4jj_l2hrc&t=101s

Recording from 7-22: Episode 2: River Recreation on the Cartecay River

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgC1PArbtQ0

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/

The Cartecay is one of the first Georgia rivers new whitewater kayakers paddle to learn the basics of the sport. Freestyle kayak world champions Mason and Makinley Kate Hargrove (in blue and pink kayaks) join friends on the Cartecay. 

Team River Runner hosts an annual Memorial Day paddle on the Cartecay River as part of their River to Recovery program that helps disabled veterans connect with nature and each other.  

Downriver, the Cartecay River hosts recreational kayakers of all paddling abilities. Tubing on the Cartecay Rivers attracts thousands of visitors each summer.