Georgia Water Trails Website
Welcome to the Water Trails website. Here you can find information about the Georgia Water Trails Network (existing and developing water trails) and the Georgia Water Trail Program. If your area doesn't have a trail, look into receiving Georgia River Network's intensive technical assistance.
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What is a Water Trail? |
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Watch this GreenShortz Video"Hiking with a Paddle" to Learn More:
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Numbers Show Increased Benefits from Water Sportswater sports
Numbers Show Increase in Water Sports! water sports
In Georgia:
- $11.3 billion is spent annually on canoeing, kayaking, and rafting3
- there are approximately 1 million paddlers4
- 58% or residents participate in outdoor recreation each year6
- residents are more likely to participate in fishing than the average American6
- the outdoor recreation industry directly provides 238,000 jobs and generates $1.8 billion in state & local tax revenue6
Nationwide, the Outdoor Recreation Industry provides:
- 7.6 million American jobs1 (up from 6.1 million in 20122)
- $887 billion in spending each year1 (up from $646 billion in 20122)
- $65.3 billion in federal tax revenue1 (up from $39.9 billion in 20122)
- $59.2 billion in state/local tax revenue1 (up from $39.7 billion in 20122)
Nationwide, Water Sport participants:
- spent $139 billion in 2017 on water sports related retail1
- generated the third highest revenue stream of outdoor recreation activities in 2017 behind camping and trail sports1
- at 24 million, outnumber Americans who play soccer1
- directly support more than 1,000,000 jobs annually1
From 2012 to 2017, annual spending on water sports has increased by $53 billion. Additionally over these past five years, the increasing revenue stream of water sports has increased job opportunities from 800,000 to over 1,000,000.
View these citations, as well as other statistics on our Economic Benefits Page!
Statewide Water Trail Resolution of Support Passes Unanimously!
House Resolution 281, assigned to the Natural Resources & Environment Committee, passed unanimously on March 9, 2017. This Statewide Water Trails Resolution of support recognized and encourages the proliferation and use of water trails in Georgia and for other purposes.
HR 281 also "recognizes Georgia River Network and their water trail partners for their dedicated public service to the State of Georgia and encourage the
exploration of existing water trails and the development of future water trails around the state."
Georgia River Network would like to give special thanks to the following congressmen for sponsoring HR 281:
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Representative Spencer Frye
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Representative Lynn Smith, Chairman of Natural Resources & Environment Committee
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Representative Tom McCall, Chairman of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
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Representative David Knight, Chairman of Games, Fish & Parks Committee
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Representative Chuck Williams, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
- Representative Debbie Buckner, Natural Resources & Environment Committee
Water trail partnerships throughout Georgia can receive an appropriate copy of this Resolution suitable for framing and distributing on social media, etc. by request from the Clerk of the House (404) 656-5015 or online at https://legis.ga.gov.
Select the Resolution to read the document.
Introducing GRN's Water Trail Illustrative Mapping Program
GRN is proud to announce our new illustrative mapping program for Georgia‘s water trails. In an effort to provide an affordable resource for water trail/ watershed groups in need of illustrative maps for marketing material, kiosks, visitor centers, educational facilities etc. GRN has begun producing Water Trail maps at a fraction of the standard GIS design cost.
Included are both watershed/basin scale and water trail section maps with illustrative detail including identified sites and access points along the trail.
Huge thanks to Jon Devine and Kenny Gilbert of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission (NEGRC) for making this endeavor a reality through their generous support of this program.
We worked alongside NEGRC to produce the Yellow River Water Trail (watershed & section maps) and Satilla River Water Trail Map and recently rolled out Georgia's Little River Water Trail's Illustrative Watershed and Section (1,2,3) Maps as GRN's first official completed project.
For more information and/or to receive an estimate please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click the images to get a better view of the maps.
GRN's Water Trail Workshops
Georgia River Network offers a variety of workshops to help you develop a successful water trail. Check out our past workshops to learn more about trail planning, permitting, launch design, fundraising, marketing, and many other topics:
Weekend for River 2017- Water Trail Workshop Series
Water Trails that Work~ Discovering the Keys to a Successful Water Trail - 2012
Weekend for Rivers ~ Water Trail Toolkit - 2011
Water Trails Nuts and Bolts Workshop - 2010
Water Trails ~ The Status in Georgia - 2010
Georgia Water Trails Newsletter
This e-newsletter includes water trail updates and useful resources as well as upcoming workshops, paddling trips, and other exciting news regarding water trails in the U.S. ~ Sign up below!
Latest Georgia Water Trails Newsletter
Archived Georgia Water Trails Newsletters
Sign Up for the Georgia Water Trails Newsletter
Gwyneth Moody
GRN's Director of Programs & Outreach
Gwyneth is the contact for our Water Trails Program.
Learn more about her...
