Freedom to Float Live Stream Series

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

Hear how river recreation on Cedar Creek boosts tourism in northeast Georgia

Our latest panel conversation with an outfitter and local leaders discussed how river recreation contributes to outdoor recreation opportunities for rural communities

ATHENS, GA, August 14, 2024 – This summer, a new Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams has been charged with determining where citizens can recreate on Georgia’s rivers and streams. This has opened up a conversation about the ways river recreation connects communities to the outdoors, and the role river recreation plays in boosting tourism to hidden gem communities in Georgia. 

Inspired by the Nantahala Outdoor Center, James and Debbie Lossick opened Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center thirteen years ago in Cave Spring, just southeast of Rome. Today, the outdoor center is dedicated to building individuals and families through sustainable outdoor activities like camping, kayaking and canoeing.

“Over the years, we got more and more folks coming to the small town of Cave Spring,” Lossick said. “When someone paddles the creek and gets a taste for wilderness, they’ll come back over and over again,” Lossick said.  

According to the Rome Office of Tourism, the Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center launch site has seen over 8.4 thousand visitors who have visited 2.6 times in 2023 alone. Paddlers visit nearby towns and cities like Rome for shopping, dining and other attractions. It’s a boost in tourism that benefits many small businesses in town as well as local residents. 

Tourism development professional Janet Cochran said paddling brings visitors, visitors bring dollars, and dollars cut down on the amount of tax dollars that local residents have to pay. For example, each resident in Floyd County would have to pay $335 more per year if it were not for visitor spending attracted to the county. Every county in the state could benefit from more visitor spending dollars, increased by outdoor recreation. 

To bring more outdoor recreation opportunities to her citizens, Paulding County Commissioner Virginia Galloway said her county was encouraged by a local state agency to apply for a grant to build a blueway on Sweetwater Creek. The paddle trail would connect one public park to another public park by water, increasing exploration and enjoyment of the creek and providing a place for local residents to paddle close to home. With respect for private property owners, the county planned to provide “no trespassing” signs for landowners to post on their riverbank. But due to the current legislative debate, the blueway project is at a standstill. 

Commissioner Galloway referred to the 1863 law defining navigable streams that the new legislative study committee has indicated will be its gauge for where citizens will be allowed to recreate on Georgia rivers. It’s an ongoing, statewide debate about how the law will be interpreted and county leaders are uncomfortable committing resources with so much uncertainty in the air. “We are not sure of how to move forward as the law is so restrictive on what is defined as navigable water,” Commissioner Galloway said. Stating understanding and respect for private property rights, Commissioner Galloway added, “I don’t think we should stop people from using a public trust, a moving waterway, as they enjoy exercise and time with family.”

James Lossick encourages the legislature to see the value in river recreation for both his business and community at large. 

“Water brings people together. It’s a community thing. Young families and children get to see the wilderness and environment too. I just wish the legislature and committee members would come out and spend a little bit of time on the water and see how the water changes people,” Lossick said. 

The stories we tell of river recreation tourism on Cedar Creek 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. The Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams will convene later this month 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. 

As we’ve heard here, 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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Kayakers paddle down Cedar Creek from Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center in Cave Spring

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/

Watch the Freedom to Float Livestream Series:

Recording from 8-12: Episode 5: River Recreation on Cedar Creek in Rome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY42oBbRh3k

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.