Freedom to Float Live Stream Series

 

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

Hear how river recreation on the Chestatee and Etowah rivers boosts tourism in Dahlonega

Our latest panel conversation discussed the urgent need to tell legislators to support the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy and protect the right of passage on Georgia’s rivers and streams

 

ATHENS, GA, August 28, 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 what we can do to speak up to protect open river access for all.  

Ben LaChance with Appalachian Outfitters runs kayak and tubing trips down the Chestatee and Etowah rivers near Dahlonega. An average of 18,000 to 20,000 people visit Appalachian Outfitters annually to float the rivers, and even more small outfitters and private paddlers enjoy the Etowah and Chestatee rivers.

 

At various times, Appalachian Outfitters has offered kayaking on every stretch of the river from Copper Mine to Lake Lanier (on the Chestatee), from the upper Etowah at Jay’s Bridge to Dawson Forest, and upper Amicalola Creek. “The new laws that could be passed could harm the paddling side of my life, much less the paddling business part of our lives and the tourism industry that was built around it,” LaChance said.

Ben LaChance is referring to the current legislative debate over navigable streams. At a recent study committee meeting, DNR proposed state legislators consider a rule that rivers in Georgia with a mean annual flow of 400 cubic feet of water per second be deemed navigable streams for purposes of recreation. According to LaChance, this metric would exclude numerous streams in north Georgia that host thousands of paddlers.

“I don’t know if any of those streams that I had listed earlier would have a mean flow of 400 cfs a year,” LaChance said. He is wary of legislation that adopts this metric to define navigable streams. “It would be devastating to paddling streams in the north Georgia mountains,” he said.

Georgia River Network studied how many rivers in Georgia have a mean annual flow of 400 cfs or higher.  “If we were to follow that [metric], out of the 70,000 river miles in Georgia, 95% would be unavailable to the public for recreation,” said Andrea White, Georgia River Network community programs coordinator and ACA Southeast Chair. Furthermore, the list of rivers with a mean average flow of 400 cfs or higher does not take into account the many rivers and streams with county accesses, places the community has designated a water trail, or places where there is already a thriving business. “River recreation is a staple in our tourism equation in Georgia, and we need to maintain access,” Andrea added.

Keeping Georgia’s rivers open to the public could lead to even more river recreation, water trails, and businesses. “We are just one community, but there are lots of communities that have a stream that could potentially have an outfitter on them someday and have the economic benefit we all know is ripe for the picking. But if we are restricted from this natural resource, on a statewide basis of the precedent that seems to be taking place, it will be devastating for tourism in the state,” said Ben LaChance. 

Robb Nichols with Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce compared paddlers on rivers to hikers on trails. He wants to see Georgia’s rivers remain open for all and continue to host many visitors the same way the popular Appalachian Trail was created with the foresight of both protecting access to nature and increasing tourism. “We have the opportunity here to not only prevent this legislation, but to protect [rivers]….and not only preserve it, but increase the use of the river,” Nichols said. 

Sam McDuffie with Discover Dahlonega echoes the many public river access advocates who wish for Georgia to prevent legislation that would limit river access and promote legislation that protects the rights of passage for paddlers. “Right of passage is no different than us driving by someone’s house on a road. The river could be considered as a road; it’s a right of way and we are going through a transportation route in a sense,” McDuffie said.

Ben LaChance appreciates organizations like the Freedom to Float Coalition who speak up to protect the freedom to float and educate lawmakers on the value of river recreation. He urges everyone who loves Georgia’s rivers to speak up, and speak up now.

“I think the fight is more important now than it will be later because it’s going to be so much harder later if we are restricted from a body of water or stream,” LaChance said. “Keeping [public access] from being taken is a lot easier than trying to take it back.” 

The House Study Committee on Navigable Streams met on August 15 and will meet again on September 20 at Unicoi State Park and Lodge in Helen. At that meeting, the committee will collect testimony from the public. “This is your opportunity to have your voice be heard,” Andrea White said. 

Georgia River Network makes it easy for everyone to speak up to protect the freedom to float. Use the Georgia River Network action alert link to quickly send a message to your state senator and representative. Tell your legislators that they need to support the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy by protecting existing river uses and the public’s right to boat down any stream that will float a boat. Tell them about how you and your family use the state’s rivers and why protecting that use is so important to you.

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/

 

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The trip downstream from the Appalachian Outfitters outpost is the most popular, especially for first-time paddlers and kayakers, families, and large groups. There are several exciting, yet gentle rapids, great scenery, and good fishing. 

Appalachian Outfitters offers a short but fun tubing float on the Chestatee River, just outside of Dahlonega.

Appalachian Outfitters has a full fleet of tubs, tandem kayaks and solo kayaks for a variety of river adventures. 

 Photo Credit: Appalachian Outfitters 

Interview Contacts:

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

 

Recording from 8-26; Episode 7: River Recreation on the Chestatee and Etowah Rivers in North Georgia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7Zc-BLt0w

 

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/

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.