Captain John Smith Water Trail
Washington Water Trails Association
Water Trail Frequently Asked Questions
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What are Water Trails, and Why is Their Popularity Growing?
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Water trails are networks of points along the water
(such as rivers or lakes) that people can access using
human-powered boats. But to Rivers & Trails staffer
Jerry Willis, they're also the lever that can change a
community's perception about its local waterways,
particularly those in urban areas that have been
subject to neglect and pollution over the years. "Water
trails have become a wonderful strategy to get people
to look at these rivers in a different way," he says. "It
becomes a foot in the door, and we can start talking
about creating access points for people to get to the
river, stream bank restoration, and taking out invasive
species and replanting with native species. If you can
bring people to the edge of the river, you'll create a
new generation of stewards for these forgotten
resources."
In the last five years, water trails have been growing in
popularity-partly because of their ability to galvanize a
community, and partly because they often don't require
major infrastructure investments, except perhaps for
bathrooms or camping facilities. Notes Sarah
Krueger, Outreach Director of the Washington Water
Trails Association, "Often, it's a matter of packaging
what exists. There might already be a collection of
access points or facilities along a stretch of river or
lake and they haven't been put together, or they're
owned by different entities, or maybe there's not
cohesive mapping. A water trail is also about getting
information out to people and letting them know what
exists."
Water trails can serve educational, as well as
recreational, purposes. Krueger cites as a favorite the
Captain John Smith Water Trail along the
Chesapeake Bay--recently designated as a national
historic trail--which features interpretive buoys you can
paddle up to in a kayak or canoe, and you can dial a
number on your cellphone and receive detailed
information about the spot you're visiting.
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What are the Challenges in Establishing Urban Water Trails?
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Often, the hardest part of establishing water trails in
an urban area is the psychological barrier: people are
skeptical that their local eyesore can be turned into a
recreational destination. Another related challenge is
the physical barriers that have frequently been
erected,
from highways to railroad lines, making river access
difficult.
Once access points have been identified, securing
rights to them can be tricky, from researching titles
and establishing ownership to dealing with neighbors
who aren't thrilled that their property will now be
adjacent to public right-of-ways. Notes
Krueger, "Especially for urban trails, whether water or
land, public access raises concerns, so you want to
be proactive and emphasize the benefits to the greater
community and listen carefully."
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How Can I Kickstart Creation of a Water Trail?
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One of the most effective tools in raising interest and
support for water trails is holding events. The secret is
to create something interesting and memorable that
will lure the media. On the Passaic River in New
Jersey, there is an annual Passaic River Paddle
Relay, which visits different communities each year
and has drawn up to 120 paddlers. In another event,
dubbed "The Mayor's Cup," over half a dozen mayors
joined the local Congressman in a short race. Such
events, says Willis, "are a lot of work, but in the end
they have the biggest payoff in terms of visibility."
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National Water Trails Conference
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A national water trails conference will be held this year
from September 16-18 at Fort Worden State Park in
Port Townsend, Washington. Topics will include ways
to identify partners and stakeholders, issues of public
and private property, mapping, facilities creation, and
overall best practices. To learn more, contact
Washington Water Trails at 206-545-9161.
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Let's Work Together
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If you're working on restoring a river, building a trail,
or making an urban park flourish, we'd love to talk
with you about ways we might be able to work
together. Please call or email your regional
representative today to determine if your project
is a good fit. Find more information and previous
newsletters here.
Apply for NPS assistance by August 1.
Could your project benefit from 1-2 years' staff time
and technical assistance from a National Park Service
specialist? We want to help you succeed.
Download a program application; the
deadline is August 1, 2008.
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