Dear River Protector,

This month Georgia Rivers gathered for a staff retreat to plan the many ways we will work to protect and connect with Georgia rivers in the upcoming year.

After a long two days of creative collaboration, our map highlighting Georgia rivers and water trails was FULL of future paddle trips, paddlesports training classes and programs for you to enjoy in 2025. Get ready to mark your calendars, we will announce a final 2025 calendar with many events soon!

It's always special when our statewide staff can combine our passions and talents to dream up new possibilities for Georgia Rivers. Here's a little teaser: we brainstormed unique ways to connect people to Georgia rivers through a fishing program!

Our staff is empowered to brainstorm and build our programs thanks to a strong network of friends, board and sponsors backing us up. In this season of thankfulness, I would like to express my deep gratitude for each of you supporting our mission every day of the year.

Yours in river recreation and conservation, 

Rena Ann Peck

Executive Director

Next Steps After Final House Study Committee Meeting on Navigable Streams

The final House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters meeting was November 13 in Newnan. The committee is expected to make recommendations to the full General Assembly by Dec. 1. Watch a recording of the meeting and hear public testimonies here. (jump to 4:13:30 mark)

What’s next? The Freedom to Float Coalition is preparing a legal brief on the right of passage that has been established since statehood.

Legislators need to hear from you before the legislative session starts in January! Use our form to easily contact your representatives and tell them to protect the state’s economy and Georgians’ quality of life by protecting the freedom to float. 

More than 60 outfitter businesses and outdoor recreation professionals signed a letter that strongly urges the study committee to protect Georgia’s robust outdoor recreation economy by supporting laws that ensure broad public access to Georgia’s more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Georgia Rivers executive director Rena Ann Peck shared a new way of thinking about the implications of limiting public river access in a recent op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

"Allowing a single property owner to prohibit passage down floatable streams not only has the potential to shut down small businesses, but it also prevents other stream front property owners from accessing that recreational resource. It’s akin to allowing homeowners to close sidewalks in front of their homes."

"Proposed expansion of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge draws strong support"

A public hearing in Folkston included many speakers who showed overwhelming support for a proposal to expand the acquisition boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This expansion would include land where Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals plans to extract titanium sands.

Read more about the proposed expansion in an article by Capitol Beat.

Okefenokee Paddle Trips!

Our two Okefenokee paddle trips this month toured the best of the Okefenokee National Wilderness Canoe Trails and included many up-close encounters with friendly gators, migratory birds and ancient swamp trees!

Our rivers generously provide clean drinking water, adventurous recreational opportunities, and wildlife havens. Show your gratitude for Georgia rivers with a gift!

Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a great time to make your annual gift to protect our treasured rivers before the busy end of year season. Please consider making a donation to Georgia Rivers today or on Giving Tuesday. Memberships also make great holiday gifts!

We are thankful for your continued support to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers! 

Take a look at the many programs your gift supports in our new sponsorship package! You or your company could sponsor one of our 2025 programs. Please contact Alberto Perez at alberto@garivers.org for more sponsorship details.

Connect with us!