Dear River Protector,

That's a wrap! As we reflect on a successful year (check out our annual report!) we look forward to a new year full of river adventure trips and the launch of our new Anglers for Georgia Rivers program (we are hiring a new program coordinator!).

Our final newsletter of the year highlights some exciting news for the Okefenokee: the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Our latest update on freedom to float shows our work to protect right of passage has just begun.

As we head into 2025, I would like to thank you for joining Georgia Rivers year after year. We have a 26 year legacy working to protect and connect people with Georgia Rivers. Get ready, 2025 might be our best year yet!

Yours in river recreation and conservation, 

Rena Ann Peck

Executive Director

2025 River Adventure Trips

Georgia Rivers' full river adventure schedule for 2025 is here! Registration is now open for Spring on the St. Marys, four other weekend-long adventures scheduled for the spring as well as our full slate of day trips. 

Several trips shine the spotlight on small streams that have been the subject of much debate regarding where Georgia's paddling public has a right to boat. Other excursions will highlight the rich African-American history along the state's streams. Still others will highlight newly-developed water trails and recreation amenities.

Stay tuned for a full slate of paddlesports training, and kayaking instruction and water safety classes to be announced early next year!

Feb. 28-March 2: Muckalee-Kinchafoonee Creek Adventure

**++March 21-23: Ebenezer-Abercorn Creek Adventure

April 4-6: Paddle Georgia 2025 Spring on the St. Marys

**April 18-20: Chattahoochee River Camp & Paddle

**May 2-4: Altamaha River Delta Adventure

May 17: Kicking off National Safe Boating Week: Kayaking 101 classes

>>May 24: Chattahoochee River Adventure

++June 15-22: Paddle Georgia 2025

**++July 26-27: Big Cedar Creek Adventure

++Aug. 16: Upper Chattahoochee River Adventure

++Aug. 23: West Chickamauga Creek Adventure

>>Sept. 13: Yellow River Adventure

Oct. 10-12: Paddle Georgia 2025 Fall Float on the Flint

Nov. 7-9: Okefenokee-Suwannee River Adventure

Nov. 14-16: Okefenokee Adventure

++ Indicates trip on "at risk" stream

** Indicates trip highlighting Black history 

>>Indicates trip catering to new paddlers 

P.S. Scholarships Are Available! 

Through funding from our many supporters and sponsors, Georgia Rivers is offering scholarships that provide full and partial complimentary registrations for qualifying individuals. Priority will be given to women, people of color, recent immigrants to the U.S. and low income individuals and families. View detailed trip information on our website and to learn how to apply. 

Final Recommendations from the House Study Committee on Navigable Streams

The House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters released its final report Dec. 2.

Read the full report here (it is a short, 5-minute read!)

This report compiles research presented during the study committee meetings, including some of our research and your testimonies. Our advocacy work and your voice was recorded and considered!

The Good News

Paddlers, clubs, outfitters, and stakeholders voiced their concerns to steer the committee away from an explicit recommendation for a list of navigable streams. Any such list could have put at risk dozens of streams that are regularly used by recreational boaters. This new legislative direction was driven by more than 900 individual emails to legislators, our collective testimony, and a letter signed by more than 60 river outfitters, businesses and organizations.

The Bad News

The “keep the status quo” approach recommended by the committee may lead to the public being excluded from popular boating destinations in the future. The committee’s recommendations fail to recognize Georgia’s long-standing common law tradition of permitting boating passage down all streams capable of floating recreational watercraft.

Our work to protect the freedom to float has just begun. Georgia’s General Assembly convenes January 13, and we expect legislation on this issue to be introduced. Legislators must protect small businesses, Georgia’s outdoor recreation economy, property rights and the public’s right to pass down streams capable of floating recreational watercraft.

Follow updates and ways to take action on the Freedom to Float webpage.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be nominated to join UNESCO World Heritage List

The Okefenokee is one step closer to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site!

The nomination will now go to the Federal Register for public review and then be submitted to the World Heritage Committee. If designated, the refuge would join more than 1,000 cultural and natural sites of universal importance.

Read more about the proposed expansion in a press release by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

"Gov. Kemp, it’s now or never for the Okefenokee"

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial Board urged Governor Kemp and the state legislature to act now to save the Okefenokee swamp from mining.

"For three sessions now, the Georgia Legislature has failed to protect the Okefenokee. Last year, legislators failed to advance two bills that would have put a moratorium on or banned mining permits near the Okefenokee. It’s frankly embarrassing that Georgia is shrugging off an existential threat to the magnificent Okefenokee Swamp."

"Georgia Rivers noted that mining to a depth of even 50 feet would alter water flows away from the swamp, lowering the water table within the swamp and exposing critical irreplaceable peat deposits that store volumes of carbon."

Join the Georgia Rivers Team!

We are hiring a program coordinator for our NEW Anglers for Georgia Rivers program! This position will build our river fishing community, increase advocacy and fundraising through fishing, and lead fishing trips and kayak fishing classes.

Are you ready to reel in a new job? Apply today! Know someone who would be perfect for this position? Send them our way!

Learn more about the position and apply on our website.

Connect with us!