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Since a large part of our mission is to connect people with Georgia rivers, one of our top priorities is to ensure everyone who floats Georgia rivers is able to do so safely. The U.S. Coast Guard recently released the 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics, and while overall boating deaths are at a 50-year all-time low, paddlesports continued to account for approximately one in every three boating fatalities in the United States last year.
This summer Georgia Rivers was uniquely positioned to lead safe boating awareness and education. Our leadership in river recreation was used to spread the message of wearing lifejackets and boating safety, our expertise in paddlesports training was employed to host seven National Safe Boating Week Kayaking 101 classes statewide, and our Georgia River Guide app now has more safety features that are easy to access and apply to trip planning on Georgia Water Trails.
As we wrap up the summer and reflect on our river adventures, we are so grateful for your safe and fun water experiences on Georgia Water Trails!
Yours in river recreation and conservation,
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Rena Ann Peck
Executive Director
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Governor Kemp's Safe Boating Week Proclamation | |
Georgia Rivers was named a key partner ensuring the safety of the boating public in Governor Kemp's Safe Boating Week Proclamation.
The proclamation encouraged Georgians to “spread the message of boating safety, urging fellow boaters to participate in boating education classes (situational awareness and rules of the road), check the weather, file for a float plan, stay sober, wear life jackets, and follow State and Coast Guard regulations.” Georgia Rivers led many of these safety goals outlined by the Governor!
While Safe Boating Week was officially May 17-23, this proclamation set the stage for a safe summer. The photo below represents the many agencies, including Georgia DNR, US Coast Guard Auxiliary and more, who worked together throughout the summer to keep everyone on Georgia rivers, water trails and lakes safe.
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Photograph (Governor’s Official Photographer)
L to R: Rhodes Lee (US Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club Atlanta), Colonel Mike England (GA Department of Natural Resources), Cindy Ringwall (US Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club Atlanta), Corporal Zack Hardy (GA Department of Natural Resources), Nan Ellen Fuller (US Coast Guard Auxiliary), Deputy Commissioner Thomas Barnard (GA Department of Natural Resources), David Fuller (US Coast Guard Auxiliary), Governor Brian P. Kemp, First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp, Lieutenant Wanda Roberts (GA Department of Natural Resources), Rena Ann Peck (Georgia Rivers), Andrea White (Georgia Rivers/ACA Southeast Regional Chair), Jack Williams (US Coast Guard Auxiliary), Corporal Brock Hoyt (GA Department of Natural Resources), and Game Warden Joe Ballard (GA Department of Natural Resources).
| Top L - R: Kim Bednarek, Andrew Schock, Stacy Funderburke. Bottom L - R: Andrew Morse, Congressman Billy Stuckey, Rev. Antwon Nixon | | Honoring Okefenokee Champions at Georgia Rivers Gala | | |
Join us September 18 at the Ivan Allen Family Meadow in Atlanta to celebrate saving the Okefenokee and the 20th anniversary of Paddle Georgia.
The Georgia Rivers Gala will honor 2025 Okefenokee champions: Kim Bednarek (Okefenokee Swamp Park executive director), Andrew Schock and Stacy Funderburke (The Conservation Fund), Andrew Morse (president of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Congressman Billy Stuckey and Rev. Antwon Nixon.
Gala proceeds will support Georgia Water Trails and Fish Georgia Rivers programs.
To purchase tickets, sponsor or learn more, visit our event website.
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Intro to Kayak Fishing
August 16 on Lake Lanier in Cumming
Nationally certified ACA Kayak and Kayak Fishing instructors will help you leverage your kayak, expand your knowledge and skills, and become a more proficient angler!
Register here.
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Upper Chattahoochee River Adventure
August 16 in the Sauntee-Nacoochee Valley
This 10-mile run begins in the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley and winds over gentle flowing water and occasional shoals before spilling over the Class II Smith Island Rapid.
Register here.
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West Chickamauga Creek Adventure
August 23 in northwest Georgia
Join us for a 10-mile day trip through Walker and Catoosa counties before the creek flows into the Tennessee River.
Register here.
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Yellow River Adventure
September 13 near Covington
This 7-mile day trip along the Yellow River Water Trail is the perfect introduction to flatwater river paddling!
Register here.
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Intro to Kayak Fishing
Sept 13 on Lake Lanier in Cumming
Nationally certified ACA Kayak and Kayak Fishing instructors will help you leverage your kayak, expand your knowledge and skills, and become a more proficient angler!
Register here.
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Fall Float on the Flint
October 10-12 near Albany
Our favorite fall trip is a two-day, 36-mile canoe/kayak adventure with camping at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat, catered meals, education programs and more!
Register here.
| | Safety features added to the Georgia River Guide app | | |
Our goal is to make safety information accessible for everyone, whether you are a parent checking to see if the river is safe for a dip, or a paddler planning a multi-day excursion.
New real-time warnings on the Georgia River Guide app are concise and color-coded to make it super easy for anyone to understand the advisability of paddling a particular section of a river today. When it's not advisable to go today, you will see a yellow or red warning!
New features include:
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Real-time warnings for low or high water based on recommended runnable levels and USGS gauges
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Real-time warnings about e coli bacteria levels based on USGS gauges
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Access to dam release schedules according to USACE, Georgia Power and TVA published dam release schedules
A big thanks to our interns Harshavardhan Meka and Nazim Malwan, and our partners at GeoMarvel!
| | Safety on Georgia Water Trails | | | | |
Georgia Rivers is the nonprofit partner managing the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Georgia Water Trails Network. Our leadership is essential to promoting these blueways and ensuring safe access to river recreation - and in the process advocating for their protection.
There are now more than 50 water trails mapped on our Georgia River Guide app!
| | Coaching and Certifying Future ACA Kayak Instructors | | |
Georgia Rivers offers kayak instructor certification classes to increase the number of nationally certified ACA kayak instructors who spread the skills and norms that lead to a community of safe boating. Certifying new kayak instructors creates a "multiplier effect" across our region, as instructors go on to lead their own trips, teach their own classes, and educate even more people about safe paddling on Georgia rivers.
Our “Beaver Crew” kayak instructor training program provides coaching from certified ACA river kayaking instructors over the spring and summer and culminates with an August/September instructor certification class. This cohort of outdoor recreation leaders are currently training together and planning future paddlesports activities to offer their communities and organizations!
Our professional kayak instructor training classes attract outdoor recreation leaders from across Georgia and the southeast. Attend an upcoming ACA River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop:
ACA Level 2 River Kayaking ICW+PSF Instructor Endorsement - August 30-31 + Sept 21
ACA Level 2/3 River Kayaking Instructor Cert UPGRADE/UPDATE - Sept 5-7
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Paddle-a-thon, our annual paddling competition and peer-to-peer fundraising event, is over halfway through. Thank you for paddling to protect the rivers you love!
Log ALL paddle trips you take using our Adventure Log form. Don't forget you can log any trips you take from January 1 to the end of Paddle-a-thon in October!
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