Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program How To Build A Water Trail
Managing A Water Trail -
Conservation And Education
At all times, the water trail organization must be
vigilant about protecting—and, better yet, enhancing—the natural
qualities of the waterway itself. By initiating a series of conservation
projects and education programs, the organization not only protects the
waterway but gains a cadre of water trail supporters.
Tracking Visitor Use
Conservation and
Restoration Projects Help local and state conservation agencies monitor
water quality and restore habitats. Conduct fisheries surveys, check for
invasive plants and animals, protect endangered species, and look for
beneficial plants like submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Conduct
semiannual drives to remove litter and trash along the waterway. Help
pinpoint water pollution problems by surveying aquatic insect
populations and conducting bacteria, nitrogen, oxygen, salinity, and
turbidity tests.
Leave No Trace The Leave No Trace Code of Outdoors Ethics program
is a good way to teach low-impact use of the trail to children and
adults. Promote these seven LNT principles in brochures, trail guides,
signs and exhibits (see http:www.lnt.org for more information):
Conduct multi-day paddling trips that include
camping overnight at various locations, festive meals, educational
talks, and informal meetings with elected officials to celebrate the
waterway and to build an educated constituency (see
http://www.pawatersheds.org for their Sojourn Organizers Guide). Some groups, such as the Harrisburg , Pennsylvania
chapter of the Sierra Club, take inner city youngsters on paddling trips
along a river trail after completing a three-day Red Cross canoeing
course. Other groups sponsor canoe races, learn-to-paddle
days, and boating safety courses. At Pennsylvania 's Lehigh River , the
Wildlands Conservancy promotes a bikes-and-boat event. Visitors paddle
down a water trail and then hop on a rental bike to return upstream via
a riverside trail.
Natural and Cultural
Heritage Programs Conduct interpretive programs focusing on the local
archeological, historical, and natural history features to enhance the
community's awareness of why people settled along waterways and the
importance they play in their day-to-day lives. Use professional
outfitters, as well as your own staff members and volunteers, to serve
as interpretive guides. Ask local birders to conduct birdwatching
excursions on the waterway and on adjacent lands—a good way to attract
families and cultivate stewardship attitudes.
Festivals and
Celebrations Sponsor and participate in river and water festivals
and reenactments to attract people who may not otherwise visit a water
trail or waterfront to interest them in your trail and provide
information about conservation issues. Share the spotlight and the
workload with outfitters, fishing and boating businesses and
organizations, and parks and recreation agencies.
Recreation Do not forget that water trails attract many
individuals who are more interested in the physical recreational aspects
of using a water trail than they are in learning about its natural and
historic features. They may enjoy the pure pleasure of getting some
exercise and getting away from their workaday worlds by paddling down a
scenic waterway. Similarly, some people may use your water trail to
spend a day fishing from their boat or canoe or from a favorite spot
along the banks. They, too, may become some of the trail's strongest
supporters.
Boat Shows Participate in area boat shows to provide
information about your water trail.
Other Sites of
Interest:
These websites contain
information on water quality monitoring:
For information about
cleaning up waterways and shorelines:
Contact these
organizations for educational programming information:
Additional sources of
water trail information:
Professional Paddlesports Association
The Trade Association of Paddlesports
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