Fresh off Paddle Georgia 2019 June 15-21 on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers during which the Athens-based river protection group celebrated the event’s 15th anniversary, GRN will in 2020 attempt to surpass one of the most successful journeys in the event’s history.
Paddlers can choose their favorite from a list of seven suggested rivers spanning the length and breadth of Georgia at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PG2020destination. The destination that receives the most votes will get first priority.
Suggested destinations include the upper Flint River in central Georgia from Upson County to Macon County; the Savannah River between Augusta and Sylvania; the St. Mary’s River along the Georgia-Florida state line; the Satilla River in coastal Georgia; the Oconee and Altamaha rivers between Soperton and Baxley; the Broad and Savannah rivers from near Royston to Augusta and a trip featuring three rivers in southwest Georgia and the Florida panhandle—the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola rivers.
“With more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state, there’s no shortage of places to explore and the rivers are incredibly diverse from rocky, shoal-filled streams in North Georgia to lazy blackwater rivers in the South,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator. “This year, we want our supporters to have a say in where we journey.”
Since the first Paddle Georgia in 2005, Georgia River Network has introduced more than 5,000 people to Georgia’s rivers with participants traveling more than 1500 miles on 15 different Georgia rivers. Last month during the 15th-anniversary trip, the organization surpassed the half-million dollar mark for funds generated for river protection. The 2020 edition will mark the 16th year for the annual sojourns. More information can be found at www.garivers.org/paddle-georgia
“The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of our rivers, raise money to support river protection efforts and to establish water trails across Georgia for rural economic development,” said Rena Stricker, Executive Director at Georgia River Network. “When people explore a river and develop a relationship with it, they are much more likely to take action to protect our rivers.”
Paddle Georgia which attracts 300 to 450 people annually is considered the country’s largest week-long canoe/kayak camping journey in the country. Georgia River Network Georgia River Network is a non-profit 501c3 organization working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the mountains to the coast.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT JOE COOK AT 706-409-0128 OR JOE@GARIVERS.ORG
