Broad River Watershed Assn Seeks Local Support for Water Trail

Members of the Broad River Water Trail Association are asking for local support in the form of a resolution for the developing Broad River Water Trail.

The Association is a conservation group which owns over 300 acres of land along the Broad River Watershed. 

The Broad River Water Trail (BRWT) currently runs from the Hudson River and Middle Fork Broad River in the Northern End of the Watershed to  Bobby Brown State Park.  It includes 10 access points (two public and eight on private property with public access to boat launches), plus eight highway bridge crossings.

Counties within the Watershed include: Athens-Clarke, Jackson, Habersham, Stephens, Banks, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Wilkes and Lincoln.

The trail will ultimately be 70 miles long beginning on the Hudson River in Banks County or 75 miles on the Middle Fork (of the Broad River), continuing downstream along the Broad River, and finishing in Clark’s Hill Reservoir in McCormick, GA.

Monday, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners heard from Association representative Nancy Freeman.

Freeman said her group is working with the Georgia River Network to create the water trail.  The Broad River Water Trail is one of eight new river trails currently under development in Georgia.  13 Water Trails are already established throughout the state.

She said there are many benefits to having a water trail, primarily economic, by promoting tourism.

“People come to float the river; they stop and buy gas, they buy snacks,” said Freeman. “They may get off the river and go to a local restaurant. If they’re from out of town, they may stay in a local motel. Existing businesses see increased profits.”

Freeman said new businesses may also open to support increased traffic as a result of the water trails.  She noted communities also develop festivals and other events to promote the water trails, such as Rivers Alive, a state-sponsored event designed to help keep Georgia rivers clean.

“The net is an improved quality of life and also an increased tax base,” Freeman said.

According to the Georgia River Network, billions of dollars are spent by visitors on recreational tourism.  Another benefit, according to Freeman is the promotion of conservation through education and paddling events.

Recently, the Georgia River Network awarded the Broad River Watershed Association $5,000 for its participation and help with the Paddle Georgia project, a seven-day paddling event on the Chattahoochee River.  

Some of the money was used to build and install kiosks at river access points along the Broad River Water Trail.

“This certainly appears to be a worthy project for the County to endorse,” said Franklin County Commission chair Thomas Bridges. “But I think we time to review the sample resolution and discuss it further at our work session.”

No vote was taken, but the commission plans to discuss the matter further at their work session later this month.