I pulled this off of the Birmingham, AL canoe club site. I thought anyone who has ever paddled any of these rivers might be interested.
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Scenic trail on Coosa-Alabama river system boost for ecotourism
8/17/2007, 12:08 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) - A 631-mile scenic river trail from northeast Alabama
to Mobile on the Coosa-Alabama river system could generate ecotourism
dollars, travel industry officials say.
The project proposed by Fred Couch of Anniston is slated for completion next
June.
With 19 counties adjacent to the river corridor, Alabama’s rivers seem to be
an untapped resource for ecotourism, Couch said.
Eleven resolutions have been passed by local governments throughout the
state in support of the trail project.
Visitors along the trail also might gain a greater appreciation for water
quality in Alabama rivers, said Calhoun County Commissioner Robert Downing.
Downing told The Anniston Star in a story Friday that he has been encouraged
by the response about the project throughout the county and the state.
Couch and members of the nonprofit Alabama Scenic River Trail group are
collecting information about stops along the river for brochures.
He said about $150,000 remains to be raised to pay for signs along the
river, including printing costs and upgrades at dam sites to allow portages,
or navigational routes around the dam in order to reconnect with the river.
The group has applied to be a nonprofit organization, Couch said.
Grey Brennan, marketing manager for the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and
Travel, calls the scenic river tour an ambitious project that is consistent
with state plans to promote natural waterways.
“By linking these rivers together as a single trail, they become easier to
promote to vacations, especially those that are out of state,” he said.
Brennan said there will be different types of people who will use the trail.
“The outdoor adventurer will want to do the whole trail and maybe stay at
bed and breakfasts. Many people will only use sections of the river. They
may stay in Anniston, Montgomery or Mobile, any of the other towns along the
river,” he said.
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Information from: The Anniston Star,
http://www.anniston star.com/
G_K paddled them
including the Etowah.
Here is the inside story. This is the last 631 miles of my 851 mile trip in 2006.
I’m currently planning the inagural 631 mile trip that will open the trail. Along the way there will be 9 opening ceremonies at the portage trails, a Grand Opening in Montgomery and a final ceremony in Mobile.
The arrival date for Montgomery hasn’t been decided yet but I working on the dateless itinerary now using my journal.
I will start in Rome, Ga and paddle 2 days to the Alabama state line where the trip will officially start. It is unknown what will take place there.
Everyone is invited to paddle along with me or join along the way. This will be a self sufficient trip as was my previous one. If you are interested send me a private e-mail and I will send you the information as it becomes available. Starting date should be sometime in May 2008.
Richard
Dam portages?
Will they have designated portages around every dam on the river? They really are putting some resources into this plan…I’m impressed!
Those dam portages
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I wonder…
if they are going to be as nice as the one at Guntersville Dam. Kind of a long hike but at least it’s paved the whole way.
Not really sure.
I’ve only gone over to Lake Weiss to see where they proposed that dam portage trail. I have a feeling some of them might be doosies. I can give the “real deal” report in July. One of those “Been there, done that” reports.
Guntersville…
Why portage? call the Dam on cell or VHF and lock through! I haven’t portaged Guntersville in years.