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August 2, 2011

CRBI plans Etowah River paddle trip Aug. 6

Submitted by the Coosa River Basin Initiative

The Coosa River Basin Initiative will host a 17-mile paddle on the Etowah River from the shadows of Allatoona Dam to Euharlee on Aug. 6.  The 7-8 hour paddle trip begins at Allatoona Dam and includes a stop at the Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site.

Paddlers will leave the Allatoona Dam launch site, paddle three miles and then portage their boats around historic Thompson-Weinman Dam in Cartersville. The next stop will be the Indian Mounds where participants can tour the mounds.

From the mounds, the trip will continue to Euharlee Road, passing over numerous Native American fish weirs. These V-shaped rock dams, which the area’s original inhabitants built 500 to 1000 years ago to capture fish, are still clearly visible today.

“This trip is a paddle through time—from the site of Western Atlantic Railroad bridge destroyed during the Civil War to the Indian Mounds and fish weirs, there are few stretches of river in Georgia that take you through so much history.” said Joe Cook, CRBI Executive Director & Riverkeeper.

This trip is being conducted to promote the Etowah River Blue Trail project, an effort to construct a 160-mile long canoe and kayak trail on the Etowah River stretching from Dawsonville to Rome.

“The Etowah is a recreational gem, but unfortunately there are only two public access points on the Etowah between Allatoona Dam and Rome,” said Cook. “We’re working with local governments and other stakeholders to improve access to the river. This trip will utilize one existing boat ramp at Allatoona Dam and will end at Euharlee Road where the City of Euharlee and Bartow County are currently partnering on a boat launch project.”

New boat launches on the Etowah in Bartow County are also planned in Cartersville and at the US 411 Bridge near Kingston.

The trip is free to CRBI members. Non members are asked to join CRBI. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. To register for the trip, visit www.coosa.org. For additional information contact CRBI at (706) 232-2724. A small shuttle fee is also charged for each vehicle, and entry fees to the Indian Mounds will be charged.

CRBI staff will note points of interest along the route and discuss issues associated with the river, including the impacts of the operation of Allatoona Dam on wildlife habitat and riverfront property owners.

CRBI is a 501c3 non-profit organization and member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance with the mission of informing and empowering citizens to protect, reserve and restore North America’s most biologically diverse river basin.

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