Georgia Rivers

Connecting With Our Watershed

By Natalie Downey

The wild rivers, lakes, creeks and ponds of Georgia criss-cross the state, our spectacular watershed unfolding like a flowing web of aquatic vitality. This magnificent watershed doesn’t just exist; it whispers a beautiful truth: connection is everything.

Yet in our fast-paced world, many folks find themselves drifting away from the very water sources that keep our ecosystem afloat.

We know that water is essential to life, and yet, many people find themselves disconnected from the water sources which sustain their area. Finding a way back to connection with nature is not always as simple as it sounds, especially when the knowledge and skills for navigating nature safely aren’t often taught in standard schools.

Georgia Rivers is an environmental nonprofit based out of Athens working to reconnect Georgians with their local watersheds. They envision a future where rivers are valued, protected, and accessible for all to enjoy. A primary aspect of their mission is making public water spaces more accessible to people and encouraging people to spend more time on the water.

Since the 1990’s, Georgia Rivers has existed to further its founding mission, serving not only to advocate for the future of Georgia’s watershed, but also to develop practical programs to get more people on the water. Along with their advocacy work, Georgia Rivers defends people’s right to access public waters, a freedom that is sometimes misunderstood, but which is important and necessary.

When people do not have access to a place, they can’t visit it. When people do not visit a place, they can’t form the important connections within it to care about the future of that place.

Think about it: Is there a natural space you care deeply about? That you’d fight to protect? Most likely, you’ve spent valuable time there, have connected personally to the space, and recognize the importance of the resources it offers. And while many people care about Planet Earth in concept, that consideration is energized when it becomes personal.

Georgie Rivers understands the need for people to care, because they know that today more than ever, we need people to make decisions that value the future of the planet. Many of the issues the natural world faces, such as pollution, are man-made problems that will require a man-made solution and a change in the behaviors of mankind. The first step in making a true, life-long change for the good of the planet? Caring. The catalyst for caring? Connection.

As Georgia Rivers works to connect people with the local watershed, people begin to experience firsthand the joy, the peace, the healing that results from being in nature, and, specifically, spending time around natural waters. And as they experience that, many realize the importance of supporting organizations like Georgia Rivers to protect natural spaces, so that we can all continue to enjoy them.

Along with providing opportunities for people to get on the water, Georgia Rivers works on a larger scale to advocate for legislation that protects the watershed. Recently, their work has taken them to the Capitol to urge state leaders to provide better protection of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. As the Refuge faces imminent mining threats, Georgia Rivers has served for nearly five years as a voice for preservation of our wild resources and protection of our natural spaces, and remain committed to their fight for the irreplaceable national resource.

Georgia Rivers organizes and runs programs that make it easy for people to get out on the water, whether they’re looking to explore a new part of the Georgia watershed, or just want to paddle with a group of river enthusiasts. Their calendar is full of guided paddle trips, both day trips, and longer trips – that take participants across various Georgia rivers.

They host around twelve trips each year, including their popular Paddle Georgia trip, a seven-day adventure on the South Chickamauga River that spans three states. Paddle Georgia is the largest week-long paddling event in the nation, and has introduced more than 5,000 people to the watershed. With more than 180 people already signed up for this year’s Paddle Georgia, which will take place June 15-21, Georgia Rivers anticipates an adventure-filled week full of water, sunshine, community, and learning.

Georgia Rivers’ paddle trips are beginner-friendly, and they offer instruction and gear for participants. Georgia Rivers trips also serve as a network connecting people with outfitters all along the rivers, helping paddlers make connections with the water and with the community. Most paddlers hit the water in kayaks, with a limited number of canoes available as well.

Recently, Georgia Rivers expanded its programs to include fishing instruction and fishing trips for beginner anglers. Recognizing a growing interest in fishing, they developed a program called Fish Georgia Rivers to provide opportunities for people to learn and practice the techniques under the skilled instruction of their guide.

More than just encouraging people to spend more time on the water, Georgie Rivers does the legwork to make that idea tangible. Their trips are planned out down to the meals, and offer a safe, accessible opportunity to explore the watershed that gives life to our state.

For those who find the cost of trips to be a challenge, Georgia Rivers offers limited scholarships for some of their trips, which can be applied for on their website.

To learn more about the work of Georgia Rivers, view their calendar of events, and register for a paddle, visit garivers.org.