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Calling All Boaters: Pend Oreille Flowering Rush Event July 28th, 2012
Volunteers are needed to paddle or boat the Pend Oreille River on Saturday, July 28 to search for flowering rush, a new invasive water weed. The survey event will begin at 9 am with a short training session on identification to be held at the Oldtown boat launch, immediately east of the Highway 2 bridge near Newport. Participants will receive survey materials, sign up for their preferred location, and then disperse along the river. The main emphasis for the day will be the reach between Newport and Cusick, but volunteers desiring to survey other areas are welcome as well. The event is coordinated by a partnership including the Pend Oreille River Water Trail, Idaho Department of Agriculture, Washington Department of Ecology, Pend Oreille County Weed Board and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) was found in the Pend Oreille River downstream of Albeni Falls dam in 2010 and 2011, and was immediately removed from those spots. But the weed has been spreading in Lake Pend Oreille for at least four years and will continue to occasionally show up downstream. While the particular strain of plant found in the Clark Fork/Pend Oreille system generally doesn’t produce flowers, it can spread rapidly through rhizome fragmentation, and can form dense stands, impacting both recreational activities and fish habitat. Flowering rush creates an ideal habitat for the great pond snail that hosts parasites causing swimmer’s itch. Organizers hope to prevent the weed from ever becoming established in the Pend Oreille River by enlisting volunteers to be on the lookout for pioneering plants and to effectively dig it up or report locations to the county weed board for removal. For more information contact cmack@wsu.edu or ssorby@pendoreille.org. |
New National Water Trails System to Promote Healthy, Accessible Rivers
Atlanta’s Chattahoochee River to become first national water trail of its kind
02/29/2012
Contact: Adam Fetcher, DOI (202) 208-6416
David Barna, NPS (202) 208-6843
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today unveiled the National Water Trails System, a new network that will increase access to water-based outdoor recreation, encourage community stewardship of local waterways, and promote tourism that fuels local economies across America.
Today’s announcement comes in advance of Friday’s White House Conference on Conservation hosted by the Department of the Interior. The conference will spotlight community-driven conservation efforts as part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.
“Rivers, lakes, and other waterways are the lifeblood of our communities, connecting us to our environment, our culture, our economy, and our way of life,” Salazar said. “The new National Water Trail System will help fulfill President Obama’s vision for healthy and accessible rivers as we work to restore and conserve our nation’s treasured waterways.”
Secretary Salazar signed a Secretarial Order that establishes national water trails as a class of national recreational trails under the National Trails System Act of 1968. The order sets the framework for Secretarial designation of water trails that will help facilitate outdoor recreation on waterways in and around urban areas, and provide national recognition and resources to existing, local water trails.
“The Corps will actively participate, working with many local partners, to develop the water trails system and connect people to the water resources close to their homes,” said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “The National Water Trails System will recognize and promote local efforts at a national level.”
Today, Secretary Salazar also announced that the Chattahoochee River Water Trail in Georgia will be the first river to be designated as a National Water Trail under the new system. The water trail travels through 48 miles of river within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The park serves 3.2 million visitors annually, most from the local Atlanta metro-region. In addition to providing over 65% of the public greenspace in this urban region, the river provides most of Atlanta’s drinking water. The park and new water trail contain 18 developed public access points and connects with other local city and county parks. The river is heavily used by anglers, tubers, kayakers, canoers, and rafters.
“The Chattahoochee River Water Trail provides clean water, greenspace, and river access for millions of Americans every year,” Salazar said. “As our nation opens a new chapter on rivers - one where we value our waterways for their recreational, economic and ecological importance - it is fitting that the Chattahoochee River Water Trail leads the way.”
To see pictures of the Chattahoochee River Water Trail, click here.
With each designation, signage, technical assistance and resources will be provided to build on and promote the development of quality water trails. Water trails that are designated can become catalysts for restoring the health of local waterways throughout the community.
The National Trails System Act of 1968 authorized the creation of a National Trails System composed of National Recreation Trails, National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. Although National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an Act of Congress, National Recreation Trails may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.
Under the Secretarial Order, the National Park Service will coordinate the national water trail nomination process.
To learn more about the National Trails System, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/nts/
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02/29/2012
Contact: Adam Fetcher, DOI (202) 208-6416
David Barna, NPS (202) 208-6843
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today unveiled the National Water Trails System, a new network that will increase access to water-based outdoor recreation, encourage community stewardship of local waterways, and promote tourism that fuels local economies across America.
Today’s announcement comes in advance of Friday’s White House Conference on Conservation hosted by the Department of the Interior. The conference will spotlight community-driven conservation efforts as part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.
“Rivers, lakes, and other waterways are the lifeblood of our communities, connecting us to our environment, our culture, our economy, and our way of life,” Salazar said. “The new National Water Trail System will help fulfill President Obama’s vision for healthy and accessible rivers as we work to restore and conserve our nation’s treasured waterways.”
Secretary Salazar signed a Secretarial Order that establishes national water trails as a class of national recreational trails under the National Trails System Act of 1968. The order sets the framework for Secretarial designation of water trails that will help facilitate outdoor recreation on waterways in and around urban areas, and provide national recognition and resources to existing, local water trails.
“The Corps will actively participate, working with many local partners, to develop the water trails system and connect people to the water resources close to their homes,” said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “The National Water Trails System will recognize and promote local efforts at a national level.”
Today, Secretary Salazar also announced that the Chattahoochee River Water Trail in Georgia will be the first river to be designated as a National Water Trail under the new system. The water trail travels through 48 miles of river within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The park serves 3.2 million visitors annually, most from the local Atlanta metro-region. In addition to providing over 65% of the public greenspace in this urban region, the river provides most of Atlanta’s drinking water. The park and new water trail contain 18 developed public access points and connects with other local city and county parks. The river is heavily used by anglers, tubers, kayakers, canoers, and rafters.
“The Chattahoochee River Water Trail provides clean water, greenspace, and river access for millions of Americans every year,” Salazar said. “As our nation opens a new chapter on rivers - one where we value our waterways for their recreational, economic and ecological importance - it is fitting that the Chattahoochee River Water Trail leads the way.”
To see pictures of the Chattahoochee River Water Trail, click here.
With each designation, signage, technical assistance and resources will be provided to build on and promote the development of quality water trails. Water trails that are designated can become catalysts for restoring the health of local waterways throughout the community.
The National Trails System Act of 1968 authorized the creation of a National Trails System composed of National Recreation Trails, National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. Although National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an Act of Congress, National Recreation Trails may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.
Under the Secretarial Order, the National Park Service will coordinate the national water trail nomination process.
To learn more about the National Trails System, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/nts/
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The Spokesman Review - PDO Water Trail to be unveiled at Open House
August 3, 2011 - BOATING — Three years in the making, a Pend Oreille River Water Trail plan covering 70 miles of the river in northeastern Washington will be served up — along with snacks and beverages — at an open house meeting Thursday (Aug. 4), 5 p.m.-7 p.m., at the Camas Center, 1821 N. LeClerc Rd., northeast of Usk, Wash. (See map.)
This the plan focuses on the Pend Oreille County stretch of the river, including Z Canyon and Peewee Falls. The entire river is 130 miles long originating from Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho Panhandle flowing northwesterly — unusual for a major U.S. River — until it joins the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia. ... Click here to read full story online at the Spokesman Review.
This the plan focuses on the Pend Oreille County stretch of the river, including Z Canyon and Peewee Falls. The entire river is 130 miles long originating from Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho Panhandle flowing northwesterly — unusual for a major U.S. River — until it joins the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia. ... Click here to read full story online at the Spokesman Review.
