Camden Water Trail Phase II

In Camden New Jersey, the 13-mile Camden Water Trail is connecting current and future park lands and water access points around the Back Channel and Cooper River.

The trail aims to encourage recreation on and around the rivers. Work is underway to provide public access sites, interpretive opportunities, habitat restoration, and other improvements.

This project is in Phase II with additional parks lands, access points and interpretive signs to be installed by 2023. 

Planning for the upgrades is being undertaken by Camden County Parks Department, Discover the Delaware partners, and local officials.

Efforts are underway to add several stops to the Camden Water Trail, including:

• Cramer Hill Nature Preserve

• Petty’s Island Preserve

• Sadler’s Poynt Waterfront Park: Install floating dock

• Pyne Poynt Park Beach: Redesigned

• Sadler’s Marine Services: Potential park/boat house

• Cramer Hill Waterfront Park

• New Camden Park

• Farnham Park

• Gateway Park: Install dock

• Kaighn Avenue Dam: Install fish and boat passageway

• Cooper River Boathouse

• Cooper River Boat Ramp

• Cooper River Yacht Club

• Cooper River Park

• Camden County Parks Department: Install access point

For more information, visit: www.camdencounty.com and www.upstreamalliance.org.

Discover the Delaware’s partner organizations include: County of Camden, UrbanPromise, Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Independence Seaport Museum, Camden Community Partnership, NJ Natural Lands Trust, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority and Upstream Alliance.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Paddling Trails

Fall is a wonderful time to explore paddling trails at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Blackwater has three paddling trails totaling over 20 miles.

The Friends of Blackwater recently helped enhance the markers and interpretive signs along the trails.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge paddling trails have been listed as one of the most gorgeous places to paddle in the fall by the Washington Post.

To learn more about the trails, visit the Blackwater NWR website at www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater/.

The Friends of Blackwater is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that relies on members for support. For more information, visit www.friendsofblackwater.org.

source: Friends of Blackwater

Paddle Ohio

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently launched the Paddle Ohio initiative to promote paddling on Ohio's state-designated wild, scenic and recreational rivers and water trails.

The Paddle Ohio initiative will reward individuals who paddle four of Ohio's wild, scenic and recreational rivers or water trails with a commemorative pin. Participants simply submit information about their four paddling trips on the Paddle Ohio registration form at paddle.ohiodnr.gov, and ODNR will mail the pin to qualifying individuals.

Future plans include a series of pins paddlers will be able to collect for paddling up to 20 different segments of Ohio's wild, scenic and recreational rivers or water trails.

Ohio pioneered the river preservation movement in 1968 with the passage of the nation's first scenic rivers act. This legislation created a state movement to protect Ohio's high quality streams for future generations.

Information on Ohio's scenic rivers and water trails is available from the ODNR Division of Watercraft at watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/scenicrivers.

source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Best Areas for Kayaking in Hampton Roads Virginia

Hampton Roads Virginia is one of the best areas in the Mid Atlantic for kayaking. Paddlesports enthusiasts can explore the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, local rivers, creeks, canals, lakes, ponds, salt marshes, and other areas.

Ocean kayakers launch along beaches or inlets from Virginia Beach to Sandbridge. To reach the Chesapeake Bay, kayakers depart from Hampton, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach. All three cities provide parks and ramps where kayakers can launch their craft.

Virginia's Hampton Roads region is a maze of rivers, creeks, and tidal lagoons. Kayakers explore the James, Nanesemond, Elizabeth, Lafayette, Back, and Lynnhaven Rivers. Some estuaries, such as the Elizabeth River, contain designated water trails.

Dismal Swamp Canal

Canals are another option for kayakers. In the heart of Hampton Roads, numerous canals interconnect between the Elizabeth River, Lake Drummond, and Albemarle Sound.

Once part of the Intercoastal Waterway, the canals sustain a variety of wildlife, fish, wild plants, and other inhabitants.

Hampton Roads is home to two National Wildlife Refuges, Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Both facilities contain areas for recreational kayaking, kayak fishing, wildlife watching, and other activities.

Areas suitable for kayaking can also be found at First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park. Both parks contain sheltered areas as well as open water for more experienced paddlers.

Pennsylvania Water Trails Programs

Water trails in Pennsylvania are being promoted by partnership of DCNR, the Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and the National Park Service.

The Pennsylvania Water Trails Program was created to expand, connect, and promote Pennsylvania's water trails system.

Pennsylvania water trails include access points, boat launches, day use sites and some overnight camping sites on or along waterways.

A recent study focused on visitors to four Pennsylvania water trails during the summer of 2012. According to the study, the trips generated almost three-quarters of a million dollars in economic activity and supported 11 full-time jobs in the state.

For Pennsylvania water trail information, visit fishandboat.com

source: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission