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Parks & Rec Business
| Water Trails Crossing space and time, the new 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail offers both the casual and expert paddler a unique window into the history and beauty of the northeastern U.S. and Canada. By Helen C. Downey Winding its way through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine, the new 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail offers both the casual and expert paddler a unique window into the very heart and soul of this historic region. The new water trail, a loose connection of 22 rivers/streams and 56 lakes/ponds, follows ancient Native American travel routes through 45 towns and three nature refuges in a land, it seems, time forgot. A land dotted with symbols of where we as a people have come from and indications, some good, some bad, of where we might be going. A land that inspired the likes of Henry David Thoreau. A land of conflicting commercial, recreational and preservation interests. But, of course, land is not really what this new water Trail is all about. And, if history is any guide, the opening of the Canoe Trail harkens back to a time when these rivers and lakes, ponds and streams were the only way to penetrate this vast, forested region. In fact, the opening of the Trail brings the region full circle – moving the public away from viewing these rivers and lakes as individual bodies of water available only for commerce and local recreation and, instead, re-focusing its attention and showing that these bodies of water are an interconnected system, useful for navigation, transportation and recreation. As such, they must be preserved. Organizing The Dream The new Canoe Trail (officially dedicated June 2006) was the brainchild of three men -- Mike Krepner, Ron Canter and Randy Mardres – who, in the early ‘90s, under the auspices of the non-profit organization Native Trails, Inc., undertook the task of identifying, planning and surveying a contiguous canoe trail from New York to Maine. They completed the route research by the mid-90’s, at which point Kay Henry and Rob Center, former principals at Mad River Canoe took on the project, incorporating the new non-profit, Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc. (NFCT), to translate the route into an accessible water trail. Like all big ideas, this one required the support and effort of hundreds of volunteers who believed in the founder’s mission and worked tirelessly to make it a reality. But, unlike all big ideas, Native Trails' organizers hit upon a unique, and ultimately very effective, way to recruit and support volunteers interested in moving the gargantuan project forward. According to Kate Williams, Executive Director, Northern Forest Canoe Trail (Waitsfield, Vermont), NFCT facilitated local engagement by breaking the trail into 13 manageable and distinct sections and then working to engage the local communities in each section to participate in the process. The goal, successfully achieved, was to find a local host organization for each section of the Trail and, through them, rally local communities, businesses and volunteers to help with surveying, securing landowner permissions, marking, mapping and so on. As Williams says, “It’s been an amazing grass roots effort. I give a lot of credit to our founders who laid the groundwork of local connections that has enabled us to develop an active network of 275 local volunteers.” Now, with the all the work involved in trail creation completed, these same volunteers, under the guidance of Williams and her staff at the new non-profit’s headquarters, have turned their attention to trail maintenance and stewardship – working to care for their local waterways. As Williams notes, the initial and long-term success of the Trail is dependent upon these local hosts remaining passionate and continuing to advocate for their portion of the Trail. Of course, even with an army of volunteers, technical know-how and a well-organized approach, nothing happens without funding. To that end, the Trail received some critical start-up funding through National Park Service-administered federal grants. Williams and her staff have also broadened their funding base to include state-level and foundation grants, corporate contributions, individual contributions, memberships (sold via the web and mail) and trail map sales. No Comparisons The Canoe Trail is often compared to the famous Appalachian Trail, and, while Williams understands this, she cautions users and volunteers to understand the several, significant differences between the two trails. Perhaps the biggest is the way they are managed. The Canoe Trail obtains access for campsites and portages through landowner permission rather than through land protection. And, because it is a trail of navigable waters, the Canoe Trail flows through both developed areas and backcountry – providing its users with a blend of community experiences and wilderness. In reality, Williams and her staff are more apt to compare the Canoe Trail to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, Florida’s Everglades Wilderness Waterway or Maine’s Island Trail. Simply put, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a unique, contiguous water trail concept, but one that can be readily replicated in many areas across the country. In fact, several coastal areas in Washington, North Carolina and Alabama are at varying stages of developing similar trail systems. It’s an idea it seems whose time has come. Create Your Own Water Trail? Which is exactly what the founders, employees and volunteers of the Canoe Trail hope for. As they move forward with their work, organized around waterway stewardship, cultivation of sustainable tourism, and promotion of local heritage and culture, they hope to inspire the creation and development of other water trails. As Williams notes, there are many, many areas of the country where lakes, streams, ponds and rivers could be mapped, surveyed, improved and connected. If you’re considering doing something like this in your community or region, Williams recommends that you consider the following: 1. Look at all potential bodies of water (rivers, streams, lakes and ponds) as potential portions of the route 2. Generate local community support for the project 3. Tie the project to a central theme (such as the Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s use of the Native American travel route) 4. And, don’t give up There are plenty of organizations willing to support a project that provides a healthy, recreational opportunity, improves commerce in rural areas and educates/empowers local residents to be good stewards of their natural resources. While it’s too early to tell how many people are using the new Canoe Trail (a baseline economic impact study is just being completed), the rush of support and enthusiasm from local volunteers is a good indicator of the long-term success of this spectacular water trail. Helen Downey is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Parks & Rec Business. She can be reached via hcdowney@adelphia.net. |
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