Upper James River trips video highlights from 2012

See video link above from Twin River Outfitters that features a video highlights of our 2012 season.  Includes both video and still pictures from the Upper James, Maury, & Jackson Rivers.

For more information about Twin River Outfitters see:  http://canoevirginia.net or give them a call at 540-261-7334.

Paddling Bill SB 737 voted down for 2013

Keep the Conversation Alive!

Posted on February 5, 2013 by roanokeoutside

For the first time in over a decade, a concerted and organized effort to create and submit a bill was made through the hard work of many individuals and organizations. The result of this hard work was SB 737 which was sponsored by Senator Chap Peteresen (Fairfax).

On February 5, 2013 SB 737 was voted down on a 18-21 vote. Here’s how the vote broke down:

• YEAS–Alexander, Barker, Colgan, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Herring, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, McEachin, Miller, Northam, Petersen, Puller, Saslaw, and Watkins
• NAYS–Blevins, Carrico, Deeds, Garrett, Hanger, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McWaters, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Puckett, Reeves, Ruff, Smith, Stanley, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, and Wagner
• Abstain–Black

SB 737′s failure in the 2013 General Assembly does not mean that paddling on Virginia streams is illegal. It does mean that the right to paddle is not yet clarified and established. Keep on boating, keep talking to other boaters about the issue, and continue to present our activity as the positive recreation it is to everyone in your community.

But we’re not done yet!  Those involved with this bill are committed to getting a bill passed that benefits paddlers, and we knew that this was not a one time try. We knew that the odds of passage were not great, but through the process we would learn what the opposition to the bill would be. And knowing these concerns we could then adjust the language of the bill to meet these concerns, spend time educating the legislators, and continue to build community support. And come 2014 we will submit a newer, stronger, bigger, better version of the bill.

For now, the best way to help is not to let the conversation die:

• Join the Facebook Group Virginia Stream Navigation Bill
• Find out how your Senator voted and later this spring schedule a meeting with them. If they supported it, get their thoughts on what we can do to improve the bill. If they opposed it, ask them what needs to be done to win their support.
• Find more supporters: talk to your Chamber of Commerce, economic development, and tourism offices. Talk to outdoor stores, user groups, and clubs
• Send a thank you note to Senator Chap Peteresen. He’s the one who sponsored this bill in the first place and he needs to know we’re not going anywhere.
• Send a note to Delegate Greg Habeeb. He is a co-patron of the bill and says he will sponsor the bill in 2014. Between Peteresen and Habeeb we have a great chance at a joint bill next time around,.
• Post ideas and suggestion on this site as well as the Facebook page

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a reply

reposted by Twin River Outfitters, http://canoevirginia.net

Coming soon.. new river blog managed by Twin River Outfitters

Several Virginia towns awarded grants to improve boating access

January 07, 2013 |   News Article from WDBJ7 Web Staff

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) —  The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is giving grants to add 12 new boat access sites.   The grants total $440,900. They will help pay for constructing new access sites and improving existing sites.

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the funding from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Monday.

Localities receiving grants are: Franklin, Lee and Warren counties, the cities of Covington, Emporia and Poquoson, and the towns of Clifton Forge, Glasgow, Port Royal, Pearisburg and Urbanna.

Several localities received more than one grant.

Here is a list of the grants:


Small Hand-Launch Category

Name of Project:                    Clifton Forge Site
Name of Locality:                   Town of Clifton Forge
Name of Water Served:          Jackson River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant award:                          $10,000

Name of Project:                   Covington Site

Name of Locality:                  City of Covington

Name of Water Served:          Jackson River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                        $10,000

Name of Project:                  Farmers Market Site

Name of Locality:                 City of Emporia

Name of Water Served:         Meherrin River

Description of Project:           Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                       $10,000

Name of Project:                    Glasgow Site

Name of Locality:                   Town of Glasgow

Name of Water Served:          James River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                         $10,000

Name of Project:                    Lynch Memorial Park Site

Name of Locality:                   Franklin County

Name of Water Served:           Pigg River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                         $10,000

Name of Project:                    Port Royal Site

Name of Locality:                   Town of Port Royal

Name of Water Served:           Rappahannock River

Description of Project:             Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                          $10,000

Name of Project:                   Snodgrass Ford Site

Name of Locality:                  Lee County

Name of Water Served:          Powell River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                         $10,000

Name of Project:                   Stoney Bottom Site

Name of Locality:                  Warren County

Name of Water Served:          Shenandoah River, South Fork

Description of Project:            Improvement of existing Non-Power Launch

Grant Award:                         $10,000

Name of Project:                    Swinging Bridge Site

Name of Locality:                   Lee County

Name of Water Served:          Powell River

Description of Project:            Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                         $10,000

Name of Project:                   Waid Recreation Area Site

Name of Locality:                  Franklin County

Name of Water Served:          Pigg River

Description of Project:           Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch

Grant Award:                        $10,000

Medium Powerboat Category 

Name of Project:                    Farms Riverview Site

Name of Locality:                   Warren County

Name of Water Served:           Shenandoah River

Description of Project:            Development of Concrete Boat Ramp & Parking

Grant Award:                         $50,000

Name of Project:                    Rens Road Site

Name of Locality:                   City of Poquoson

Name of Water Served:           Chesapeake Bay

Description of Project:             Complete Renovation of Boat Ramp and Courtesy Pier

Grant Award:                         $50,000

Large Powerboat Category

Name of Project:                    Bluff City Site           

Name of Locality:                   Town of Pearisburg

Name of Water Served:           New River

Description of Project:             Development of Concrete Ramp & 30 space Parking

Grant Award:                         $78,750

Name of Project:                    Town Ramp Site

Name of Locality:                   Town of Urbanna

Name of Water Served:           Rappahannock River

Description of Project:             Complete Demolition & Rebuild - Concrete Boat Ramp

Grant Award:                          $78,750

Name of Project:                    Whitt River-bend Site

Name of Locality:                   Town of Pearisburg

Name of Water Served:           New River

Description of Project:             Development of Concrete Ramp & 30 space parking

Grant Award:                          $83,400

Repost of article by WDBJ News Channel 7 1/7/2013: Weblink:  http://articles.wdbj7.com/2013-01-07/kayak-launch_36199475/3

Reposted by Twin River Outfitters, http://canoevirginia.net

New Public Boating Access Coming to the Upper James River

New Public Boating Access Coming to the Upper James River

11/30/2012

Fincastle, VA – On Tuesday, November 27, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors approved three separate agreements to lease property in the Gala community to construct the County’s second new public boating access for the Upper James River Water Trail in the last twelve months.

The two lease agreements for approximately 4 acres and a road easement near Columbia Gas Company and Sinking Creek solidified the County’s plans to strategically locate the new boat launch approximately half way between the existing public access points at Iron Gate and Craig Creek.

“The site is ideal and one that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries had identified many years ago as a prime location for a boat launch”, stated Pete Peters, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for Botetourt County. “By utilizing Sinking Creek and the existing railroad trestle, we are able to provide a safe passage to the James River and make another section of the river more accessible to recreational paddlers and fishermen.”

Construction of the new Gala site is slated to begin in January 2013 and is expected to be open to the public by April 2013, with the majority of the construction work being conducted by the County’s Parks and Recreation Department with in-house labor and equipment. In addition to providing easy road access from Route 220, the site will contain gravel parking for approximately 20 vehicles and a hand carry boat ramp to place canoes, kayaks and small Jon-boats into Sinking Creek which flows into the James River.

To assist with the financial capital necessary to construct this access point, the County has been actively pursuing grants and donations from a variety of sources. To date, the County has received $5,500 from various local community businesses, including Twin River Outfitters, a canoe livery and river tour company operating in Buchanan, and from NiSource Charitable Foundation, a not-for-profit entity of Columbia Gas Company. Botetourt County was also recently selected to receive a $5,000 grant from The Alleghany Foundation to assist with the development of this site, bringing the total available funds for the Gala project to $10,500.

ABOUT THE ALLEGHANY FOUNDATION
The Alleghany Foundation was established in 1995 with $35 million in proceeds from the sale of Alleghany Regional Hospital. Since then, the Foundation has awarded over $34 million in grants in the areas of healthcare, education, recreation, economic development, arts & humanities, historic preservation and social and community services. To learn more, visit http://www.alleghanyfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE NISOURCE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
NiSource Charitable Foundation was established to help create strong and sustainable communities where their employees and customers live and work. In close collaboration with NiSource employees and community partners, the Foundation seeks opportunities to provide funding and encourage volunteer support for non-profit organizations in the areas of Community Vitality and Development, Environmental and Energy Sustainability, Learning and Science Education, and Public Safety and Human Services. To learn more, visithttp://www.nisource.com/en/sustainability/communities/corporate-giving.aspx.

ABOUT THE UPPER JAMES RIVER WATER TRAIL
The Upper James River Water Trail is a paddling route along a 45 miles stretch of the James River in Botetourt County that increases recreational opportunities and encourages environmental awareness while also linking communities and land-based attractions such as historic sites and parks. The Upper James River Water Trail was created by Botetourt County to encourage residents and visitors to experience the beauty and history of one of the County’s greatest natural treasures as it begins its majestic journey through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. To learn more, visit www.upperjamesriverwatertrail.com

For more information see:
http://www.botetourt.org/news_events/news_item_detail.php?press_release_ID=579