From Riverlink: French Broad River Paddle Trail Meeting
Tuesday, March 15
5:30 pm at RiverLink Offices
170 Lyman Street

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, RiverLink will host a presentation on the French Broad River Paddle Trail at 5:30 at the RiverLink’s Offices at 170 Lyman Street, Asheville NC. Scott Ogletree will be presenting research and analysis for the Paddle Trail. We will also be reviewing the public comments, river access in the Town of Marshall, and camp site development. Ogletree is a Masters of Landscape Architecture student completing his degree at Clemson University. Scott came to RiverLink as an avid paddler with a passion from the French Broad River, its beauty and history. Scott is working with Nancy Hodges, RiverLink Watershed Resources Manager and Steve Hendricks, retired RLA with the US Forest Service and chair of the French Broad River Paddle Trail Advisory council to create development guidelines and design standards for the 219 miles of trail from Rosman to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Maps for the French Broad River Paddle Trail will be up for review and public comment at the Orange Peel from March 16th through the evening of April 4th. Please stop by and let us know what you think. Don’t forget to sign-up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the Paddle Trail, volunteer opportunities and all the other great events and educational programs RiverLink offers.

RiverLink, through grant funds from the Pigeon River Fund has been working on collecting Input from the Local Community for use in the development of the French Broad River paddle Trail. The French Broad River Paddle Trail concept grew from RiverLink’s River Access Guide. The trail will establish paddle in-paddle out, “leave no trace” camp sites along the river through North Carolina. RiverLink is in the trail development phase, with a handful of camp sites already identified through meeting with the local communities. Roll out of the design plans and alternatives are scheduled for the late spring of this year.

RiverLink has been soliciting public comment for the development of the French Broad River Paddle Trail, posting maps at local businesses. Please contact Nancy Hodges at nancy@riverlink.org or 828-252-8474 ext 14 if you would like to post maps at your place of business.

RiverLink, is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to live, work and play. Since 1987 we have engaged in simultaneous efforts to address water quality concerns throughout the French Broad River basin, expand public opportunities for access and recreation, and spearhead the economic revitalization of Asheville's dilapidated riverfront district.