Sojourning on the Delaware River Water Trail

The theme for the 2005 Delaware River Sojourn is the Delaware River Water Trail, a theme that fits perfectly with the spirit of the sojourn because both are all about enjoying safe, rewarding and environmentally responsible outings on the river.

Sojourners will have the opportunity to review and discuss some of the Delaware River Water Trail Project products, such as the updated DRBC River Recreation Maps, Delaware River Water Trail Guide, and Water Trail Plan; the latter represents the first attempt to take a comprehensive look at key recreational issues on the non-tidal Delaware River.

Delaware River Greenway Partnership Executive Director John P. Brunner will join sojourners to share some of the Water Trail Plan findings and recommendations on such topics as river access, camping, safety and education, way-finding, and signage.

According to Brunner, one of the goals of the Delaware River Water Trail is to promote environmental stewardship and a "leave no trace behind" ethic that will reduce the potential for negative impacts to water quality, wildlife habitat, private property, and public facilities.

"Considering that paddling a canoe or kayak is one of the fastest growing recreational pursuits nationwide and the Delaware is one of the cleanest, most popular and accessible rivers in North America, it's easy to conclude that there are an awful lot of new paddlers out there who would be well-served by the Delaware River Water Trail," Brunner said.

"We aim to shorten the learning curve for thousands of river users -- paddlers, power boaters, fishermen, all users -- by raising awareness about the river's incredible resources, and by providing paddlers with information that can enhance the river experience. On the flip side of the coin, putting accurate river maps and information about safety and river etiquette into the hands of boaters will reduce the potential for boating accidents, recreational user conflicts, and trespassing on private land.

Water Trails have become increasingly popular across North America, with hundreds of water trails already in existence or in the planning stage. The North American Water Trails Organization defines a water trail as a "recreational waterway containing guided access points and day use and/or camping sites for the boating public."

The challenge of developing a water trail on a seldom-used or inaccessible waterway is making people aware of the river and its assets, and having to develop access points and outdoor recreation facilities where none exist. By contrast, no one would argue that the Delaware River is an underutilized resource. It is well-loved and well-used by locals and visitors from the surrounding region. As such, the Delaware River poses a much more complex set of issues to consider compared to a wilderness waterway.

There is no boilerplate for planning a water trail on a river that features such diverse paddling conditions and management schemes throughout its three distinct upper, middle and lower sections.

The Delaware River Water Trail is being developed with respect to the unique physical characteristics, socio-economic conditions, regulatory framework, and historic uses found in each section of the river. In addition, the Water Trail Steering Committee has sponsored public meetings and distributed surveys to gather input on critical recreational issues. The experiences and observations of experienced and novice paddlers alike have been instrumental in developing the Water Trail Plan and recommendations.

The Water Trail Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from the Delaware River Greenway Partnership, Delaware River Basin Commission, American Canoe Association - Delaware Valley Division, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (primary project funder), and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Many other organizations and individuals have played important roles in developing the Delaware River Water Trail.

For more information about the project, please email celestetracy-drgp@earthlink.net or call (908) 996-0230.

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