Experiencing the Stories of the Susquehanna through Water Trails

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Experiencing the Stories of the Susquehanna
through Water Trails

• Hannah E. Hardy
• PA Environmental Council

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• Blue trails are the water equivalent to hiking
  trails.
• Blue Trails Guide
• American Rivers

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What is a water trail?

• Recreational Educational Corridor
• Single Day Multiple Day Trips
• Access Points
• Safe Boating Opportunity
• Information
• Economic Development Generator
• Improve Quality of Life
• Promote Stewardship

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Why Water Trails?

• Safety
• Enhance Local Economies
• Recreational Resources
• Protect the Environment
• Promote Healthy Living
• Preserve History Community Identity
• Connect People to Places

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Telling Our 500 Mile Story

• The Susquehanna Water Trail provides a physical
  place to tell our stories.

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Northern Forest Canoe Trail

• To celebrate the rich human heritage and diverse
  natural environment of the Northern Forest by
  establishing and stewarding a water trail tracing
  historic Native American travel routes across New
  York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine.
• www.northernforestcanoetrail.org

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NFCT Programs

• Waterway Stewardship
• Community Economic Development
• Community Arts, Heritage, and Recreation

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Improving overall trail experience.
Source www.northernforestcanoetrail.org
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Impact?

• http//www.uvm.edu/snrvtdc/NFCT/
• 90,000 visitors per year
• 12 million in total economic impacts
• 280 jobs created
• 215 spending per trip
• Non-locals spending average of 414-498 per trip
• Paddler recreation tourism impacts local
  economies

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Michigan Heritage Water Trails

• Water trails are corridors that foster
  interactive historical education experiences.
• Dept of History, Arts Libraries.
• Heritage is the hook.
• Repeatable experiences that can also be
  different.
• http//www.wmich.edu/glcms/watertrails/index.htm

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Water Trails Are Good Business
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Capitalizing on Good Business
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More Information?

• American Rivers Blue Trails Guide
• www.bluetrailsguide.org
• Chesapeake Bay Gateways Water
• www.baygateways.net/watertrailtools.cfm
• PA Fish Boat Commission
• www.fishandboat.com/watertrails
• PA Environmental Council
• www.pecpa.org/watertrails

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• Hannah E. Hardy
• PA Environmental Council
• 22 Terminal Way
• Pittsburgh, PA 15219
• hhardy_at_pecpa.org
• 412-481-9400