The National Rivers Website:

Rivers of Georgia
Your center for river information for Georgia.

*** Overview of rivers in Georgia. The major rivers in Georgia, and how people enjoy them.
*** Georgia river news and opinions. Reports on river recreation in Georgia. The current status of river conservation and access issues in Georgia.
*** Who owns the rivers in Georgia? Answers to frequently-asked questions about river law in Georgia, regarding river ownership, use, access, and conservation.
*** Calendar of river events in Georgia. Races and competitions. River rodeos/freestyle. River cleanups. River festivals and rendezvous. Conventions, meetings, classes. Other events.
*** River links and information sources for Georgia. Clubs and organizations. Guidebooks and videos. River flow sources. Government offices for river information, and for river conservation and access matters.
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Overview of rivers in Georgia

Rivers of Georgia: Overview of Georgia whitewater, Georgia paddling, Georgia canoeing, Georgia kayaking, Georgia rafting, Georgia fly-fishing, Georgia river conservation, Georgia river law, and Georgia river access.


(In this space we will post an overview of rivers and river recreation in Georgia as soon as possible. In the meantime, note that the rivers of Georgia are described in books and videos available from the NORS Resource Center.)

(If you would like to post an overview of the rivers in Georgia, please post it to the River Rendezvous, State River News, Georgia News and Opinions section, or e-mail it to us at nors@rmi.net, and we will insert it here.)

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Georgia River News and Opinions

  • Reports and descriptions of specific rivers in Georgia.
  • The current status of river conservation and access issues in Georgia.

The following news is assembled from postings from various sources, as a public service. The sponsors of this website do not assume responsibility for accuracy. Always double-check information before relying on it, especially when your safety is involved!


STATEWIDE ISSUES:



SPECIFIC RIVERS: Click to jump down to descriptions and news about:


Armuchee Creek

Chattahoochee River


Court rules against public access to creek

A March 10, 1997, ruling barred the public from canoeing down the Armuchee Creek, citing private ownership of the streambed as sufficient reason to allow the creek's adjacent landowner to restrict public access to the waterway, according to the account below. This injunction against the Georgia Canoeing Association is representative of cases where lower courts have ruled against the federally protected right of the public to have free access to navigable waterways.

Finding that the public has not acquired a right of passage on Armuchee Creek, the Georgia Supreme Court has affirmed a Chatooga Superior Court injunction barring the Georgia Canoeing Association from traveling on the creek where it passes through appellee Ralph Henry's property. (Georgia Canoeing Association et al. v. Henry, No. S96A1594.)

Justice Leah J. Sears, writing for a unanimous Supreme Court, found that the creek is not a navigable stream under federal, Georgia or common law and that the public has not acquired a right of passage by prescription. The canoeing association brought suit when Henry took steps to prevent canoeing on the creek. Henry responded with a request that the appellants be enjoined from traveling in boats and canoes through his property.

The trial court granted Henry an interlocutory injunction. When it granted summary judgment on his request for a permanent injunction, the Supreme Court reversed. On remand, the trial court held a hearing and entered a detailed order granting Henry's request. Because the creek can be classified as nonnavigable and because Henry owns land on both sides of the creek, the trial court found that he owns the entire streambed and has the right to exclude passage over the water which flows over it.


Desperately seeking support for river

NGTO, a conservation/fishing club in Atlanta, Ga., is currently considering its options in the fight against the devastation taking place in and around the Chattahoochee river, writes J. Jones of Temple, Ga. "We are a small but dedicated group of anglers and boaters that are in desperate need of 'bigger muscle' to save this beautiful river. Hot water runoff from housing developments and parking lots, and a lack of awareness by the general public is killing our trout river. We need your support desperately. We are not necessarily asking for money. We just need others to stand with us and say that it is not acceptable to kill our river. Anything you could do to help us would be greatly appreciated."

NORS responded with the following answer: "Thanks for alerting us. Our suggestion is that you prepare a nice folder, printed with money from an area outdoor business or other willing donor, titled something like, 'Why the Chattahoochee River Must Be Conserved.'

In it, you explain that the river is 'held in trust for the public' by the state, for "navigation, recreation, and fisheries," pursuant to numerous court decisions collectively known as the Public Trust Doctrine.

You explain that the public values of this river are being ruined in the ways you describe. You explain that local landowners, with or without government assistance, are responsible for holding their polluted parking lot runoff waters in holding ponds on their premises, then gradually releasing the water into the river and its tributaries after most of the contaminants have settled out.

You explain that other factors causing damage to the river must also be minimized by the people who generate them.

You distribute this folder for free to local community leaders, the media, and the interested publics.

You then follow up and keep after community leaders and polluters until the damages are minimized.

Note that you (and other people you recruit to help) can earn points good for river gear by sending copies of your work to the River Conservation Team. You can also get further legal information in the river law section of our website.

J. Jones can be reached at ngtrout@mindspring.com.

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Calendar of River Events in Georgia

Click to jump down to:
Races and Competitions. | River Rodeos/Freestyle.
River Cleanups. | River Festivals and Rendezvous.
Conventions, meetings, and classes. | Other events.

(This calendar is assembled as a public service, using postings from individuals. The sponsors of this website assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the listings, or the quality of the events. Always double-check information before relying on it.)


Races and Competitions:


River Rodeos/Freestyle:


River Cleanups:


River Festivals and Rendezvous.


Conventions, meetings, and classes:


Other events:

(To post an announcement of a Georgia river event you are organizing, click to go to: River Rendezvous--State River News--Georgia River Events. The webmaster will subsequently integrate your information into the announcements above.)

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River Links and Information Sources for Georgia

Click to jump down to:
River clubs, associations, and organizations.
River guidebooks and videos about Georgia.
River flow and weather information sources.
Federal government offices in Georgia. | State government offices.
Local government offices. | Other information sources.

These listings are assembled as a public service, using postings from individuals. The sponsors of this website assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the listings. Always double-check information before relying on it.


River clubs, associations, and organizations.

River guidebooks and videos about Georgia.


  • To order books and videos about rivers in Georgia, go to the NORS Resource Center.
  • To announce a new book or video about rivers in Georgia, get it listed here by posting it to the River Rendezvous as shown below, and also send a message to the NORS Resource Center by using the Comment section of the Resource Center Order Form.

River flow and weather information sources.

  • The U.S. Geological Survey website has current reports from numerous river gauges nationwide. Click to leave this site and go to that site, at http://water.usgs.gov

To get printable maps of Georgia paddle trails, go to www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/canoeing. The site also includes river descriptions and state parks

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Federal government offices in Georgia.


State government offices.


Local government offices.


Other information sources.

(To add to, or correct, the above links and listings, click to go to: River Rendezvous: State River News, Georgia River Links. Post your addition or correction there, where it will be in view immediately, and the webmaster will subsequently integrate your information into the links above.)


The National Rivers Website and the Rivers of Georgia section are made possible by the generosity of the members of the National Organization for Rivers (NORS). To start or extend your membership, go to NORS Memberships.

NORS was founded in 1978.

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The National Organization for Rivers (NORS)
Membership Offices: 212 West Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 579-8759. Fax (719) 576-6238.
nationalrivers@email.msn.com

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