Submitted by the Coosa River Basin Initiative

Saturday, Sept. 6, will be a day for area rivers and streams as the Coosa River Basin Initiative hosts two activities providing citizens a chance to learn more about local waterways and do something to keep them clean.

A 17-mile canoe/kayak trip on the Etowah River from U.S. 411 to Grizzard Park in Rome will provide paddlers with an opportunity to explore what is arguably the most scenic and historic section of the Etowah between Cartersville and Rome.

Meanwhile, in downtown Rome, CRBI volunteers are teaming up with Berry College, Southeast Elementary School’s Club Global and other groups to clean and restore a mile-long section of Silver Creek from the Darlington School campus to the Etowah River in downtown Rome.

CRBI has been involved in ongoing restoration efforts along Silver Creek in South Rome for several years, sponsoring this annual clean-up, planting native vegetation and trees, and establishing walking trails along the creek.

“Because it travels through two urban areas in Lindale and Rome, Silver Creek accumulates a large amount of trash and debris,” said CRBI program coordinator David Promis. “We’ll be cleaning it out, and we’ll get to see the beauty of this stream. We’ll be working sections of the creek that few people get to see. These sections are actually quite beautiful.”

Volunteers, including a large contingent of Berry College students participating in the school’s Freshmen Service Day, will concentrate on sections of the creek adjacent to the city’s Silver Creek Trail, a foot path that connects downtown with South Rome.

The workday begins at 9 a.m. and runs through noon. Lunch and beverages will be provided by CRBI. To register to participate, contact David Promis at dpromis@coosa.org or call (706) 232-2724.

During the all-day paddle trip on the Etowah, paddlers will see several Native American fish weirs and other historic sites located along the river.

“The trip is traditionally one of our most popular paddle trips,” said Joe Cook, CRBI executive director & riverkeeper. “It’s through a mostly rural landscape with plenty of places to get out and enjoy the river.”

To register to participate in the paddle trip and for further information, contact CRBI volunteer Alan Crawford at (706) 291-7449 or e-mail acrawford@coosa.org.

CRBI is a 501c3 organization and member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance. Serving as the Upper Coosa Riverkeeper, CRBI’s mission is to inform and empower citizens so that they may become involved in the process of creating a cleaner, healthier, more economically viable Coosa River Basin.