Float Trips and Where People Want to Go

[fgilliam]

My name is Frankie Gilliam. I work as an econonmic development specialist for the Delta Center in Jonesboro. Our office is extremely interested in developing natural assets of a community in a responsible and meaningful way. I am doing a study for a community that is interested in improving a body of water that is referred to as a bayou, but is fed by a spring,has flow and is now used on a limited basis for swimming, floating and some fishing. The community is in the Ozark foothills. The stretch of the bayou is 3.7 miles, meanders around the town and empties into the White River. No rapids...slow float or what is referred to as "recreational floating" described to me by one of your active members. The shoreline and land area is wooded and scenic. The community is interested in keeping the area green, but possibly adding hiking trails and incorporating bird watching. A third phase would be the addition of a heritage museum at the take out point.

I am interested in your input in several areas.
1. Are people interested in floating waters with the characteristics noted above?
2. If an outfitter was in operation would it bring more people to the area.
3. What about locating the museum at the landing....will people be interested in coming off the water and into the museum or are we talking about two different groups of people?
4. What else do you do in the communities close to the rivers you float on?
5. On average, how much do you spend per person on a single-day float trip in the area you visit?

Any help you can provide in this study is appreciated. This site and the fact a canoe club exists in Arkansas is seriously cool...

[okieboater]

For what it is worth, my opinion is the spot you described would have a lot of visitors. Especially due to the location.

On a summer day there is not much better than floating a cooling stream. It does not need to be white water to draw in people.

The museum would just be an added attraction. Location could be put in or take out just depends on the best building site and access by the public.

Having some sort of outfitter service is ok but not required. If the float is worth it people will come. Having some sort of developed put in / take out to the water with parking is key. This does not mean a concrete ramp for motor boat launching in fact I do not recommend a ramp, just easy access for carrying a canoe, kayak etc type of craft. A place to park vehicle is also key to people using the site. Next would be some sort of toilet facility. Picnic tables add to the area but not as key as toilet facility of some sort.

The most common thing I do when floating a stream is buy food in the immediate area almost always, gas most of the time close to the stream or in the close by area and camp or stay in a reasonably priced motel.

[Roger]

Mr. G, care to share the bayou's name since I'm sure it has one!! Polk Bayou in Batesville comes to mind!!!

Would help to have an idea of the area's resources to give feedback. Sounds like something you can bring the AG&FC into as well since you could be talking about improving the health of the stream as well.

[Deuce]

Mr. G, care to share the bayou's name since I'm sure it has one!! Polk Bayou in Batesville comes to mind!!!

Would help to have an idea of the area's resources to give feedback. Sounds like something you can bring the AG&FC into as well since you could be talking about improving the health of the stream as well.

I was thinking the same thing and wondering whether it's the bayou where my grandfather used to take me swimming.

[paddledog]

Instead of an "Outfitter" being brought in,
maybe have the museum, with a presents at both the take out
and the put in, rent gear for those who don't have gear.
The U of A has a great rental program. They might be worth talking to.

I can see more people visiting the museum if it was at the put in.
Just due to the fact they aren't wet yet.

Kudos to yourself and your community for the efforts,
the ACC is a great club to partner with and look to for support and advice.

Paddle on.....

[MaxTexan]

I saw a post in that past year by another member saying that he spent between $100 and $200 for each float trip he could because he rented his equipment.

For me, I imagine if I do not spend the evening... $30/trip in the local area. If I stay overnight then I paddle two days, and have dinner locally. So may be $200-250.

[Cowper]

1. Are people interested in floating waters with the characteristics noted above?

Yes. That’s a perfect length for a casual day float; something you can do in two hours if you’re limited on time, or take twice as long if you’re not in hurry.

2. If an outfitter was in operation would it bring more people to the area.

A few, but of course don’t count on this driving an economic boom. Folks like those in our club typically own their own boats, which frees them to float anywhere, so they are generally going to choose a more remote location. What an outfitter does is open it up for people that want something fun/cool to do, that have not yet “committed” to this as a sport. The problem would be that the number of customers wouldn’t support this as a “stand alone” business – this needs to be a sideline for somebody, or, like Paddledog suggested, something offered by the Museum. Your situation is VERY similar to what is available at Pinnacle Mountain State Park; where they have a few boats available to rent for floating a water trail on Little Maumelle. I recommend you touch base with them for insights.

3. What about locating the museum at the landing....will people be interested in coming off the water and into the museum or are we talking about two different groups of people?

I think most people will not both float and visit the museum the same day; they’ll do one, and come back to do the other on another day. I’m guessing of course, but I’d suggest: 1) Locate your museum where it will be most visible to passers-by, and 2) Put a boat rack in the side yard at the museum with two or three boats on it, also visible from the road and as you enter the museum. The two activities will “feed” each other with new customers. The boats at the museum don’t have to be the same boats you put on the water; they are just “eye candy”. So IMO, get someone who knows how to locate small businesses like Mini-marts to advise you on where to locate your museum. (There are people who are good at this, and others who are not so good – think of those “jinxed” locations in your town, where no matter who locates on that spot, the business goes under in a few years.)

4. What else do you do in the communities close to the rivers you float on?

On DeBo’s “swamp floats” we typically like to eat supper someplace nice after we get off the river, to review the day’s adventures. By nice I mean, “good food”, I don’t mean “fancy”, because we’re dressed for the river, not for eating out. If there is a store that sells outdoor equipment, we would of course check it out; but often our floats occur on weekends and end late enough in the day that we don’t really expect any stores to be open.

5. On average, how much do you spend per person on a single-day float trip in the area you visit?

Probably $20 to $50. About $10 for lunch food, ice, and incidentals; $15 for supper with desert, plus a share of the fuel for whatever vehicle we are in.

Any help you can provide in this study is appreciated.

Your next call should be to the Arkansas Game and Fish Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, who can tell you about the Water Trails program. Our conservation chair Debo, and active member Stan, also work on Water Trail programs as their time permits. I’ll send you a PM with some e-mail addresses.

[cpresoz]

Ditto on everything above. Availability of boats is key and where private outfitters are more viable on high use, seasonal rivers, I believe there is a place for public entities renting gear. A good example is Withrow Springs State Park up here on the War Eagle River. You might check with the ranger on how he works it. I have a sense that the young guys he uses to shuttle are hourly for when needed.
Our hiking group is heading to Wattensaw Bayou mid-March (thanks Deb for the pointers) and only those with their own gear are going. If rentals were available, I believe more than the 35 going would go. But some of these places need to stay low impact and great numbers would create issues (which may be addressable).
Hobbs State Park has a great park headquarters building with exhibits and resources. Sustainable structures can help encourage interest in environmental issues such as watershed quality and wildlife management. There may be economic incentives available for centers that address these issues.

[Roger]

Just a thought on the water levels, if it is a stream like Polk Bayou in Batesville, it flows at level that one can put in and paddle just about any time due to water source. Cowper pegs that a rental service would be part of the plan or add a market to an existing business. To boot, not a mile away is a slough that stretches about a half mile or so underneath Ramsey Mountain. Lots of paddling opportunities in that area.

[fgilliam]

A hearty thank you to everyone taking the time to post. The information provides important insight to the floating community and resources that are available for more information. I will keep the original post open for additional comment. Thanks again for your interest.

[cpresoz]

A great resource for conceptual assistance is the University of Arkansas Community Design Center (UACDC) http://uacdc.uark.edu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They've assisted multiple communities in Arkansas and in the delta. They have expertise in bringing stakeholders of a community together, providing design assistance, bringing academic, environmental and business partners in for input and promoting workshops where issues are brought to the forefront.

[DeBo]

Hi Frankie! I believe that you are the person Jane Darr spoke to me about. I understand that you will be attending the program next Tuesday on urban streams in Mountain Home. I plan to be there and could visit with you a little then. I have been working with AGFC on water trails for about three years now. We have two fully signed trails and two more that are ready to go. The most recent one is on Bayou Deview and will be a partnership between the ACC, AGFC, ANHC and the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.

Water trails are great and can be a really nice addition to a tourism package. I really like the idea of having the museum close by. Everyody here has made great comments. Thanks!

In 2002 a study of the economic impacts of water trails was published by the University of Oregon. It has details about what makes a successfull trail and some ideas about how much revenue to expect from having a successfull water trail in your community.

Here is a link to that study: http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/h ... mpacts.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I will be bringing my boat Tuesday and would like to paddle your Bayou on Wednesday.