Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Why does the ACC not buy land for ACC members to use adjacent to paddling streams? If it is funding, could a fund be set aside for people to donate specifically for this purpose? It would be a nice benefit for members if they had land available to use specifically for the club members. The land could be used for access and primitive camping for the future, especially on rivers that have mostly private land surroundings were access may be limited in the future.

I won't claim to know the ACC's reasons for purchasing (or not) land but I've been involved in other organizations that have bought land to protect caves and even with 12,000 members the continuing/ongoing insurance, taxes, liability concerns, maintenance, utilities, etc can be a burden on a group.

sig wrote:I won't claim to know the ACC's reasons for purchasing (or not) land but I've been involved in other organizations that have bought land to protect caves and even with 12,000 members the continuing/ongoing insurance, taxes, liability concerns, maintenance, utilities, etc can be a burden on a group.

Yup, that about nails it from my own understanding.
ty

I've always wondered about the feasibility of purchasing access easements.

I can't name examples, but I think the club has contributed to land purchases in the past. The key is to buy the land and then immediately give it to the state or Game and Fish with the requirement/understanding that access for recreation is maintained.

Shep

If you are aware of any appropriate parcels of land, you should make sure the ACC Board is also aware of the opportunity. Yes, there are concerns, and as a diverse and somewhat big organization, the wheels sometimes turn very slowly. But the biggest problem has been finding land on streams that would be of interest to a good percentage of the membership, at a price that was within the bounds of what the club could afford or raise within a reasonable time frame. It can be hard to find a smaller (and thus affordable) parcel, with good access roads, within a mile or two of desired put-in, and a willing-to-sell owner.

I've been hanging around the ACC for about 18 years now and am not aware of any property of any kind that the ACC has ever owned. I remember once we owned a computer or a printer and that was about it.

The ACC "could" do many, many things. But "should" we, is the question. I say that if a member has the means and wants to buy land close to an access, they should do it and and be ACC friendly. Case in point, you all are welcome to access Little Mill from my place any time you want. Float through in peace and pick up whatever trash you see!

I think we run a greater risk of getting into a can of worms if we own anything. Liability, usage rules, etc. Too much drama for a totally volunteer organization that is focused on having fun on water, educating paddlers and protecting our natural resources.

Speaking from experience we need to be careful as to what we tackle so that we don't wear out our volunteer leadership or get into some sort of an issue that is divisive and could bring down the club.

Personally, I don't see land ownership as part of the ACC even if it is for access.

Dave

Ditto what Dave said about ownership. We work to develop accesses and try to get the right people engaged in the conversation, like Game and Fish, who are in the business of owning and acquiring land for that purpose.
We are in on the effort to keep Helton's open but are not trying to buy the property. So......when the call comes for volunteers to improve it, let's show up in force, just like the River Valley folks did at Campbell cemetary a few years back.

It's a fine line. Even if the ACC had no intention of being a land owner, that would not prevent us from donating to an Agency like G&F.

Agree to donating to something like the Nature Conservancy, G&F, etc.