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Chattahoochee Valley Blueway (CVB)
Chattahoochee Valley Blueway (CVB) Water Economics Conference Troy University © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Debra A. Edelson September 23, 2014 1 CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY BLUEWAY . 2 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY BLUEWAY: A 52 –mile water trail program between West Point Dam and Columbus that will attract ecotourists to the multitude of recreation opportunities on the Chattahoochee River, and stimulate economic redevelopment in the cities and counties of the Chattahoochee Valley 3 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land CVB Characteristics • Begins at USACE Hardley Creek Recreation Area • Gateway in downtown West Point • 3-4 more water access sites in AL • Landside portage around 2 Georgia Power lowhead dams • Continue through GA Power lakes • Into Columbus-Whitewater Course 4 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Outdoor Industry and Paddling: Economic Impact • Nationwide: – $646 billion spending on outdoor recreation/year (2X amount spent on pharmaceuticals or motor vehicles) – $86 billion for watersports – Every year, the outdoor recreation industry provides 6.1 million jobs--more than construction or education – On average, all 19 million paddlers who hit the water in 2012, took 7 trips a year, for a total of 202 million annual paddling outings • In Georgia (no compiled data for AL): – $23.3 billion in consumer spending – $7 billion in wages and salaries – 231,000 jobs 5 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Flatwater Paddling... • Flatwater canoeing, kayaking and paddle-boarding are on a projected 25-year growth curve. • Canoe trips projected to increase 29% over next 50 years • Number of days spent canoeing is expected to increase 30% more than population growth through the year 2050 • Paddlers like pack-up and travel to practice their sport 6 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 7 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Demand for Recreational Trips Away from Home and Indices for Future Demand Growth Activity Trips in 1987 (Millions) 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* Canoeing/Kayaking 39.8 126 140 157 169 Rafting/Tubing 8.9 136 164 215 255 Rowing/Paddling 61.8 124 136 150 159 Day Hiking 91.2 161 198 244 293 8 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Formula for Success • Accessible overnight lodging/camping near town/city • Clean water, fresh air, sounds of nature • Wild animals and birding, fishing, photography • Away from the City • Interesting local culture/history • Safe 9 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land THANK YOU! © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 10 Demographics by Water Sport Type Activity Household Income $75K+ Age Range College Degree Average # Outings in 2012 25-44 SUP 58% 53% 60% 6 Kayakers 51% 49% 64% 8 Canoeists 46% 38% 59% 8 11 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Demographics • Flatwater paddlers are highly educated, span a wide range of ages, and have disposable income to spend on their equipment, travel and additional recreational experiences • Over 26% of recreational kayakers live in Southeastern US. • Paddling is a social sport – Only 8% of paddlers go solo. – Most adults (40%) go with a spouse or friend, – Many children go with their parents or extended family (24%) – Others go in larger groups, such as paddling clubs, youth groups or work teams. 12 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 13 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Additional Water Trail benefits… • Water trails create community-wide benefits, especially in the stewardship of land and water • Build a sense of cultural/civic pride, and • Communities with developed tourism infrastructure situated close to well-traveled waterways appear most successful at capturing visitor dollars 14 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land The Trust for Public Land: ‘Conserving Land for People’ Since TPL’s founding in1972: • 4,240 projects • 3 Million acres protected • $7 billion in land value • Focus on “human habitat” and our healthy connection with nature TPL has protected over 76 miles of Chattahoochee riverfront property between the headwaters and Columbus,GA 15 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land How did we get here? • A June 2009 USACE/ADEM sponsored ‘visioning’ meeting between West Point, Valley and Lanett • Local leadership invites TPL to serve as Program Manager 16 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land UPSTREAM • Shoal fishing • Flat-water paddling • Camping • Birding 17 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 18 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land TPL Program Scope • Feasibility, planning and permitting • Build/Upgrade ‘put-in’ & ‘takeout’ for paddlers at 5-6 sites on City-owned land • Safety, signage and information • Two dam portage routes—GA Power • Marketing and promotion campaign • Website Program Funding = $2 million 19 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Upgrade put-ins… 20 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Improve Navigational and Safety Signage Waterside Landside 21 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land LANGDALE DAM PORTAGE 22 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 23 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land CROW HOP DAM PORTAGE 24 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 25 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Columbus State Blueway Survey 2012: • Customer base to develop over 4 years • 84% of respondents would come paddle Blueway • 47% of respondents said they would make 4+ additional trips perr year to the Blueway • 63% of respondents prefer 1-day paddle trips Map of Prefered Access Points Along the Proposed Blueway Route. © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 26 Eco-tourism! Current Average Expenditure by Age Group • 100% of the respondents indicated that they spend money on food • This result indicates that the Blueway trail will attract paddlers, and part of their consideration will be the opportunity to engage in other local attractions and activities. 1200 1000 Dollars per Excursion • Over half of them also spend money on other leisure activities. 1400 800 One Trip Multiple Trips 600 400 200 0 18‐24 25‐34 35‐44 45‐54 55‐64 Over 65 Age Groups 27 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Financial Impact of Project: July 2012 Columbus State Turner College of Business study for 8-county region • • • • • • Annual recurring increase in economic input of $3.3 million Support the creation of 54 jobs $1.2 million increase in personal income Over time 3 more jobs created per 1,000 paddler visitors on Blueway Construction impact = $2 million Annual festival/events 28 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Market Region for Chattahoochee Valley Blueway 29 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Build it and they will come! • First four years Blueway, participation will grow enormously as paddlers are drawn from further distances. • Across all age groups, the study suggests that by Year Four, as many as 956,000 people will come to experience the Blueway from as far away as a 6 hour drive. • From Year One, this represents a 3000% increase in visits. 250000 200000 18‐24 150000 25‐34 35‐44 45‐54 100000 55‐64 65 + 50000 0 Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four 30 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Marketing & Promotion: • Dedicated watertrail website • Co-market with Outfitter • Create brand identity for Chattahoochee Valley Blueway • Coordinate with Harris, LaGrange/Troup, Chambers County, AL, Phenix City, AL and Columbus Chamber of Commerce • Jointly promote Chattahoochee River Blueway & Columbus Whitewater as regional recreation opportunities with all Valley Chambers, and Convention & Visitors Bureau 31 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land Program Partners: City of West Point City of Lanett City of Valley City of Columbus/Muscogee US Army Corps of Engineers US Environmental Protection Agency National Park Service Georgia Power 32 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY BLUEWAY For More Information: Debra Edelson Program Director [email protected] or (404) 873.7306 x 227 33 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land 34 © Copyright The Trust for Public Land
