| "We've seen a flood of urban water trail development." | |
| Angie Tornes, National Park Service |
|
High-rises, restaurants, and a river walk may not be the typical scenery for canoeists or kayakers, but these are the urban scenes that have been incorporated into a 25-mile urban water trail along Milwaukee's rivers. This is an example of a growing number of water trails around the country that are helping residents reconnect with rivers that may have a long history of industrial use.
"This is a national trend in water trails," says Angie Tornes, natural and recreation resource planner for the National Park Service's Rivers and Trails Program. "We've seen a flood of urban water trail development."
The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail "connects people with and encourages responsible use of our rivers and Lake Michigan," says Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper for Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers. "By getting people out on the water, more people will be inspired to become stewards of our rivers."
Mike Friis, program manager for the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, which helped fund the development of the Milwaukee water trail, notes, "It's nice to be part of something that's fairly new, is well received, and where we can still be creative in messaging or marketing."
Knowing Where to Go
A water trail is a mapped route along a river, lake, or coastline that gives residents and tourists the information they need to safely and legally access and navigate a waterway in a kayak or canoe. Educational information on the history and natural features of the waterway typically is provided, as is information on recreational areas and camping sites.
While camping is not encouraged along Milwaukee's Urban Water Trail, good places to park your canoe and grab a burger are provided.
"Milwaukee's a unique city and a good portion of it is walkable, so we give information on nearby historical, natural, and cultural points of interest," notes Nenn.
Other areas with urban water trails include New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and along the Chesapeake Bay, says Tornes.
Diverse Route
The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail includes 33 access sites and portages, and routes paddlers through the urban portions of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers. It passes through portions of five cities and two counties, and connects the three rivers to paddling opportunities on Lake Michigan.
While some of the route is an "urban canyon of buildings, boats, and piers," Nenn says a surprising amount of the trail passes through suburban areas and city and county parks.
"You really can escape from the urban environment," agrees Friis. "You paddle out of the woods into a nicely redeveloped area where they've reused factories as condos and restaurants. It's a really diverse experience."
The opportunity to easily paddle through both natural settings and urban areas makes Milwaukee's trail unique, notes Tornes.
Word of Mouth
Water trails typically are created as a result of public interest, says Tornes, and the Milwaukee trail was no exception. A series of public efforts to improve water quality on the rivers resulted in more people wanting access.
"We were getting lots of calls from people wanting to paddle the rivers but not knowing where it was safe and legal to put in," says Nenn. "We had nothing to give them as far as resources."
As a result, unofficial and often unsafe access points were being used by people who unknowingly may have been trespassing on private property or damaging sensitive shorelines.
Trail Building
A collaborative partnership was created by the Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers with the National Park Service's Rivers and Trails Program, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Parks, several private landowners, environmental groups, and concerned citizens to create the water trail.
Nenn notes that unlike a hiking or bicycling trail, "you don't necessarily need to acquire land or invest in landscape improvements."
Instead, the group worked for two years examining other water trails around the country, and doing an inventory of the rivers' access sites and historic and natural areas.
"We spent a lot of time paddling the rivers looking at the condition of the banks and launch areas," Nenn says. "We had to determine which areas couldn't be used because they were causing natural resource damage, and figure out who owns what."
Students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design created a logo, which was used on a website, printed map, and extensive trail signage.
Official Release
The water trail map was released in fall 2005 in both paper form and on-line at www.mkeriverkeeper.org. Since its release, more than 10,000 maps have been distributed, and thousands have visited the website. Nenn says plans include revising and reprinting the map next year.
Special events are held on the trail every year, including "Canoes and Brews," which is a guided trip to a local brewpub.
"People are increasingly realizing that they don't have to drive up north to enjoy going canoeing or kayaking," Nenn says. "Instead, they can enjoy the rivers right in their own backyards."
Gap Analysis
Another outcome of the water trail process was the creation of a report that identifies gaps in access and provides decision makers, landowners, and interest groups with information on how to physically improve and enhance existing water access sites and associated facilities.
"I feel really good about the trail," Nenn says. "There was clearly a need and a lot of interest, and a lot of people worked together to make this happen. It's been a great project."
To view the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail, point your browser to www.mkeriverkeeper.org/watertrail/map.htm. You may also contact Cheryl Nenn at (414) 287-0207, or cheryl_nenn@mkeriverkeeper.org. You can reach Mike Friis at (608) 267-7982, or michael.friis@wisconsin.gov, and Angie Tornes at (414) 297-3605, or angie_tornes@nps.gov.
Additional Resources
For more information on creating a river trail, go to:
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network's Water Trail Toolbox:
How to Plan, Build, and Manage a Water Trail at www.baygateways.net/watertrailtools.cfm
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Guidelines for Creating Paddling Trails at http://myfwc.com/Boating/Paddling/index.htm
The National Park Service's website on River Projects: Water Trails at www.nps.gov/ncrc/portals/rivers/projpg/watertrails.htm
