Georgia Rivers

It is with great sadness that Georgia Rivers received news recently of the passing of David Minich of Americus. David served as coffee vendor through Cafe Campesino at many of our Paddle Georgia journeys over the years, along with his daughter Jaimie. He was always ready with hot coffee, a kind word and a dry wit. The Paddle Georgia Navy has lost a great and kind man and a lover of Georgia's rivers. He will be missed greatly. Services honoring David's life and legacy will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at First Presbyterian Church in Americus at 2 p.m.

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day. Georgia Rivers is proud to call the Muscogee Nation a partner and their people our friends. We honor their connection to and history with Georgia rivers.

Last month, some 40 citizens of the Muscogee Nation returned to the Ocmulgee River for a 10-mile journey that encompassed historic Muscogee trading paths, village sites and fisheries. Georgia Rivers staff and volunteers had the privilege of assisting in the journey.

For citizens of the Muscogee Nation, it’s 850 miles and nearly 200 years from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Site in Macon, Georgia. The rivers still bear the names the Muscogee gave them: Ocmulgee, Oconee, Chattahoochee, Ogeechee and more.

“This was reclamation,” said Dr. Monte Randall, president of the College of the Muscogee Nation, who helped organize the event with Sons of Muscogee and Muscogee Youth Services. “I’m sure Muscogee people have paddled that river since removal, but this was the first time our nation has been on that river in these numbers and in this way.”

The venture was part of the Muscogee Nation’s efforts to reconnect tribal members with their homelands and preserve their culture. “We’re in a fight for our lives, culturally,” said Randall. “We’re continuing to reclaim portions of our identity.”

Read more about this paddle trip experience from Joe Cook's perspective on the Georgia Rivers Blog: https://garivers.org/muscogee-ancestral-paddle/

Posters are by Muscogee artist Maddie Sanders (Holatte)

Georgia Rivers annual Fall Float on the Flint originally scheduled for Oct. 9-11 HAS BEEN MOVED to Oct. 16-18 due to inclement weather forecast for this weekend.

Registration for Fall Float on the Flint will remain open through Sunday, Oct. 11 at midnight to accommodate those interested in participating in the re-scheduled event.

Fall Float on the Flint features two days and 36 total miles of the beautiful lower Flint River. The trip is highlighted by beautiful limestone bluffs and blue hole springs along the route. The weekend will include catered meals and nightly educational programs with camping at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat on the banks of the river.

Register now: https://georgiarivernetwork.regfox.com/paddle-georgia-2026-fall-float-on-the-flint

The Chattahoochee was an "international river" Saturday as Georgia Rivers hosted 11 Refugee Women's Network members and six friends of Margie Cohen for the annual Margie Cohen Memorial Paddle on the Chattahoochee River. Women from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Myanmar and more paddled from Morgan Falls to Paces Mill. This year, Georgia Rivers has provided four on-water experiences for Refugee Womens Network members and their children with trips and kayak training on Lake Allatoona, Yellow River, Etowah River and now the Chattahoochee River. Through a bequest from Margie Cohen, a early Paddle Georgia participant, the Summit Foundation supports these on-water adventures and Refugee Women's Network's efforts to engage recent immigrants and refugees in outdoor activities.

That's a wrap on the 2026 Georgia Rivers Gala! Thank you to everyone who sponsored, attended, donated, bid, bought raffle tickets, and helped create such an impactful evening.⁠
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Together, we raised $142,000 to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers and water trails - from the Chattahoochee River National Water Trail to the Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trail. Your support provides scholarships for underserved youth to experience kayaking, fishing, and camping on Georgia rivers.⁠
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We were especially excited to celebrate the Okefenokee’s designation as America’s newest World Heritage Site and honor the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for its work protecting the Okefenokee and Okefenokee Trail Ridge. ⁠
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Other honorees at the gala included Gail Priest, who was recognized for her dedication to the creation and promotion of the Dub Denman Canoe Trail on the Tallapoosa River; Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for the legendary outfitter’s commitment to promoting publicly-accessible river recreation in Georgia; and Jim Butler of Butler Prather Trial Lawyers for his longtime support of Georgia Rivers.

The Muscogee Nation was acknowledged during the event as well to honor their history with Georgia waterways. Tracie Revis with Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative attended the gala and spoke on behalf of the partnership.

Check out the Georgia Rivers Gala album for more pictures!

With Rena Ann Peck

INFO REQUEST --> Georgia Department of Natural Resources seeks input from you about your outdoor recreation habits. Information from this survey will help guide the state in conserving outdoor recreation spaces and improving access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Let them know how you are using the state's outdoor spaces! You must take the survey by October 2nd.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RGXTCXS?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=