o      Participants:  Approximately 30 individuals, from throughout Washington and British Columbia.  Event organizers received inquires from England, Germany and Florida, among other locations.

o      Location of Event:  Okanogan River at Oroville/Tonasket, WA

o      Host:  Greater Columbia Water Trails Coalition

o      Organizers:  Oroville and Tonasket Eagles Lodges, Extreme Adventures outfitters (Oroville), Colville Confederated Tribes.  Additional Sponsor, Tibbs Sanitation.

o      More Information:  www.gcwt.org

Greater Columbia Water Trails "Inaugural River Run:"

    On Saturday, July 7, 2007 over 30 individuals gathered to launch their kayaks, canoes and rafts down the Okanogan River in celebration of the opening of the first section of the Greater Columbia Water Trail along the Similkameen River and a portion of the Okanogan River between Oroville and Tonasket.    Paddling the approximate 25 river miles between Oroville and Tonasket took between 5 and 8 hours (depending upon the energy of the paddlers) and provided a glimpse of the beauty and fun to be experienced on the 500 mile Greater Columbia Water Trail upon its completion within four years.

The Oroville and Tonasket Eagles Lodges, and the Colville Confederation of Tribes co-sponsored the event with Extreme Adventures outfitters and the Greater Columbia Water Trails coalition.  The Tonasket Eagles provided a t-shirt, pin and steak dinner to participants after the run.  Eagle volunteers from both clubs staffed the registration table.  A school bus shuttled paddlers from the take-out in Tonasket to the launch point near Oroville. 

Paddlers from around Washington State participated, and co-organizer Ed Lawrence, owner of Extreme Adventures outfitters in Oroville, fielded telephone inquiries from as far away as England and Germany, as well as eastern states such as Florida.  Those people who participated were enthusiastic and excited to be on the water during the hot summer day, viewing an astounding array of bird life and glorious scenery. 

Directional and interpretive signs on these northwest segments of the water trail, as well as physical improvements on some of the access sites was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Improvements will continue, to include additional camping sites, restroom facilities, signage and marketing materials.

     After the run, Water Trails coalition chairman Ron Johnston-Rodriguez noted "This was a great inaugural for the Water Trail.  Diverse groups worked together to organize the event, and all the paddlers I spoke with had a wonderful time.  Many expressed surprise at the often dazzling beauty and diverse wildlife seen along the way.  The landscape of the Okanogan area is really terrific.  There’s something interesting to see around each bend in the river, from dramatic rock formations to historic irrigation works and homesteads. And the bird life is fantastic, especially around the Driscoll Island wildlife preserve section of the run.  It's a bird-watcher's heaven!"  Participants concurred with his enthusiastic assessment, and while it was warm for many of the paddlers from Western Washington, participants caught a break in the 100 degree-plus weather during the week and enjoyed a balmy 85 degree day with a cool, following breeze down the river.  It was a perfect opportunity for organizers to showcase the natural splendor of North Central Washington.

     The intent of the Greater Columbia Water Trail is to develop the Columbia River and certain tributaries from the Canadian Border essentially to the Columbia's confluence with the Snake River, near the Tri-Cities.  There, the trail will connect to other, already existing water trails to lead adventurers down to the Pacific Ocean.  The Greater Columbia Water Trail will have branches on the Similkameen River above Oroville, the Okanogan River from Lake Osooyos, and down the "Lake Roosevelt" Columbia River channel.  They will all merge into the Columbia to complete the route downsteam to Wenatchee and beyond, working with PUDs and other agencies to provide reasonable portages around the dams along the way. Other tributaries such as the Kettle River, Spokane River and others may be connected to the trail at a later date, and organizers are hopeful that they can find compatriots in British Columbia who will eventually assist in extending the Water Trail on up to the headwaters of the Columbia River.

     A water trail uses existing waterways with augmented public access points and primitive camping spots (as well as interpretive signage, brochures, maps and other marketing tools) to promote paddle sport recreation and enjoyment of the rivers and natural environment--and to assist in tourism and general economic development of all of the areas contiguous to the water trail.   The Greater Columbia Water Trail Coalition has been spearheaded by the Port of Chelan County to augment the region’s recreational tourism opportunities.  The coalition’s efforts have been significantly aided by technical assistance from the National Park Service, Washington State Parks, Washington Water Trails Association, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

     Those interested in the Greater Columbia Water Trail can learn more about the trail, the organizers as well as other Water Trails in the region by visiting www.gcwt.org or by calling Ron Johnston-Rodriguez or Aimee Pope at 509-663-5159.