April 10 — Oostanaula River Paddle
April 24 — More than a Taste of Calhoun
May 29 — Riverfest Raft Race/Environmental Day
June 19 — Coosawattee River Paddle
July 17 — Conasauga River Paddle
Aug. 14 — Oostanaula River Paddle
Sept. — River Cleanup, TBA
Sept. 18 — Coosawattee River Paddle
Oct. 2 — Coosawattee River Paddle II
Oct. — Harvestfest, TBA
Dan McBee spends countless hours navigating the rivers of Gordon County.
As the president of New Echota River Alliance, McBee and members of NERA have become involved with river conservation and protection efforts in our county and neighboring counties.
He has devoted his time and effort into protecting the rivers and was recently noticed for his service.
NERA was named Georgia’s Protect WET (Water Education for Teachers) 2010 organization of the year.
“This is a huge honor for us,” said NERA president Dan McBee. “This award is given to an organization that is able to provide quality water education to its students and has the potential to grow a well-rounded program of water stewardship and throughout.”
McBee received a clear blue plaque during the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia conference in Atlanta on March 19.
“Our main goal is restore the waterways in Gordon and improve the water,” McBee said.
McBee mentioned that the $5,000 grant, which the group received from Georgia River Network this past summer, funded the free teacher and community water education programs they created that led to the award.
Immersed in his work
McBee says he’s celebrating this accomplishment, as well as another one — holding up a pair of keys — NERA’s own office space.
“With the new office we can set up a lab and begin testing for E.coli and the amount of pollution in the river,” McBee said. “We’ll also have literature for teachers and the general public as well as outreach programs from DNR.”
Among the three, one room will house a small library for teachers and the public with free information; the second room will be used for the lab and the third room will be used as additional office space.
The NERA office is located at 612 Red Bud Road in Calhoun and has three rooms. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Currently, NERA is monitoring the county’s three rivers and now Salacoa Creek.
“We’ve also joined with Auburn University on a study of algae and Salacoa Creek will be included,” he said.
Paddling in Gordon County
It’s time to put on some polarized shades and go with the flow in a kayak or canoe with NERA’s raft race and environmental fair fundraiser this May.
Since funding is slim, McBee says he’s had to maintain a professional as well as a personal relationship with NERA —first as its president, then working as a volunteer and as a member devoted to fundraising.
“We are fortunate that we have an excellent network of launch sites in Gordon County,” McBee said.
The festival will take place in the field near the boat ramp on Highway 136; it will include food and music, he said.
Raft race participants will put into the Oostanaula in Resaca and exit at the 136-boat ramp.
“There’s a huge recreational benefit and we are blessed to have three major rivers for boating, fishing and they are critically important to Gordon,” he said.
The Riverfest Raft Race/Environment Day is on May 29. Canoe and kayak rentals are available to all who would like to participate. Sponsors are also needed.
Visit www.newechotariversalliance.org for more information or call 706-263-4002.
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