NEW ROCKPORT WAVE FUNDRAISING

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

American Whitewater provided most of the information below to help paddlers who are trying to fund a whitewater park such as the ACC’s Rockport Lower Ledge Project.

There are a myriad of funding solutions for implementation of recreational improvements. The majority of whitewater parks investigated by American Whitewater were funded through county or city departments. The funding mechanism is often a function of the city or county tax structure. The info below from AW describes some potential funding sources and mechanisms.

Concessionaire Fees:
In order to pay back improvements made to the Yampa River, the county instituted a “per-head” tax on the river equipment concessionaires. The park paid for itself within the first year and subsequent funds allowed the county to increase the maintenance and development of other recreation facilities. A similar fee could be imposed on concessionaires for equipment rental or guided river trips. Would the ACC support a “pay to play” fee?

Donations

General Funds, Capital Funds, and Redevelopment Funds:
Cities such as Vail, Colorado, Farmington, New Mexico, and Boulder, Colorado paid for their river parks and improvements with capital funds. Reno or Sparks could potentially use city funds to partially pay for improvements.

Bonds:
Revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, or special district bonds could be used to partially fund recreation improvements. How to repay?

Short-Term Borrowing:
Short-term borrowing could be used to fund the improvements. How to repay?

Local Taxes – Malvern has voted in several taxes to support local improvements. Can support from the community be counted on for a new tax?

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

Arkansas State Parks – None of their various programs applied to an in-stream project when I inquired in 2007

AGFC Wildlife Trails Program – Is this out of the courts yet (funding was to come from gas lease proceeds; that was challenged in court; program was on hold when I last inquired in early 2010). Who can check on this?

Arkansas Department of Natural Heritage ??? Who can check on this?

Entergy – About a $100,000 may be available provided the AGFC, ADEQ, and Entergy agree on the merit of the project. What needs to be done to get this money? Who could work on this?

Arkansas State Legislature – Write your representatives and ask them to support this project. Your letter could include any statements of support we can generate from local civic organizations and environmental agencies (AGFC, ADEQ, US Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, etc.)

PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS

The Conservation Fund:
The Conservation Fund forges partnerships to protect America’s legacy of land and water resources. Through land acquisition, community initiatives, and leadership training, the Fund and its partners demonstrate sustainable conservation solutions emphasizing the integration of economic and environmental goals. Access and trails, including river trails, are types of projects that would match well with the goals of the Fund. If you go to their website you will see that this nonprofit has an A+ rating. What is the ACC’s rating? The higher, the better when it comes to fundraising.

American Conservation Association, Inc.
Grants from $5,000 to $40,000 in areas including the environment, conservation of natural resources and recreation.

The William T. Kemper Foundation
Grants from $1,000 to $50,000 in areas including community development, the environment and recreation.

The William Kenney Watershed Protection Foundation
Grants from $5,000 to $15,000 in areas including work to protect rivers in the western United States.

The Union Pacific Foundation
UP concentrates its support in communities where the company has significant operations (including Nevada) and provides grants in areas related to natural resources and the environment among other things.

David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Grants up to $300,000 (based on previous grantees) to nonprofits in areas including conservation and the community.

Watershed Protection Foundation
Grants from $7,500 to $15,000 to 501 (c) 3 organizations that seek to protect river ecosystems in the west. ACC could form a qualifying Foundation to get funds.

Power Bar Inc. Direct Impact on Rivers and Trails (DIRT) Grants
Grants from $1,000 to $5,000 for projects that create, maintain, improve or restore access to valued recreational areas.

REI Community Recreation Grants
Grants range from $500 to $5,000 (financial support or REI-crafted gear) to nonprofit organizations for support of recreation opportunities linked to muscle-powered recreational activities.

The Nature Conservancy – They have worked to build features that created waves on the Saline River in Saline County. Would they support the Rockport Project?

When applying for grants from any such foundations shown above, it will be a good idea to provide statements of support from local civic groups, surrounding municipalities, environmental agencies (AGFC, ADEQ, US Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, etc.).

EXAMPLE OF A WHITEWATER PARK THAT FOUND FUNDING:
Williamston, Michigan:
Utilizing a DNR Natural Resources Trust Fund grant of $342,700 and $425,000 realized from the sale of bonds by the Williamston Downtown Development Authority, the City of Williamston hopes to complete construction by 1998 of a whitewater canoe and kayak course on the Red Cedar River in Williamston, a city of 3,000 located on I-96 about 20 miles east of Lansing.
The whitewater rapids will replace a dam which was built in 1840 and destroyed in a 1975 flood.
This project is unique because the Red Cedar River water volumes are relatively small, so the facility will be aimed primarily at novice canoeists and kayakers.
Since Williamston's old mill dam was breached, the City of Williamston has been striving to restore its mill pond. Earlier efforts by Williamston to reconstruct a dam at the site were rejected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources due to environmental considerations. Councilmember Ed Noonan undertook to develop an alternative that would restore the impoundment and accommodate migrating fish, while at the same time creating a recreational resource.
Under the plans developed by Gove Associates, a Lansing engineering firm, the Red Cedar River Rapids Project entails constricting the flow of river water through the use of large boulders, thus creating a series of drops (cascades) over a 100 yard river segment for canoeing and kayaking. There will be a boardwalk and viewing areas along the course, and a artificial island.
Though the whitewater facility will cost less than a dam and fish ladder, it will serve the same purpose by raising the water level several feet, thereby restoring an impoundment extending more than a mile upstream. The impoundment itself is expected to be utilized for recreational activities: flatwater canoeing, boating, fishing and bird-watching. Use of the entire facility will be free of charge.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[KimL]

I think I tried out my Ovation on the Williamston waves before I bought it. It was very, very short.