Saturday, June 15, 2013
The Chattahoochee River was overflowing with paddlers on Saturday. 419 paddlers to be exact in 313 canoes and kayaks made their way down the river and through Roswell during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival. Organized and run by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the race covered an 8-mile course from Garrard Landing through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and to Riverside Park. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission is to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, in order to restore and preserve their ecological health for the people and wildlife that depend on the river system. Established in 1994, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is an environmental advocacy organization with more than 6,000 members dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin — drinking water source for nearly 4 million Georgians. CRK was the 11th licensed program in the international Waterkeeper Alliance, now close to 200 organizations strong. From the north Georgia mountains to the Florida border, the Chattahoochee River is impacted by unplanned development, storm runoff and trash from industries, roads, and construction sites, and discharges from sewage treatment plants. Withdrawals from the river by municipalities and industries also affect its health through consumptive loss of water that is not returned to the river, impacting downstream water quality, recreation and ecology. While significant improvements have been made in the river, much remains to be accomplished. Thousands of attendees came out to party with the paddlers after their run on the river with food, live music and vendors.
Dave Gewertz (left) holds his kayak as he waits in line for the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Lake Summerhill (center) carries two kayaks towards the edge of the water before the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Charlie Stephens repositions his paddle as he moves into position for the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Christina Parkhurst (center) paddles her kayak as she takes off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Jen Griffith (right) carries her two kayaks towards the edge of the water with the help of her husband Kevin before they start the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Lake Summerhill (center) and Aliina Rousu paddle their kayaks as they take off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Jonathan Johnson paddles his kayak as he takes off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Kelly Harbac (bottom right) paddles her kayak as she nears Don White Memorial Park during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Brendan BassMarra paddles his kayak during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Connor Gilreath lets his feet skim the top of the water as he rides down the Chattahoochee River in a canoe in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Ryan Bjork (right) and Ben Esser paddle their canoe during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Canoers and kayakers paddle down the Chattahoochee River as they near Don White Memorial Park in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Christy Fountain (left) paddles past Scott Taylor as they near the finish line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Paul McClung (left) and his two sons Holden and Caleb paddle down the Chattahoochee River in a canoe in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Canoers and kayakers paddle down the Chattahoochee River as they near Don White Memorial Park in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Betsy Gentry and Sophie Harkins paddle their canoe under the bridge at Don White Memorial Park in Roswell during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Sean Kinsey unclips his paddle as he prepares to exit his kayak at the take out point on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Kim West (left) paddles to the boat take out on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.