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Texas Paddling Trails program promotes water trails

Statew program designated trails with public access points for kayaks and canoes.

From Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The Texas Paddling Trails is a program to develop public inland and coastal paddling trails throughout the state and support these trails with maps, signage and other information. These trails provide well-mapped accessible day trips in a variety of settings and for all levels of paddling experience. There are currently seven coastal paddling trails and five inland paddling trails, with several communities in the process of applying for participation in this program.

TTPWD will provide the following assistance to approved applicants:

• Work with the local community partners
• Promote your paddling trail as part of the Texas Paddling Trails
• Provide TPT kiosk design options and estimated costs
• Develop trail map and local interpretive information for use in marketing materials (i.e., kiosk inserts, laminated TPT maps, Web site)
• Provide river conservation and river ethics information for use in marketing materials
• Provide official TPT marker signage for roadways and put-in/take-out locations
• Provide interpretive vinyl insert for approved community TPT kiosk
• Promote your paddling trail on the TPWD Web site

TRAIL CRITERIA

Designated paddling trails will have public access points for kayaks and canoes and must meet the following criteria:

• Public access must be a minimum of four paddling miles to a maximum of twelve paddling miles for each segment
• Presence of natural or historical attractions such as rapids, mature trees or unique habitat, wildlife diversity, historic sites, etc.
• Adequate water quality, river flows or water depth (seasonal flows acceptable) • Population center within 100 miles
• Local partner(s) to maintain put-in/take-outs and keep them clean
• Canoe and kayak rentals from local sources
• Designated parking
• TPT marker signage and kiosk

A TPT kiosk will be required at the put-in and take out locations. TPWD will provide TPT kiosk options and estimated costs; the community partner is responsible for producing, installing and maintaining the approved kiosks. The map, interpretive and river conservation and ethics information inserts will be provided by TPWD to kiosk specifications.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The application should be completed by a representative of the community group wishing to partner with TPWD. Please note that the landowner(s) of the put-in and take-out access points must be partners in the project.

RIGHTS AND REGULATIONS

Inland Trails: As part of the navigation right, one may use the bed of a navigable stream, however, climbing out onto the banks can be considered trespassing. Criminal trespass occurs when one goes onto property after receiving notice not to enter. Notice includes verbal notice, a fence, sign(s), the presence of purple paint on posts or trees, or the visible presence of crops grown for human consumption. When encountering an obstruction in the riverbed, one has the right to portage around the obstruction, but take a direct path around and return to the streambed without lingering on the banks.

Coastal Trails: Natural and spoil islands, sandbars, oyster reefs, and beaches (to the vegetation line) are usually public property.

For more information about the Texas Paddling Trails program contact:

Shelly Plante, Nature Tourism Coordinator
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744
Telephone (512) 389-4500
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/

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