Protect Waterways

For those who know the immense joys of paddling, nothing is more critical to the experience of paddling than the waters themselves, the nation's rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. It is that unique and personal connection between paddler and nature that is at the heart of ACA's stewardship and public policy program.

The ACA is working hard to make the nation's recreational waters more paddle friendly and to increase the voice and clout of paddlers in policy decisions that impact paddlers and the waters they cherish. The ACA is also supporting paddling clubs and grassroots activists around the country in their efforts to care for the waters in their area.

The ACA's Strategic Agenda lays out an ambitious plan for serving the stewardship and policy needs of paddlers. The ACA will continue its focus on maintaining and enhancing both the natural and regulatory environments for paddlers at the national level. In addition, the ACA will target more resources to help paddlers at the community level exert influence over pertinent local issues. The ACA will use the following specific strategies to further this agenda:

• The ACA will build a nationwide network of volunteers to lead its stewardship and conservation efforts, and will give those volunteers the tools they need to support paddler-driven stewardship programs on the grassroots level.
• The ACA will take on a leadership role in the development and promotion of water trails around the country.
• The ACA will continue to work for greater access to waterways in which paddlers are able to enjoy high quality human-powered boating activities.
• The ACA will become an information base and network for the establishment of waterway cleanup efforts.
• The ACA will provide a pathway for paddler participation at the national, state and regional levels on matters relating to safety, access, and stewardship.
• The ACA will provide analysis and make policy recommendations on issues that affect paddlers.

The Stewardship and Public Policy section of this web site provides resources that enable paddlers to be effective stewards of their favorite waterways. It also connects paddlers with important issues on the state and national level, and empowers them to take action on these issues. Use the links to the left to learn more about the ACA's stewardship and public policy activities, and to find out how you can get involved.