More than 100 paddlers are preparing to make a three-day, 48-mile journey down the Flint River between Baconton and Bainbridge this weekend.

The 5^th annual Paddle Georgia Fall Float on the Flint, a project of Georgia River Network and Flint Riverkeeper, will begin this Saturday, Oct. 6, near Baconton and conclude Monday near Bainbridge.  Participants will camp at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat in Newton for three nights.

“This is a spectacularly beautiful stretch of river that attracts people from not just Georgia, but all over the country,” said Paddle Georgia Coordinator, Joe Cook. “This year, we have a nice mix of first-time Flint River adventurers as well as returning paddlers who have participated for several years.”

Billed as an educational adventure, the trip will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about the Flint and its surroundings through nightly programs and an on-river visit to the Jones Ecological Research Center. Paddlers will also have the opportunity to become trained as a certified Georgia Adopt-A-Stream water monitors during the trip.

The trip coincides with continuing efforts to create the Flint River Water Trail, a recreational boating trail spanning the length of the river from near Jonesboro to Bainbridge, as well as efforts to clean up ongoing pollution problems stemming from the City of Albany’s sewage system.

Recently, the city has been plagued by pump failures that have caused spills of raw sewage into the Flint. For years, the city has struggled to control spills that occur when heavy rains cause water to flow into sewer lines and result in overflows into the river. These spills can create unhealthy conditions for those who swim in the river or otherwise come in contact with the water.

“While the river is usually safe for boating, fishing and swimming, these spills create uncertainty for river users,” said Flint Riverkeeper Gordon Rogers. “It is difficult to know when a slug of polluted water is coming down river. This shouldn’t have to be a consideration when planning trips on our river.”

In September, the City of Albany announced funding allocations to begin correcting the pollution problem.

To ensure not only a safe Fall Float, but also better information for all river users all year long, Flint Riverkeeper began weekly monitoring of bacteria levels on the lower Flint, from Albany downstream, in mid-July. The organization plans to continue the monitoring for the foreseeable future including the days leading up to Fall Float and during the journey to provide information about pollution levels to participants.

“This is not a problem that is unique to the Flint,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator. “It’s a consideration on virtually every river in the state. Part of the purpose of Georgia River Network’s paddle trips is to bring attention to these problems and encourage improvements so that all our rivers are free from pollution 365 days a year.”

Fall Float on the Flint is an offshoot of Georgia River Network’s annual 7-day Paddle Georgia summer voyage that takes place on a different river each year. Since its inception in 2005, GRN’s Paddle Georgia trips have guided more than 4000 people down 14 Georgia rivers while raising more than $400,000 for river protection. Paddle Georgia 2019 is set for June 15-21 on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers.

Fall Float on the Flint serves as a fundraiser for GRN and Flint Riverkeeper.

“We’re excited about partnering with GRN to bring people from across the state and nation to the beautiful Flint,” said Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper. “We see the Flint River Water Trail as an economic development tool for southwest Georgia communities, and this trip shows the benefits of making our river accessible to visitors and locals.”

Sponsors of the event include Hennessy Land Rover Centres; Cedar Creek RV and Outdoor Center; Nomadic Flow Outfitters; Cary Baxter, CPA; CYA Agency, Inc.; Oglethorpe Power; StreamTechs; Terry Pate, PC, CPA; China Clay Producers Association; Georgia Mining Association; Storm Water Systems; The Rain Barrel Depot; Patagonia; EarthShare of Georgia; Len Foote Hike Inn; and Friends of Georgia State Parks. Partners include American Canoe Association, Café Campesino, Flint Riverkeeper, Georgia Canoe Association, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Project WET.

Georgia River Network is a non-profit 501c3 organization working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the mountains to the coast. Flint Riverkeeper is a 501c3 organization working to restore and preserve the habitat, water quality and flow of the Flint River for the benefit of current and future generations and dependent wildlife.

Photos of past events are available upon request. If you would like to arrange a photo shoot or interview on the river, please contact Joe Cook or Jayme Smith.