November 20, 2014
Dear Kankakee River Stakeholder:
On behalf of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association in Indiana and the Illinois representatives for the Kankakee River National Water Trail Development Project, we would like to ask for your support with our application to the National Park Service seeking National Water Trail (NWT) designation of the Kankakee River Water Trail. Our application seeks National Water Trail designation for the entire 133 miles of the Kankakee River from the headwaters in rural St. Joseph County, Indiana, to the Des Plaines River in Illinois – which would be the first such designation in our states.
What are the Benefits of Becoming a National Water Trail? NWT designation will increase community-based recreational opportunities, help marketing, improve public access, boost tourism, spur economic growth, assist with public health improvements, and provide a venue for environmental education.
What is a National Water Trail? Established in 2012, the National Water Trails System(NWTS) serves to bring existing and newly identified water trails together into one cohesive national network of exemplary water trails. The NWTS is a network of water trails the public can explore and enjoy, as well as a community of water resource managers that can benefit from information sharing and collaboration. The designations recognize water trails of local and regional significance. The NWTS supports designated water trails with an array of benefits, including promotion, technical assistance, networking, and access to funding. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/watertrails.
What will change if the Kankakee River becomes a National Water Trail? Designation as a National Water Trail does not impose any new regulations on the waterway, does not interfere in any way with a landowner's rights or use of property, and does not interfere with local management of the waterway. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary, and we are pleased that the Kankakee River Basin Commission voted unanimously to support our application for National Water Trail designation.
We feel strongly that the communities along the Kankakee River will benefit greatly from NWT designation. Attached is a sample letter of support that you are welcome to use. We ask that all letters be sent to us by December 23, 2014, in order to be considered for NWT designation by the summer of 2015. Please mail letters of support to the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association at the letterhead address, or via email . More information on the Kankakee River National Water Trail project can be found at www.nwipa.org/kankakeewatertrail.html. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Please join us in this fantastic opportunity that will benefit communities in the Kankakee River Watershed. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Plath Michael Casagrande
President Illinois Representative
Northwest Indiana Paddling Association Kankakee River National Water Trail Development Project
(219) 871-9559 (815)573-1839
The Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (NWIPA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of over 600 members devoted to paddling, education, and blueways stewardship. NWIPA is the 2010 recipient of the American Canoe Association's prestigious "Stroke of Achievement Award" recognizing the nation's top paddling organizations. For more information, visit www.NWIPA.org