v3ay0g~•~~ J,11 COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: Commissioner Williams OFFICE: Precinct 2 MEETING DATE: March 24, 2008 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: (Please be specific). Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to set date of April 14, 2008, @ 1:30 p.m., for a workshop presentation on the possible establishment of "Paddling Trails" in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife, along stretches of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Bob Miller. err' ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION. IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court. Future Trails Learn How to Partner with TPWD to Develop a Paddling Trail Texas Paddling Trails are an exciting way for landowners and communities to partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife to conserve habitats while providing recreational opportunities for the traveling public. The paddling trails of Texas promote sustainable economic development and build public support for conservation of waterways and wildlife. As Texas becomes more urbanized, it becomes ever more important that there are public places to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities, such as canoeing and kayaking. The Texas Paddling Trails program provides these opportunities while also helping to conserving rivers and bays. "This program offers communities in Texas a way to partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, for the purpose of benefiting their own area while also helping build an extensive network of paddling trails across the state to be enjoyed by Texans and out-of--state tourists for many generations to come. Ways TPWD Can Help .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 signag'e for roadways and put-intake-out locations . Provide interpretive vinyl insert for approved community Assisting with kiosk design, surveying GPS coordinates to help create an aerial map, and evaluating water conditions are some additional ways that TPWD can help. Desirable Paddling Trail Characteristics . 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-intake-outs and keep them clean ~- . Canoe and kayak rentals from local sources . . Designated parking _ _~__ .TPT marker signage and kiosk Who to Contact If you have an interest in developing a Texas Paddling Trail in your community, please contact the following Texas Parks and Wildlife Nature Tourism Coordinator, Shelly Plante. Please use the Paddling Trail Applicationl(PDF 33.2 KB). Funding Opportunities TPWD's Recreation Grants Branch offers recreational grants for park development or improvement. Local entities are encouraged to apply for these funds, although it is not a requirement of the Paddling Trails Program. Visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ rants or call (512) 912- 7124 for more information. ~/ Welcome to Texas Paddling Trails! Paddle Our Newest Trail! Visit the Riverside Park_ Paddling, Trail. in Victoria! City representatives and TPWD will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Riverside Park Boat Ramp at 10:00am on January 23 to officially launch the 4.2-mile trail on the Guadalupe River. 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 one inland paddling trail, with several communities in the process of applying for participation in this program. With more than 3,700 named streams, 15 major rivers and some 3,300 miles of tidal shoreline along the Gulf Coast, Texas offers myriad opportunities for paddling adventures of all types. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, kayaking participation nationwide doubled between 1998 and 2004, with recreational and sit-on-top kayaking the fastest growing segment of the sport. Participation in canoeing also remains very strong. TPWD continues to seek partnerships with communities interested in developing a paddling trail in their area. Please see the Future Trails section on this site and contact the TPWD Nature - Tourism Coordinator to learn more. ~~ Texas Paddling Trails Program ~ ~ " Community Application for Assistance PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Texas Paddling Trails (TPT) is a new program to develop public inland and coastal paddling trails throughout the state and support these trails with maps, signage and other information. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) continues to seek partnerships with communities interested in developing a paddling trail in their area. TPWD wilt 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 RW ~~. 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 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. PROPOSED PADDLING TRAIL INFORMATION ^ Inland Paddling Trail or ^ Coastal Paddling Trail River, Bay, or Estuary: County(ies): Community partner (group or organization): ,; Web site (if applicable): PWD 1113 - T3200 (03/06) Main contact name: Email: Telephone: TRAIL CRITERIA ^ Public access must be a minimum of four paddling miles to a maximum of twelve paddling miles for each segment. Estimated distance in paddling miles between the put-in and take-out: Proposed put-in location: Name of put-in site owner/manager: Describe the bank or land adjacent to the put-in (sand, gravel, boat launch, steps, etc): Proposed take out location: ~< ~tt Name of take out site owner/manager: Describe the bank or land adjacent to the take-out (sand, gravel, boat launch, steps, etc): ~~r+ ^ Presence of natural or historical attractions such as rapids, mature trees or unique habitat, wildlife diversity, historic sites, etc. Describe the natural and historical attractions of the proposed paddling trail: ^ Adequate water quality, river flows or water depth (seasonal flows acceptable) If on a river, is river floatable based on historic flows? If coastal water, describe the water depths, access channels, etc.: ^ Population center within 100 miles. List nearby cities and towns and their distances to the put-in: PWD 1113 - T3200 (03/06) 2 ^ Local partner(s) to maintain put-in/take-outs and keep them clean. Local partner(s) responsible for general maintenance of the put-in and take out points: ,- ^ Canoe and kayak rentals from local sources. List all canoe and kayak rental businesses that could serve this trail: ^ Designated parking Approximately how many cars can park at the proposed put-in: Approximately how many cars can park at the proposed take-out: ^ TPT marker signage and kiosk TPWD will provide `Texas Paddling Trail' marker signage for roadways, put-ins and take-outs. Local partner responsible for putting up marker signage: A TPT kiosk will be required at the put-in and take out locations. TPWD will provide TPT kiosk options '~w 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. Group or person responsible for kiosks: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If on a river, describe dams or other permanent obstructions that would require paddlers to portage: Include any other pertinent information about the proposed trail site: Note: Applications will be prioritized based on above criteria to achieve statewide representation. Return Texas Paddling Trail applications to: Shelly Plante, Nature Tourism Coordinator Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 Telephone (512) 389-4500 PWD 1113 - T3200 (03/06) ~ Possible River Trails -Distance Computations From La Junta Bridge at Hunt, Tex Schumakers Bridge Waltonia Bridge Rio Vista Low Water Bridge Ingram Boat Ramp Ingram Dam Cade Loop Bridge Indian Creek Bridge Bear Creek Crossing Spur 98 Bridge Town Creek Dam Lemos St. Bridge Louise Hays Park Dam G Street Bridge Kerrville Schreiner Park Flat Rock Lake Dam Brinks Crossing Center Point Dam/ Lions Park "'~rr+° Government Crossing Homilious St. Bridge To as Schumakers Bridge Waltonia Bridge Rio Vista Low Water Bridge Ingram Boat Ramp Ingram,Dam Cade Loop Bridge Indian Creek Bridge Bear Creek Crossing Spur 98 Bridge Town Creek Dam Lemos St. Bridge Louise Hays Park Dam G Street Bridge Kerrville Schreiner Park Flat Rock Lake Dam Brinks Crossing Center Point Dam/ Lions Park Government Crossing Homilious St. Bridge Lane Valley Road Distance Cumulative Distance ~D~'11~3 0.T9 1.96 1A2 0.78 0.55 4.31 0.12 0.72 3.16 0.71 1.35 1.00 0.81., 0.71 1.90 1.45 3.85 2.70 2.20 1.92 1.58 s.os 4.42 13.7