The Coosa River Basin Initiative will celebrate local rivers with three events this weekend. On Sept. 6, the river protection organization will sponsor a screening of the movie “Who Owns Water” at the Rome International Film Festival and host a 17-mile paddle trip on the Etowah River. These weekend events will be followed Monday night with the organization’s annual Harvest Moon Paddle on the Coosa River.
“Who Owns Water” tells the story of two brothers who take a 700-plus mile canoe journey down the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola rivers to discover the heart of the two-decade-long water war with Alabama and Florida. The movie airs Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Desoto Theater as part of the Rome International Film Festival. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at http://www.romeinternationalfilmfestival.org/.
“This is a beautifully filmed documentary and compelling story of an epic journey,” said Joe Cook, Advocacy and Communication Coordinator at CRBI. “It paints a colorful portrait of the river’s characters and gives insight into the battle over water that Georgia has waged with its neighbors since 1990. The Coosa system is tied to this controversy.”
Cook, author of the Chattahoochee River User’s Guide, a comprehensive recreational guide to the Chattahoochee, will sign copies of the recently released book following the screening. Proceeds from the sales of the book will benefit CRBI.
While movie goers are enjoying “Who Owns Water” CRBI will also guide a group of paddlers down the Etowah River on a 17-mile journey from US 411 to Dixon Landing at Grizzard Park This perennial favorite provides access to the river’s most remote stretches between Cartersville and Rome and will give participants a chance to see some of the river’s best Native American fish weirs.
CRBI follows up these weekend activities with its annual Harvest Moon paddle on the Coosa River Monday night. The trip runs six miles from Heritage Park to Lock and Dam Park. It will begin as the Harvest Moon rises over downtown Rome, and will continue its moonlit course down the Coosa, finishing at Lock and Dam about 10:30 p.m.
“This is a favorite and we always sell out of our rental boats,” said Riverkeeper Amos Tuck. “If you want to get in on it, we recommend you register early.
CRBI paddle trips are free to CRBI members. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Non-members can join CRBI at the discounted rate of $30 per family and reserve rental boats at CRBI’s online registration site: www.coosa.org/events/paddle-trips Pre-registration is required. For the Harvest Moon paddle, participants should bring two light sources (flashlights or headlamps) for safety purposes.
CRBI is a 501c3 organization with the mission of informing and empowering citizens to preserve, protect and restore North America’s most biologically unique river system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT JOE COOK AT 706-232-2724 OR VIA E-MAIL AT jcook@coosa.org.