The 2022 National Outdoor Recreation Conference was hosted in Knoxville September 11-15, and the Beaver Creek Kayak Club extended an invitation to float the Beaver. Club president Charlie Austin wrote, “Attendees will have the opportunity to float Beaver Creek in a field workshop trip to showcase the creek, the club and our communities.
A view from the top of the bridge.
“During the workshop, they will learn the details and challenges of cleaning and clearing the stream as well as the importance of community and government working together to accomplish the goal.”
Austin put out the call to his members to come help clear the creek before the proposed Wednesday float.
But as the date approached, continued utility construction along the creek made the trip impossible.
Austin wrote: “We are not going to be able to host the NORC tomorrow on Beaver Creek. I’m simply disappointed.
This kayak shows the scale of a log jam on Beaver Creek.
“We were looking forward to sharing the creek with people from around the country. We floated this morning to clear out from a new fallen tree and work a path around the rocks…but a construction bridge has been reinstalled across the creek and it just isn’t going to be easy or safe to portage the convention around this bridge.
“While we are disappointed, we know that in the long run this utility project will make for a better, cleaner creek.
“We are planning to personally invite the attendees back for the 6th annual Beaver Creek Flotilla. Thank you to all who offered to volunteer!! As always, we do whatever it takes to make things happen, we just can’t move bridges.”
The super float was a joint project of the Legacy Parks Foundation, Knox County Parks and Recreation and the Beaver Creek Kayak Club.