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2/1/06 Help Conserve Houston’s Historic San Jacinto River! 7th Annual East Fork/West Fork Canoe Challenge  In the dark night, a ruckus begins to grow. People are running over wooded terrain, their lights bobbing as they forge their way through the trees, to the river. No, this is not the latest episode of Survivor. These are canoe racers partaking in the East Fork/West Fork Challenge on the San Jacinto River: men and women, champion and novice, young and old. Featured as one Texas’ 50 Greatest Outdoor Adventures in the March 2006 Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, the 14-mile Challenge is a small-scale version of the 260-mile Texas Water Safari. "It allows racers to experience the thrill of an adventurous canoe race without having to spend a year training," says Mike Stinson, Challenge founder. "It is also designed to bring attention to Lake Houston State Park and the San Jacinto River." The 7th annual Challenge, held April 2, will benefit the nonprofit San Jacinto Conservation Coalition and raise awareness of threats to Houston’s historic and ecologically priceless San Jacinto River. Texas only start-at-night canoe race began at 5:00am at Lake Houston State Park, in New Caney, just northeast of Houston. Racers run with their canoes ¼ mile through the woods to narrow Peach Creek. "It's pandemonium," describes race participant Jerry Brown. "Boats smack each other, running aground on the sand bars." The fog was so thick at the start of the 2005 race that even “R.D.” Kissling, the race director, was disoriented going down Peach Creek. “It was surreal,” he said. “After the race everybody was talking about how cool it was running blind down the creek”. Peach Creek widens when it reaches the East Fork of the San Jacinto, but the river brings new obstacles: a maze of dead end coves and cuts that must be navigated in the dark. Racers that don’t get lost finally reach the West Fork of the San Jacinto, where they paddle upstream to the finish at River Grove Park in Kingwood. The race is going to be run with an Adventure Format for the first time in 2006. There will be 6-8 checkpoints that must be obtained along the river to test the racers navigation and map-reading skills. In addition, plans are to have a mid-race portage (run with boats) just to add to the challenge. Although some race to win, paddlers of all stripes are encouraged to enter – there are numerous categories to fit all competitors. A long-sleeve race T-shirt will be given to all who register ($20 before March 19, $30 thereafter). The race is notable for the unique trophies for top overall finishers plus certificates for 1st - 2nd place in each category. For more information go to the Online Forum at http://www.luv2paddle.com or call R.D. Kissling at 281-413-6049 or TXSven@aol.com. You can also register online at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1286579. Practice runs will be held Feb 25 and March 18. Meet at River Grove Park in Kingwood at 9:00 AM to arrange shuttles. The race was initiated to raise awareness of the economic and ecological benefits of the San Jacinto River, and the benefits of preserving the bottomland hardwood forests that line its banks. The streamside or riparian forests help protect Lake Houston’s water quality, which provides the City of Houston’s drinking water. The San Jacinto also feeds its critically important freshwater into Galveston Bay’s economically prosperous fisheries industry. Texas has lost over 75% of its bottomland forests, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Yet the river bottoms are one of Texas' most valuable habitat types because they filter out water pollutants, buffer against floods, and protect the estuaries downstream near Galveston Bay. They also provide irreplaceable habitat for wildlife, including bald eagles, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, night herons, osprey, alligators, deer, flying squirrels, river otter, raccoons, and more. The San Jacinto is threatened by sand mining, water rights grabs, and development along the water’s edge. SJCC's mission is "to improve citizens' quality of life by protecting and preserving the natural resources of the San Jacinto watershed, and by proactively promoting responsible, planned 'smart growth.'" SJCC is an affiliate of the Gulf Coast Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to smart growth in the Houston Gulf Coast region. To sponsor the race, contact SJCC President and Founder Wendee Holtcamp at 281-360-1615 or bohemian@wendeeholtcamp.com. Holtcamp is an environmental journalist who writes for magazines such as National Wildlife, Sierra, Audubon, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Hooked on the Outdoors, Discovery Channel Online, and others. For more information on SJCC visit www.sanjacinto.cc.
Contact: Wendee Holtcamp, SJCC President |
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