A group aiming to open the Yellow River to more recreation is working on better river access points at the Georgia International Horse Park and the Milstead Dam in Conyers.

Yellow River Water Trail, a volunteer group, plans to clear out a logjam in March. And it will seek moral support—but no taxpayer dollars—from the Rockdale County commissioners in January, said spokeswoman Tonya Bechtler.

“The whole goal is getting people out for recreation,” she said. “A lot of people are jumping on board.”

The Yellow River flows 53 miles between Gwinnett County and Jackson Lake in southern Newton County, including through Rockdale. 

A “water trail” is the aquatic version of a nature trail. The idea is to make the river fully accessible for such recreational uses kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding and fishing. Recreation also would boost the local economy and improve conservation efforts, the group says.

Thirteen water trail programs are already in place on Georgia rivers, with another eight in progress, Bechtler said. Yellow River Water Trail began two years ago as a group of kayakers in Porterdale in Newton County. It is now forming as an official nonprofit organization and is being trained by the Athens-based Georgia River Network. 

The Water Trail group already has a good relationship with the Georgia International Horse Park on Centennial Olympic Parkway, which allows kayakers to access the river at the back of the park. 

“It is definitely a beautiful location,” Bechtler said, adding that it has such wildlife as otters and is the site of many Indian artifact finds.

But Rockdale is a “speed bump” on the water trail right now, largely because of a huge logjam in the river along the Horse Park, Bechtler said. Water Trail volunteers cleaned 5,000 pounds of litter off the logjam in September. Next, they aim to bring in a team with chainsaws in March to clear out the logs.

One thing that doesn’t need work is the river’s water quality.

“It’s a very, very clean river,” Bechtler said.

Future dreams might include adding formal trails or ramps at the Georgia International Horse Park access point and possibly at the Milstead Dam as well. 

Rockdale is especially attractive because “Conyers is doing a good job of [creating] foot trails” that can link to the river, Bechtler said.

The Water Trail group seeks the blessings of local governments for such work, but not money.

“The whole project, we don’t want any taxpayer funds,” said Bechtler.

Newton County and especially Porterdale are big supporters. “They’ve really embraced that they’re a river town,” Bechtler said.

The Water Trail will ask Rockdale commissioners for that “handshake” in January, she said.

For more information about the project, see yellowriverwatertrail.org.