Subject:      Challenge to World Record for Canoes and Kayaks - June 17, 2000 Austin TX
From:         Debi Paxton
Date:         Mai 12 2000  
Newsgroup:    rec.boats.paddle


Texas River News: 

Rivers 2000 Cleanup and Guinness Challenge 
June 17, 2000 

The Rivers 2000 Town Lake Cleanup will be held on Saturday, June 17,
2000 at Festival Beach in Austin. This water-based cleanup is a part of
the nationwide Rivers 2000 project, a nationwide celebration of our
rivers coordinated by the River Management Society, with help from
American Rivers, River Network, and other river groups. The goal of
Rivers 2000 is to increase public understanding and appreciation of our
nation's 3.2 million river miles and their watersheds. 

As a measure of our confidence in the Texas community of canoeists,
kayakers, fishermen and other river users and their dedication to
conservation issues , a challenge will be made to the standing
Guinness World Record for the number of human-powered craft in the
water in one place at one time! Following the morning cleanup (9 am -
1 pm) and a free picnic lunch for cleanup participants, we will
assemble all paddlers to try to break the standing record of 649
boats, established in Byron, Illinois in 1996. We only need 650! 

Canoes and kayaks will be made available to participants who do not
have their own boats by Austin Outdoor Gear & Guidance. All river
users are invited to participate. Paddling clubs, fishing clubs, and
other outdoor groups are encouraged to coordinate a group effort to
bring as many canoes, kayaks and paddlers as can be mustered to
participate in this news-making event. 

The Rivers 2000 Town Lake Cleanup and Guinness Challenge is being
coordinated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in cooperation with the TNRCC, Keep
Texas Beautiful, Keep Austin Beautiful, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department,
Austin Outdoor Gear and Guidance, the Austin Paddling Club, and others. Rivers 2000 has
been endorsed by national recreation and conservation groups including the American Canoe
Association, the National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, the U.
S. Canoe/Kayak Team and United States Canoe Association, and many more. For more
information about the nationwide Rivers 2000 project, see their web site at
http://www.rivers2000.org. 

Please join us at Festival Beach on Town Lake in Austin, Texas on June 17 as we show the
world that we Texans care about our rivers. 

Contact Information: 

The Texas River Guide Website 
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texaswater/rivers/

Cleanup Registration 
Keep Austin Beautiful, 512/499-7625 or 1/800-CLEAN TX 

Guinness Challenge Information & Registration John Van Ness 
Austin Outdoor Gear & Guidance 
512/473-8644 

Clean Up Information 
Constance Whiston 
Texas Rivers Conservation Coordinator 
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 
phone 512-389-8196; fax: 512-389-8059; email 
constance.whiston@tpwd.state.tx.us

Texas Rivers 2000 Coordinator (All Rivers 2000 Events) Bob Spain, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department 
phone 512-389-4635, fax: 512-389-8059, email bob.spain@tpwd.state.tx.us