Racquette River Corridor Project - Tourism and Outdoor Recreation in Northern New York, the Adirondack Ten Rivers Region, Hiking, Camping, Skiing, Snowmobiling, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Raquette River

A draft plan has been created, available for download HERE, that lays out a prioritized list of steps necessary to implement and promote a blueway trail. Blueway trails are New York State-designated small boat and paddling routes that combine recreation and environmental awareness and allow users to travel to designated stops along the way for rest, overnight stays, and enjoyment of land-based attractions in the vicinity.

The plan recommends a wide range of physical improvements along the river designed to improve access, increase awareness and to further promote the Raquette River as a travel destination, bringing much-needed tourism dollars to the region. Those improvements include better signage, enhancements of existing local parks, boat launches, scenic overlooks, Blueway Visitors Centers and kiosks, gateway features and better trails and river access points.

The draft Blueway Trail Plan also incorporates a number of initiatives and activities designed to create and promote the Blueway, including a river stewardship program, website promotions, traveling exhibits, birding promotions, trip packages and the development of comprehensive river maps. A list of priority projects can be found HERE.

Finally, the report also provides an implementation strategy for all projects and initiatives describing the relative priority, who is responsible, potential partners and potential funding sources.

“They key to developing the Raquette River as a catalyst for regional economic development will be how well the communities along the corridor connect with each other to make it happen,” noted Jim Murphy, Economic Developer for the Village of Potsdam and a member of the Blueway Corridor Advisory Committee. “Communities need to look at the Raquette as an opportunity to develop a regional identity that can not only compete with other well-branded tourist destinations, but also provide more jobs, greater recreational opportunities and better protection of this invaluable resource.”

The degree to which this initiative will be successful will almost entirely depend on the level of cooperation that comes from all the municipalities along the river corridor, Murphy noted. “Communities must work together to implement this shared vision of the future of the Raquette in order to reap the benefits that will come from a well-planned Blueway corridor,” he added.

Utilizing tourism as an economic development tool can also help to maintain the unique cultural and environmental qualities of the area, as these are a central attraction for heritage and nature base tourism, the report noted.

“Community collaboration will be vital as we move forward, so it’s especially important that people with a stake in the future of the Raquette come to Wednesday’s session and share their hopes, dreams and ideas,” Murphy said. “This session will be an important first step in publicly discussing the merits and priorities outlined in the Blueway Trail Plan, which will serve as our roadmap to the future of the corridor. This session will also be a good opportunity for anyone interested in the Raquette – for any reason – to come together and join our growing network of stakeholders.”

For more information about the public session or the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Advisory Committee, contact Jim Murphy at 315-265-1670.

RAYMONDVILLE RIVER SWEEP – Members of the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Committee, local officials and dedicated volunteers celebrated Raquette River Awareness Week by cleaning up several points of access along the river, including the recreational site on the River Road next to the dam in Raymondville. From left: Dan Parker of Bookfield Renewable Energy, Committee members Jim Murphy, Ruth McWilliams, Mary Jane Watson, Louise Bixby and Joann Ferris, volunteers Clark Warner and Jill Parrotte (with Callie Mae on the Raquette) and St. Lawrence County Legislator Sallie Brothers, who co-sponsored a resolution recognizing Raquette River Awareness Week in St. Lawrence County.

TRASH PICK-UP – From left, Leon Burnap, Clark Warner and Bob Bixby help to clean up the recreational access site on the River Road next to the Raymondville Dam. A total of 75 pounds of trash was picked up that day at the popular canoe and fishing site.

HISTORY LESSON – Norfolk Town Historian Leon Burnap points to a historic map of the Raymondville area during an impromptu history lesson as part of the cleanup of the recreational access site on the River Road next to the Raymondville Dam. The world’s largest paper mill once stood directly across from the recreational access site in the early 1900s. Remnants of this long lost center of commerce can still be seen today.

AKWESASNE AWARENESS - Tony David, Program Manager of Water Resources for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environmental Division, was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s Raquette River Awareness Week event on the Akwesasne Reserve. David noted how environmental issues threatening the Raquette River today are also threatening the culture, economy and longtime traditions of the Native American people of Akwesasne.

FUN PADDLE THROUGH AKWESASNE – From left, Carol Squire, Arnold Printup and Mary Jane Watson paddle from the canoe access point on Route 37 near the Alcoa East facility in Massena through Akwesasne to the St. Lawrence River as part of Raquette River Awareness Week activities at the Reserve on Tuesday. Printup is hoping to form a paddling club at Akwesasne.

RAYMONDVILLE PICKUP – Joann Ferris, one of the founding members of the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Committee, helps pick up trash at the day use canoe access/recreation site on the River Road in Raymondville.

AKWESASNE MUSEUM TOUR – Sue Ellen Herne, right, Director of the Akwesasne Cultural Center, Museum and Library explains to Louise Bixby about the importance of rivers, lakes and other water bodies in Native American culture. Tours of the museum, with a special emphasis on rivers, were presented throughout the day to highlight Raquette River Awareness Week.

CLEARING BRUSH IN NORWOOD – St. Lawrence County Youth Conservation Corps crew members Anthony Bushey and Dustin Staires clear brush to widen the canoe carry around Norwood Dam. Brookfield Renewable Power and the Village of Norwood are working together to improve access and clean up the popular canoe carry near the Norwood Boat Launch, as part of Raquette River Awareness Week.

RAIN CAN'T DAMPEN SPIRITS – Members of the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Committee braved a soggy start to Raquette River Awareness Week activities in South Colton on Sunday, but wet weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those hardy souls who came to celebrate the grand opening of the new access trail and parking area for canoeists and kayakers at Catamount Lodge on Route 56. Despite the morning downpour on Sunday, some intrepid hikers took a trip up Catamount Mountain, led by Rose Rivezzi of the Laurentian Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY) was also on hand to celebrate the day.

The Ra(c)quette* River Corridor Project
Mission Statement

To develop a sense of unity and cooperation among the corridor communities of this second longest river in New York State;
To promote economic development and tourism through enhancement of riverside assets and recreational activities while protecting the natural resources of the corridor and riverside hamlets, and being respectful of public and private property;
To engage municipalities, local and regional organizations, businesses, and individuals in joint promotion of the scenic and recreational resources of the river corridor;
To foster a cooperative effort that strengthens the capacity of each municipality to address its local priorities while participating in the development and implementation of a coordinated corridor plan.

*To "C" or not to "C" - the Board of Geographic Names has determined that the name of the river is to be spelled "Raquette", however, a number of communities along the river continue to use "Racquette". Therefore the Ra(c)quette River Corridor Project has compromised and will use both spellings.