Henry County Enterprise
  • News
    • Business
    • Community Calendar
    • State News
    • National News
  • Obituaries
  • eEnterprise
  • Classifieds
  • Spiritual
    • The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Parabola
    • Southern Baptist
  • Classifieds
  • Contact
  • Login
Subscribe For $2.50/Month
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Business
    • Community Calendar
    • State News
    • National News
  • Obituaries
  • eEnterprise
  • Classifieds
  • Spiritual
    • The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Parabola
    • Southern Baptist
  • Classifieds
  • Contact
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Henry County Enterprise
No Result
View All Result
Home Local News

DRBA’s Virtual Meeting inspires conversation about safety throughout the region

July 23, 2021
in Local News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Email
Paddlers at base of Phlipott Dam in Bassett. (By Brian Williams)

More than 50 participants joined a virtual meeting hosted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on July 9 to hear presentations from safety experts, users and recreational asset owners and discuss outdoor safety in the region. 

The nine presenters included Davis Montgomery, Duke Energy; Durwin Joyce, City of Martinsville Electric Department; Kevin Edwards, Piedmont Hydro Technologies; Matt Tatum, Henry County Public Safety; Allen Farrar, Rockingham County Sheriff Office; Todd Robertson, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Bill Tanger, Friends of the Rivers of Virginia; Bob Brueckner, Carolina Canoe Club; and Mark Bishopric, Co-Owner, Three Rivers Outfitters. Participants represented regional city and county municipal governments, state parks, state departments of conservation and recreation, land conservancy organizations, emergency and law enforcement agencies and businesses that sell outdoor recreational equipment.

“For many years, DRBA has worked with partners to build trails, parks and river accesses and our municipal tourism partners have been very successful in promoting these assets – which has resulted in a dramatic increase in users of outdoor recreation in our region,” said Brian Williams, DRBA’s program manager. “With this increase in usage, there is also the potential for an increase in accidents.  The July 9th meeting brought regional stakeholders together to hear what others are doing to reduce that risk for our citizens and visitors and share their ideas to move forward. DRBA is committed to providing information that helps make the outdoor experience a safe and enjoyable one for all users.”

At the virtual meeting, dam owners discussed regulations regarding dams and ideas for improved safety, public safety and law enforcement described their best practices for emergency response, a recreational organization, canoe club and outfitter shared ideas for improved safety along rivers form a user perspective. In addition, Iowa is the leading state in deaths related to dams in the United States and Robertson from the DNR spoke about what they are doing to reduce that risk for kayakers and tubers. Participants were asked to share their challenges and new ideas related to safety during the meeting which resulted in almost 100 comments.

“Safety is not solved in one meeting, the discussion needs to be on-going, and ideas need to be shared freely and quickly with both stakeholders and users,” said Tiffany Haworth, DRBA’s executive director. “After the meeting, I heard from dozens of participants who are inspired to continue this conversation about safety in their own locality. DRBA will continue to provide tools, resources and information to continue to increase awareness and share best practices.”

To learn more about how to stay safe outdoors, please visit DRBA’s website at  www.danriver.org/our-watershed/trails-and-river-info/trails-river-safety or view a short webinar at  www.youtube.com/watch?v=qen4W7pPuLQ

To learn more about DRBA’s impact and programs that protect and conserve our natural resources, visit danriver.org.

The mission of the Dan River Basin Association is to promote and protect the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin through education, recreation, and stewardship. DRBA works to fulfill that mission by building river accesses and trails, educating people of all ages about protecting our natural resources, and protecting our water resources through water quality monitoring, cleanups and master planning. The Dan River basin is 3,300 square miles including sixteen counties throughout Virginia and North Carolina.

 

 

 

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Email
ShareTweetPin
Previous Post

Millions to be invested to achieve universal broadband by 2024

Next Post

Slots available for summer enrichment program

Next Post
Slots available for summer enrichment program

Slots available for summer enrichment program

Join Our Newsletter

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Business
    • Community Calendar
    • State News
    • National News
  • Obituaries
  • eEnterprise
  • Classifieds
  • Spiritual
    • The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Parabola
    • Southern Baptist
  • Classifieds
  • Contact
  • Login

© 2020 Mountain Media, LLC

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Email

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

Add Henry County Enterprise to your Homescreen!

Add