Canoe Access Development Fund (CADF)

The Canoe Access Development Fund helps make the region's rivers and streams more accessible for outdoor recreation by providing grants to watershed organizations or other community groups to develop rustic access sites for canoers and kayakers.

Geographic Scope

• Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia
• Projects should be located along waterways featured in "Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia" or similar guidebooks, or recognized as paddling waterways in Western Pennsylvania

Focus Areas

Grant funding can be used for:

• Stabilizing access areas to rivers or streams
• Adding nearby parking areas
• Purchasing riverside access
• Construction and enhancement of canoe and kayak access locations

Eligibility

• Applicants: Watershed organizations or other community groups
• Project Type: Projects that improve canoe and kayak access to region's waterways
• Access Sites: Proposed new access sites should be located along streams/rivers in established guidebooks or recognized as paddling waterways

Program History

• As of 2017-2018: 45+ CADF-supported projects completed and open to the public
• Program has been operating for at least 7 years as of 2017

Contact Information

• Coordinator: Eli Long, Watershed Manager
• Email: elong@paconserve.org
• Phone: 724-471-7202, ext. 5105
• Address: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Watershed Conservation office

Background

• Co-founded by Roy Weil
• We established the CADF with the Conservancy to create and improve primitive walk-in access sites."

Application Process

1. Access Application: Online application available at WaterLandLife.org/371/
2. Requirements: Complete list of requirements included with online application
3. Submission: Applications must be postmarked by specified deadline (deadlines vary by year; see historical examples: Nov. 17, 2017 or Nov. 18 for 2017 cycle)
4. Award Notification: Grant recipients will be notified by specified date (examples: Dec. 15, 2017 or Dec. 16)
5. Proposed Site Details: Applications should include information about:
   • Stream or river location
   • Documentation of waterway in established guidebooks or recognition as paddling waterway
   • Proposed access improvements
   • Construction/enhancement plans
6. Contact for Questions:
   • Eli Long, Watershed Manager
   • elong@paconserve.org
   • 724-471-7202, ext. 5105