This recording of a web-based review of Prepare to Launch! is to help river managers, parks planners and water trails leaders consider and build ‘put-in and take out’ sites as they address the evolving needs of paddlers and other users of non-motorized or hybrid (launches that welcome both non-motorized and motorized) watercraft. This is a product was developed by the Rive Management Society for the National Park service River, Trails Conservation Assistance (RTCA) and National Water Trails programs.
Prepare to Launch! invites readers to step through a process of determining the type of launch best suited to a specific site to help them make design choices with confidence. It includes:
- New, improved illustrations, including those of access sites on urban waterways and examples of access sites tailored to paddlers with special physical needs;
- Updated links to websites that feature notable non-motorized launches;
- Greater insight into construction methods and materials; and
- Regulatory guidelines and requirements that should be considered in the design and construction of access sites.
Prepare to Launch! is available as a multi-media PowerPoint document, a printable booklet, and a web-based resource that invites continuing input. It can be found on the River Management Society website at river-management.org/prepare-to-launch-
