Augusta Canal Authority requests $2.3 million for bridge, bathrooms and harvester; presents $23 million whitewater park concept

The Augusta Canal Authority asked the Augusta City Commission for $2,300,000 in SPLOST 9 funds to finish a pedestrian bridge project, install ADA kayak launches and upgrade restrooms and park entry points, and it presented a separate concept for a downtown whitewater-rafting attraction with a $23,000,000 estimated cost.

The requests matter because the canal authority said maintenance and recreational projects would expand public access to the Augusta Canal, support tours and spur adjacent economic development.

Russ Gamble, vice chair, opened the Authority’s presentation by noting the Augusta Canal Authority is “a state charter organization established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1989” and that it operates under a memorandum of understanding with the city. Gamble said the Authority already has $1,500,000 in grants committed to stabilize and begin renovation of Mother’s Trinity CME Church and $500,000 in state appropriations toward the pedestrian bridge; he described both as gifts to the city that require no city match for those particular grants. The SPLOST request of $2,300,000, Gamble said, would primarily fund the pedestrian bridge, a weed harvester to clear hydrilla and other vegetation that block boat tours, improvements to restrooms at Lake Olmstead (including security doors and sensors), and entryway improvements at Eisenhower Park.

Frederick Neely, appointed member of the Canal Authority, presented a conceptual whitewater-rafting park to be located along Broad Street downtown. He said the site is already city-owned land and that the proposed facility would use gravity and existing canal-level differences rather than pumps. Neely described the whitewater concept as a hybrid between in-stream parks and pumped artificial courses and said the previous engineer estimated the park would need about 400 cubic feet per second, compared with the Canal Authority’s current guaranteed flow of 2,350 CFS from the city. During discussion, Gamble and Neely said the whitewater park is a larger, separate ask and that the $23,000,000 figure is an approximate two-year-old estimate; Neely suggested current costs could be higher.

On operational matters, Gamble said the Authority would share the weed-harvester with the city for river cleaning and marina upkeep and noted vandalism at Lake Olmstead bathrooms prevents them from being open; proposed security measures include exterior security doors, motion sensors and cameras on the outside of facilities. Gamble said the Authority plans to move some tour operations temporarily if weed growth prevents boats from navigating current head gates.

Commissioners asked about cost details and timelines. Commissioner Jordan Johnson confirmed the $2.3 million figure covered multiple items and asked whether the $23,000,000 whitewater park overlapped SPLOST requests; Gamble and Neely said the whitewater park is not part of the $2.3 million request and would require separate consideration. Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice and others expressed support for the weed harvester and security upgrades, with Rice noting safety and accessibility concerns for canal users. Mayor pro tempore Wayne Guilfoyle encouraged the commission to consider committing to use of city property for a future whitewater park and asked that the commission schedule a discussion on the proposal.

No formal vote was taken on the Canal Authority requests during the presentations. Commissioners and staff asked for further cost updates and permitting information for the pedestrian bridge, and Authority representatives said they are pursuing required permits and wetlands testing. The Authority said a state appropriation of $500,000 is already allocated to the pedestrian bridge.