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River Access "Things do not 'just happen." Things are made to happen." J.F.Kennedy Mission in Action:         Together with the Town of Farmville, FAR designated a section of Buffalo Creek and the Appomattox River as a Blueway under the Town’s Comprehensive Open Space Master Plan. This paddling trail begins at the east end of Wilck’s Lake, located on West Third Street, and continues eastward approximately four miles to Riverside Park, located on North Main Street behind Greenfront Furniture. Paddlers should park at the Wilck’s Lake Boat Launch, paddle across Wilck’s Lake to its southwest corner, then cross a short portage to Buffalo Creek. The portage is clearly marked and offers steps across the berm. Once across the berm, it is easy to launch your boat on Buffalo Creek and paddle back to the Blueway launch near the Wilck’s Lake parking lot. From there, the paddler may want to continue down Buffalo Creek to the Appomattox River and Riverside Park. There is a concrete public boat ramp on the right bank in Riverside Park as you approach the Route 45 / North Main St bridge crossing. The Farmville Blueway is intended to provide the public with access to this valuable resources in our backyard, and connect the public with the "natural world" while increasing awareness of watersheds and their importance. People often ask whether the Appomattox River around Farmville is navigable by canoe or kayak. FAR members work all year long to ensure the recreational use of the river. The organization accomplishes this through partnerships with state agencies, local governments, private landowners and dedicated volunteers. For example, FAR enjoys a long term partnership with an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) team comprised of members from several branches of the U.S. Military. For more than fifteen years, the EOD team has conducted training evolutions in the Appomattox River watershed, providing a valuable service to our community that would otherwise by prohibitively expensive. As a result of the training evolutions, the EOD team helps to keep the Appomattox River and tributaries free of major obstructions, reduce bank erosion, and improve habitat in the aquatic environment. This training also provides EOD team members with the practical experience necessary for debris removal after natural disasters. Through the years, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, and the Department of Transportation- Bridge Division have supported a healthy Appomattox River by providing materials, equipment, and know-how to maintain the river. Their work has also helped to keep the river open for recreational use and reduce erosion of the riverbanks. Reducing erosion decreases the amount of sediment entering the river, improving the health of the Appomattox River and ultimately the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The Appomattox River can still present minor challenges which might require portaging a boat across a fallen tree or around an obstruction, but it is much improved due to the attention it has received since 1997 by the Friends of the Appomattox River. For more information about how you can enjoy the Appomattox River with other river enthusiasts, fill out a membership form (the link is in the column on the left).