image: Amanda Mathenia, county director of UT Extension Perry County, is leading the Buffalo River Blue Way Project. The initiative will install signage along the Perry County section of the Buffalo River, improving the safety of thousands of visitors annually.
Credit: Photo by T. Cronin, courtesy UTIA.
The Buffalo River is one of the most diverse aquatic habitats in Tennessee, providing recreational opportunities for locals and tourists alike. However, in the event of an accident, locating people on more than 100 miles of water is a challenge with potentially fatal results. To improve safety, University of Tennessee Extension Perry County and partner organizations have created the Buffalo River Blue Way Project, adding GPS mile markers along all 42 miles of the Perry County section of the river to assist first responders in accessing emergency situations.
More than 130 markers have been installed on riverbanks and on all 13 bridges. These signs indicate at which mile an individual is located, helping them accurately communicate their position with rescue personnel if needed. Map kiosks have also been displayed at three popular access points to the river, allowing visitors to familiarize themselves with the layout of the waterway prior to entry.
“The river can often look the same, we have even had locals require rescue and not be able to share their position correctly,” says Amanda Mathenia, county director of UT Extension Perry County. “These markers will significantly reduce emergency response time, benefitting the thousands of guests who visit us every year.”
The most popular tourist attraction in Perry County, the Buffalo River is frequented by people from across the world interested in boating, fishing, kayaking, tubing and more. Real estate along the river is a major contributor to the local economy, in addition to the small businesses who rely on visitors seeking places to eat, sleep and shop.
“It provides peace of mind knowing those who support our community are a little bit safer thanks to this program. That is what UT Extension is all about: seeing a need and working together to make a difference,” says Mathenia.
The Buffalo River Blue Way Project is made possible thanks to local Perry County government, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Tennessee ThreeStar program, the Perry County Rescue Squad, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, Perry County EMS and many others.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.