• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Kayak tour explores Geneva Lake ecology

FONTANA — Residents and visitors to the Geneva Lake area are used to zipping through the water on a tour boat, past magnificent estates and historical landmarks, and listening to tales of the rich and famous settlers of the area.

But they're not usually exposed to the ecology, hydrology and natural history of the body of crystal blue water.

Starting this month, the Fontana Paddle Co. and the Geneva Lake Conservancy are offering a kayak tour of a portion of Geneva Lake to give people an up-close-and-personal look at the lake and its surroundings.

"Geneva Lake is often thought of as an economic asset because it's such a huge driver of tourism is the area," said Joe McHugh, executive director of the conservancy. "But people sometimes forget it's a natural resource, too … and needs to be treated as such.

"We get so caught up in the number of piers, the number of boats and the views … but we forget about the wildlife habitat and fresh, clean water."

Tours are two hours and cover a five-mile section of shoreline near the Fontana lakefront, according to a news release.

Victoria McHugh, a local writer and photographer and wife of the executive director of the conservancy, researched and wrote the tour script, according to the release. She tried to blend environmental and historical information about the lake to make it interesting and relevant, according to the release.

Tours depart at 9 a.m. daily from the Lake Geneva Marine Co. building at 454 Lake St. Tickets include kayak rental and a complimentary lesson for those with little or no experience.

"The lake has an interesting history … and a lot of people don't know that," said Kevin Kirkland, owner of the paddle company. "There's a great story to be told there, and I think people might appreciate it (the lake) more when they hear it."

Tours just started, and only a few people have taken them, but business should pick up into the fall, he said.

The Geneva Lake Conservancy hopes to soon offer a free kayak, canoe or similar-style tour of the entire lake to expose people to the environmental aspects of the lake and the work of the nonprofit organization.

"You get a real sense of it (the lake) from a kayak that you don't get from a boat," Joe McHugh said.

Tour information

The Fontana Paddle Co. is offering eco-tours of Geneva Lake in which people kayak along five miles of shoreline for two hours and learn about the environment and history of the lake area.

Tours depart at 9 a.m. daily from the Lake Geneva Marine Co. building at 454 Lake St., Fontana. Tickets are $49 for adults and $29 for children age 17 and younger and include kayak rental and a complimentary lesson for those with little or no experience. A portion of each sale will benefit the Geneva Lake Conservancy.

Reservations are recommended. Call the Fontana Paddle Co. at (262) 275-5708.