PEC believes that people who enjoy our natural resources will help protect and conserve them. When developing the Tidal Delaware River Water Trail, PEC began to ask questions like "Why don't people go boating on the Delaware River more?" 

To better understand boaters, and to assess the demand for river recreation amenities like kayak rentals, outfitters and tours, PEC undertook the Tidal Delaware River Research Study.  The study utilized focus groups and online surveys with current motor boaters, sailors and kayakers, as well as novice boaters.

Highlights of the report include:

1. Lack of awareness about the Tidal Delaware River as a recreation opportunity is the biggest barrier to people using it (not so much safety or water quality concerns)
2. Boaters who currently use the Tidal Delaware River noted location/convenience and uninterrupted, long stretches of river as the reason they use the Tidal Delaware versus some other water body
3. Boaters who currently don’t use the Tidal Delaware River would be much more likely to use it if they had detailed map and knew where the launch sites were located.
4. The main sources of information about boating are the Fish and Boat Commission site and general online searches.
5. Non-boaters are interested in opportunities to rent boats at waterfront attractions and 66% of non-boaters were interested in the kayak program at Penn’s Landing. 

Click here to read the Summary Report

Click here to read the full report "If We Build It, They Will Boat."