The Raquette River Blueway Trail’s draft Voluntary Stewardship Plan to protect and promote the river will be presented at public meetings in Potsdam, Massena, and Tupper Lake this month.

“Being good stewards of this unique natural resource goes hand-in-hand with promoting its tourism potential,” said Fred Hanss of Potsdam’s Planning and Development Office, who is project coordinator for the trail.

The Raquette River Blueway Trail is a volunteer regional partnership that has been working to revitalize the communities along the 174-mile-long river corridor through enhancement of tourism opportunities for locals and visitors.

“The Raquette River offers residents and visitors a wide range of year-round outdoor recreational experiences,” Hanss said.

The group has undertaken a variety or projects over the last decade intended to serve residents and travelers to the region with improved public access to the Raquette.

The meetings are being held to review plans to protect water quality, combat invasive species, maintain trails, and build public awareness of what the Raquette can offer.

The meetings will be in the Potsdam Civic Center at 5 p.m. Dec. 5, in Massena Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7, and Tupper Lake’s Aaron Maddux Hall at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

Because the Raquette River Blueway Trail is not a regulatory agency, Hanss said, its voluntary stewardship plan relies on residents, community groups and clubs, and municipalities to advance its goals.