Dale Harris serves as Trail Council Program Manager and Chair of the Trinity River Paddling Trail Council for the Trinity Coalition, where he leads the stewardship and expansion of the Trinity River National Water Trail—a nationally designated 130-mile urban paddling corridor spanning nine cities and three counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. A visionary in urban waterway recreation, Dale spent eight years meticulously scouting, documenting, and advocating for interconnected launch sites, culminating in the trail’s prestigious National Water Trail designation by the National Park Service in 2020—one of only 33 in the nation. As a board member of the Trinity Coalition, he collaborates with municipalities, regional councils, and partners to enhance access, safety, and programming, transforming the Trinity into a premier destination for canoeing, kayaking, and nature-based education while fostering environmental stewardship for millions of residents. An avid outdoorsman with over 20 years of hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking experience, Dale is a U.S. Navy veteran with six years of service in communications and radar. Retired from the telecommunications industry, he has been an active member of the Dallas Downriver Club for 16 years, serving seven years as president and two as vice president, where he secured new river access points and led countless trips. He also belongs to the DFW Kayak Fishing Club, North Texas River Runners paddling club, and Fly Fishers International. Passionate about safe, inclusive paddling opportunities that connect people to nature, Dale frequently shares his expertise through seminars on river camping, cold-weather paddling, and trail leadership, inspiring the next generation of water trail advocates across the country.