Commissioners in Nash and Edgecombe counties will discuss Monday a multi-county initiative to promote and preserve the Tar River as a recreation outlet.

Since 2004, the Tar River Paddle Trail Collaboration has worked to conceptualize and implement a more than 150-mile paddle trail along the navigable portion of the Tar River from Granville County to Edgecombe County. The Nash County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve a memorandum Monday to define future projects and pledge to support the collaboration. Later, similar propositions will be heard by officials in Rocky Mount, Tarboro and Edgecombe County.

The purpose of the project is to promote the river as a valuable resource while improving recreation access.

Since 2004, more than $500,000 has been spent by the Tar River Land Conservatory and other local governments to build facilities along the river, install mile markers and signage, print maps and market the river as a regional paddling destination. More will be invested in the trail in the coming months and years, officials said.