frontpagenews

The Wild and Scenic Merced River is still under threat by HR 2578.  The House will vote very soon on the bill, which proposes to allow Merced Irrigation District to drown a portion of the Wild and Scenic Merced River - pictured here. Whether you live in California or somewhere else, please call Senator Diane Feinstein today and ask her to protect the Wild and Scenic Merced River! And when you're done, call your Congressional representatives and express your concern that what's happening on the Merced could be detrimental to Wild and Scenic rivers throughout the country, including the ones you love in your home state or region.  

Today, American Rivers released the annual report on America's Most Endangered Rivers. American Whitewater has partnered with American Rivers in past years in identifying threatened rivers, and this year we are working together to highlight threats to the Skykomish River in Washington and the Green River in Utah.

The Bureau of Land Management is considering the potential for oil shale and tar sands development on 2,431,000 acres of public land in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. This development could threaten the quality of paddling experiences including the multi-day desert floats on Desolation and Grays Canyons of the Green as well as the adventure available for kayaks and packrafts to explore the San Rafael, Muddy and Escalante. American Whitewater partnered with our colleagues in the Outdoor Alliance to highlight the value of these areas for outdoor recreation.

PacifiCorp has opened the new take-out facility at Northwestern Park. Construction was completed late last month and for the first time since Condit Dam was breached in October 2011, a public access is once again available downstream of Husum Falls.

Colorado - A recent study reveals The Colorado River supports a quarter million jobs and produces $26 billion in economic output, drawing revenue from the 5.36 million adults who use the Colorado River for recreational activities each year. They come for picnicking, trail activities, wildlife watching, camping, fishing, water sports, bicycling, snow sports, and hunting. These seemingly simple outdoor activities are major economic drivers fueling a multi-billion dollar recreation industry, and pouring millions of dollars into local businesses and state treasuries.

On April 17th, American Whitewater joined a coalition of organizations in urging Senator Diane Feinstein to protect the free-flowing Wild and Scenic Merced river and prevent it from being drown by the expansion of the New Exchequer Dam and Lake McClure. Happily, the Senator has agreed - for now - to drop her efforts to enact legislation that would have done just that. Help us thank Senator Feinstein for preserving the free-flowing nature and recreation values of the Merced, and ask her to continue to stand up for Wild and Scenic rivers into the future!

Vendor registration for the largest whitewater festival in the world, Gauley Fest, is now open! Registration is now done completely online. If you have any questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. See you there!

This is the 40th anniversary of Wildwater West Virginia, the definitive whitewater guide to the Mountain State. Bob Burrell and Paul Davidson, active paddlers who explored many of the region's rivers, wrote their book with much help from other members of the West Virginia Wildwater Association. When published in 1972 it was the best organized and most complete whitewater guidebook ever written for any state, luring a whole generation of paddlers into the marvelous West Virginia outdoors. Some of these boaters later returned to become commercial outfitters and guides, giving a big boost to the state’s outdoor tourism business. Thank you, Bob and Paul! The book has gone through five editions and four revisions and is now available as the Canoe and Kayak Guide to West Virginia.

Colorado - This month, American Whitewater would like to recognize Scott Downs as our Volunteer of the Month.  Scott is an active part of the paddling scene around Ohiopyle, PA, and has found time to provide critical information and support for our staff regarding the rapid development of oil and gas leases along Utah's Green River. Scott, Thank You for all your time and effort!

This May 4-6th, 2012, American Whitewater will be at the French Broad River Fest in Hot Springs, NC. In 2011 French Broad River Fest donated over $5,000 to American Whitewater alone! You can purchase tickets for FBRF safely and securely online. Make plans to be there and help us support AW. Check out their website for additional info. We hope to see you there!

A landmark report and guide has been released by Outdoor Alliance describing innovative ways to form successful partnerships between Federal land managers and the human powered recreation community that increase the stewardship, protection and enjoyment of America's public lands and waters. The guide is based on the outcomes of the first Outdoor Alliance Partnership Summit in December 2011, which convened 150 Federal land managers and leaders from the human powered recreation world.

Mark Singleton, American Whitewater Executive Director, recently forwarded a check to the Town of Friendsville, MD for just over $3000, the amount raised on the AW Web Site this past month. The town, which is the takeout for the Upper Youghiogheny River, is working to convert donated land into a long-term solution to a troublesome parking problem. Donations now total over $22,000 plus pro-bono services of paddling engineer Brian Jacobson valued at over $15K. Design work has already begun and we expect the parking area to be opened some time in July. Since the total estimated cost of the parking lot is $100,000, additional donations still matter. If you've already given thank you! If not, there's still time! We plan to close the Upper Yough fundraising campaign on May 1. See the fundraising page for complete info.

American Whitewater is pleased to announce that we are initiating an open hiring process for a new regional stewardship position. The Northeast Stewardship Director will represent American Whitewater in strategically selected regional river conservation and access issues.  Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

American Whitewater and affiliate club Lower Dolores Boating Advocates, recently sponsored a Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop on March 31 in Dolores, Colorado. Volunteer stewardship trainings such as this provide excellent opportunities for AW’s members and affiliate clubs to take leadership roles in river protection efforts.

Come see American Whitewater at Deerfield Fest in Charlemont, MA on July 30th! Deerfield Fest is one of AW's largest fundraising events and the Northeast's biggest whitewater festival. Plus, for vendors, booths are only $50! You can purchase one right now via our vendor registration form. Prices increase to $100 on June 22nd.

Ralph William McCarty, a pioneering outfitter on the Cheat and Youghiogheny Rivers, died last week at 92.  He was engineer by profession and an active whitewater canoeist, a founding member of the Mad Hatter’s Canoe Club of Cleveland, and an early instructor at the Western PA Whitewater School. He founded Mountain Streams and Trails (MS&T) in 1967, offering guided ducky trips on the Lower Yough, Casselman, Cheat, Upper Yough, and Lower Big Sandy. In 1968 his company ran the first commercial Cheat Canyon rafting Trips. The Cheat business grew explosively, and in the mid-70’s it was bigger than Gauley Season.  Ralph ran MS&T for 20 years. He supported many significant conservation initiatives and was always a friend of the private paddler.

In 2012 AW volunteers will  once again maintain the Sang Run river access on Maryland's Upper Yough. Our decade-long agreement with Maryland State Parks uses volunteer labor to keep your paddling costs down. An early spring required us to cut the grass several weeks before its usual time. Local kayaking legend John Regan used his tractor to grade and spread 36 tons of fresh gravel over the heavily used parking lot. He does a great job, and his work saves AW considerable money. Please continue to support us by putting money in the fee box. The suggested amounts - $2 per visit or $20 per year - have not changed since 2002. Every penny you contribute goes to maintain this access.

Blackwater Falls State Park has asked AW to remind paddlers running West Virginia’s Upper Blackwater River to sign in at Blackwater Lodge before putting on. Park Manager Rob Gilligan says that although many kayakers are complying, a significant number are not. American Whitewater believes that registration is our best interest. In addition to helping emergency responders, registration demonstrates to political leaders  that we are a responsible, law abiding group. It’s also helpful for both AW and the park to know just how many people are paddling the Upper Blackwater. By checking-in, you’re letting everyone know that this is a valuable part of whitewater sport. Take the time to do this, and remind your friends

The US Forest Service has granted a stay request reversing their decision to allow limited boating on the upper segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River (SC, GA, NC).

American Whitewater is pleased to announce that we are launching a new Northeast Regional Stewardship Program. The creation of the new program is made possible by a generous $50,000 gift, given in memory of Boyce Greer.  This move marks the next step in AW's regional stewardship model, in which regionally based staff assist the paddling community with local river conservation and access issues.

American Whitewater is seeking nominations of interested and qualified candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. We are seeking qualified candidates to begin three-year terms starting January 1, 2013.

American Whitewater recently learned that O.K. Goodwin, founder of The Coastal Canoeists (1965) and long-time AW safety chair (1970 to 1987), died on December 3, 2011. He was 90 years old. A lifelong resident of Newport News, VA, he was a designer of merchant ships (and the occasional canoe) for almost four decades. He was an instructor, Scout leader, and a whitewater competitor in C-1 and in C-2 with his wife, Glenna. They were married for 64 years and their daughter Cyndi was a top-ranked K-1W racer. He was well known on the race circuit, always there with his coiled rope at the toughest part of the course. As Safety Chair he discussed the inevitable conflicts between river-savvy paddlers and the wider, less knowledgeable society in which we all live. He pioneered outreach to state and local government and encouraged others to do the same. His work laid important an important foundation for today's American Whitewater. (Drawing by Les Fry in CoastalCaNews)

It has been a big week for the management of the Chattooga River.  The USFS released plans to allow paddling on a portion of the river beginning as early as this weekend if a laundry list of conditions are met.  Conservation-oriented paddlers appealed the new decision that unlawfully limits paddling, and anti-paddling groups may request a stay in the coming days that if granted would prevent paddling.  The mismanagement of the Chattooga is also likely to go to trial by year end. 

On March 5th American Whitewater presented Friendsville Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle with a check for $14,100, the total amount donated to our web site during the past month. Add pledges and money sent directly to the town the total is just over $18,000. Additionally, Brian Jacobson, a paddler who is also a licensed Maryland engineer, is donating services valued at over $15,000. This project marks a big step in the growing partnership between AW and the small town that has become the gateway to the Upper Youghiogheny River. It's the perfect way for river runners to show appreciation for the town's work to protect the summer release program. If your gift was part of this total, thank you! If not, there's still time! See the fundraising page for complete info.

American Whitewater participated in the White House Conference on Conservation — Growing America’s Outdoor Heritage and Economy — which took place at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.

Two federal court decisions issued in recent days favor conservation-oriented paddlers and their efforts to require fair, legal, and protective management of the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River. AW believes that the recent decisions by the court respect the interests of everyone involved. The decisions also represent another step towards restoration of paddlers’ long tradition of floating the Chattooga River.

Paddlers at the swinging footbridge put-in for Goshen Pass on Virginia’s Maury River were recently confronted with a new sign. Starting January 1, 2012, the VA State Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will require a permit to launch there. In fact, anyone accessing a Wildlife Management Area or public fishing lake must purchase an access permit; the cost is $4 daily, $23 annually for both residents and non-residents. Those possessing a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or have a current Virginia boat registration will not need to buy one.  It’s not yet clear which Virginia rivers are affected, and we need your help. Click ahead for more information.

Charity Navigator has recognized our diligence in adhering to strict financial accountability for the second straight year. It is an honor to receive this top rating two years in a row for our philanthropic efforts in river conservation. We will strive to maintain the high standards set forth by Charity Navigator and continue to earn the trust and respect of our members.

PacifiCorp has announced that they have closed the river access at Northwestern Lake Park (the take-out for the Lower White Salmon run) due to the dynamic river conditions associated with Condit Dam removal and ongoing downcutting of sediment in the vicinity of the take-out. The access will be reopened as soon as conditions stabilize.

After more than 50 years of continuous publication, the American Whitewater Journal is the longest running paddlesports publication in the world. We'd like to invite everyone reading this to be a part of the future of the Journal by checking out our 2012 Media Kit.

John L. Berry, a true whitewater pioneer, died on Aug. 11th. He was 86. Berry was an outstanding whitewater competitor during the 50's and 60's. He was National C-1 and C-2 Champion and a member of the first US Whitewater Team in 1961. In 1957 he and his long-time C-2 partner Bob Harrigan lead the first descent of West Virginia's Cheat Canyon (Shown in the photo) and the New River Gorge from Thurmond to Fayette Station. In the mid-sixities he led several trips down a pre-dam Gauley River. He was also a remarkable boat designer. In 1960 he built one of the first American closed-deck C-1's; in the '70's he created several legendary open canoes. Anyone who paddles whitewater today owes much to his work.

 

American Whitewater and AW lead volunteers that assist with Tallulah releases met with GA Power and the Tallulah Gorge State Park to discuss repairs that are taking place on the dam to repair gates damaged in a heavy rain event back in August of 2010.