Feather Releases 2005

Our fourth season of Feather River Releases is underway. As in the past, release weekends will include a Saturday release on Cresta and a Sunday release on Rock Creek (Rogers Flat and Tobin). It is amazing that four years have passed since we gained this amazing whitewater resource that has changed summer boating in California. There are some changes, this season, that the boating public needs to be aware of:

• The release dates are :
  June 26th (Sunday only Rock Creek)
  July 23rd/24th
  August 27th/28th
  September 24th/ 25th
  October 15th/16th (earlier than last year)
  
• Shuttles will run on Saturday only! The shuttles will be run by Feather River College. The cost will be the same ($5.00).
• The Sunday, Rogers Flat, put-in will (as always) be for drop off only. You will need to work out your shuttle the old fashion way.
• Surveyors will be asking all boaters a few short questions. please take the time to answer them, it's important!
• All Boaters need to sign in at the AW booth at the Cresta powerhouse on Saturday and at the AW booth at Tobin Vista parking area on Sunday. This will be the count for additional release days next year!!!!
• Tobin Resort, Belden Town, Caribou Corners, Scooters Cafй, Storrie Retreat and other canyon establishments will be open for business this summer. Remember, support for them is support for you.

The North Fork Feather River continues to be one of AW's greatest successes. Thousands of paddlers from all over the country have already come to experience this jewel of California Whitewater that, thanks to AW's efforts, runs all summer. AW has also reached settlement, after a four year negotiation, on the Upper North Fork Feather River. This settlement will add an 8 mile class V reach in the spring and a 9 mile class III+ reach that will run one weekend per month all summer. Settlement negotiations are underway for the Poe reach which includes a classic 4 mile Class V reach and a 4mile class III+ reach. Wrap all of these up and you have the best Whitewater resource in the west! These victories are the result of an incredible amount of time and energy. At least one, and often two, AW representative attend monthly meetings on just the Rock Creek and Cresta reaches. Biological studies from the releases on the North Fork Feather River will determine the fate of virtually all of the negotiated releases throughout the West. Thus far, we are very pleased with the results of the 1.5 million dollars worth of studies that have been conducted, analyzing everything from frog populations to bug drift. However, without AW 's continued involvement in the review of these studies, interests opposed to recreational releases could persuade agencies to end releases here and on many of our other hard won victories on the Feather River and elsewhere. The bottom line is that by supporting AW, you support your desire to boat not only the Feather but every river in the State!! If you want to know what else AW has done for you lately, stop by the AW booth and I will let you know what else we are involved in across the country. Click here to find out more, join up and help out.

Remember; Insist on American Whitewater!!!