In May 2001, American Whitewater and the Washington Kayak Club established the Skykomish River Access Fund with $5875 from the 2001 Sky Fest. Private donations have raised the holdings of the fund to about $6625. This fund recognizes the fact that legal river access opportunities along the whitewater sections of the Skykomish River in Washington State are limited and diminishing. There are few public right-of-ways or easements, and there is little publicly owned land allowing legal access to this popular river. We are seeking to build the fund to about $20,000 in order to apply for matching funds from government agencies and private foundations, and acquire a permanent take-out facility.

You can help by sending donations to:

Sky Access Fund
c/o American Whitewater
P.O. Box 636
Margaretville, NY 12455
Please make checks payable to American Whitewater

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

American Whitewater will collect funds from our membership, affiliates, and the Rivers Council of Washington. These funds are dedicated to improving river access on the Skykomish River in Washington State. This fund is known as the "Sky Access Fund" and all donations are tax-deductible.

The primary objective for these funds will be to acquire and improve public river access sites along the Skykomish.

Secondary uses of the funds may include, but are not limited to: (1) leasing or acquiring access sites on regional whitewater rivers in Washington State; (2) developing parking, changing, or toilet facilities at new and existing river access sites on regional whitewater rivers in Washington State; (3) providing appropriate signage regarding river access in Washington State, or (4) providing legal and management fees for maintaining, developing, and acquiring river access sites in the Skykomish region.

PROJECT DURATION:

For administrative purposes, this is a 10-year project expiring on January 1, 2011.

AMERICAN WHITEWATER

The duties of the Access Director for the American Whitewater Affiliation ("American Whitewater") include locating and securing river access locations through negotiation, land agreements and transfers; tracking and influencing legislation and policies that affect river access; monitoring and developing revisions of river management plans; advocating for stronger rights of passage on rivers and navigability issues.

Founded in 1957, American Whitewater is a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Missouri, with its principal place of business in Silver Spring, Maryland. American Whitewater's mission is to conserving and restoring America's whitewater resources and enhancing opportunities to enjoy them safely.