The park system will turn 100 years in 2016 and Congress and the President are poised to take major steps to make the parks ready for their next century. Legislation is currently being considered in the House that will establish a margin of excellence at our parks consistent with the high quality of recreational and natural resources they were established to protect. Paddlers can take action today to move this bill to a floor vote.
The National Park Service is purchasing property from two West Virginia landowners to improve public access to the Gauley River. The sites, located at Woods Ferry and Mason Branch, are established put-in and take-out sites for boaters, kayakers, canoeists and rafters along the river between the public put-in at the Summersville Dam and the take-out at Swiss, almost 26 miles downstream.
Last week President Bush signed a bill making Wild Sky the first new wilderness area in Washington State in more than a quarter century. The new wilderness includes the headwaters of several whitewater runs including the North Fork Skykomish, Silver Creek, Rapid, and Beckler.
The Bear River will see flows this weekend as part of the relicensing flow studies for the Yuba/ Bear River Project. Come out and boat the release, fill out an online survey and let us know what you think of the run.
American Whitewater members can now read the latest issue of the AW Journal as a PDF online in Full Color, even before it arrives at your doorstep. Check it out now. If you aren't a curent AW member, Join Now for full access to the journal archive.
COLORADO - Effects of the Northern Integrated Supply Project, intended to provide front range cities with 40,000 acre-feet of new water from Colorado's Wild and Scenic Poudre River, are being analized by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The DEIS, which discloses the environmental impacts and provides information to decision-makers and the public, is available for comment. A set of open houses and public hearings on the project has been scheduled for this summer at which the public may provide oral or written comments. Any comments received by the Corps will be considered in determining whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for the Proposed Action.
American Whitewater urges paddlers to submit comments on the largest water project facing Colorado's Front Range in a quarter century.
On May 7, 2008, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 3094, the National Park Centennial Fund Act with support of Democrats and Republicans. Soon, it will be taken up by the full House, and a companion bill has already started its way through the Senate.
Congratulations to Steve Mills for winning the April pair of Smith Optics Sunglasses. Join or donate to be entered in for the next pair of sunglasses and the trip in Ecuador with Small World Adventures. Help AW protect rivers here in the states and you could win a trip with Small World Adventures in
American Whitewater and the Huge Experiences’
American Whitewater commissioned the consulting firm Crane Associates of
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently rejected a formal challenge of their order to remove Dillsboro Dam on the Tuckasegee River (NC). This decision clears what may be the final hurdle in the way of removing Dillsboro Dam. The decision also supports the settlement agreement that AW signed with many stakeholders in 2003 calling for the dam to be removed, and releases from upstream dams enhanced.
A mining company is proposing a new coal mine on a 588 acre tract of forest land near the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania. The controversial mine would be adjacent to Ohiopyle State Park and would affect water quality and quantity on the Yough, Morgan Run, and on other Yough tributaries. Comments are now being accepted on the proposed mine.
American Whitewater would like to recognize Randy Thompson from Down River Equipment, as our Volunteer of the Month. Working with Mark Cohen of Keen Foortwear, and Jon Kahn of Confluence Kayaks, these guys put in countless hours planning and coordinating the South Platte River Clean-up in Denver, Colorado. This years event was attended by over 180 volunteers who helped remove 4000 pounds of debris and trash from the urban river corridor.
American Whitewater has reached an aggreement with Sportsman's Paradise, granting paddlers access to Wildcat Canyon. Historically, the act of floating through club property to access Wildcat Canyon has resulted in harassment by landowners, physical assault on paddlers and criminal prosecution. The new agreement secures permission for paddlers to enter and cross club property via vehicle, in order to access public lands to the north of Sportsman's Paradise property. The agreement will undergo a trial run this season, with the goal of formalizing the arrangement for 2009; ensuring many years of fantastic paddling through Wildcat Canyon.
Releases have lowered to approximately 800 cfs as of Tuesday and will continue between 800 to 1000 cfs through next weekend. Next forecast data expected shortly after May 1, 2008 and may reflect recent high winds and lack of new precipitation leading to lower releases. Flows may rise in May, but keep reviewing updates. The most current flows are available at Department of Water Resources site, Dolores gage below McPhee. http://www.dwr.state.co.us. For proposed spills in May and June
Comments are need by May 1 on a massive, 3-decades-long, gas drilling project proposed for Desolation and Gray Canyons. This proposed project would impact the first thirty four miles of Desolation Canyon, an area renowned for its remoteness, its unimpaired beauty and its wilderness characteristics. The BLM anticipates major impacts if the project moves forward.
Boaters in the northeast have good reason to be excited this month. The Rio Project on the Mongaup River (NY) will reopen this month after being closed to recreation for nearly three years. Releases will begin this month!
Since 2007 the US Forest Service has been conducting a statewide study of all rivers in Utah’s National Forests to decide which are suitable to become Wild and Scenic Rivers. In the fall of 2008 the Forest Service is planning to release a Final Environmental Impact Statement, which will include the Forest Service’s recommendation on which of all the rivers in Utah’s National Forests the Forest Service recommends should become Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Between now and the fall of 2008 the Forest Service will be creating that list, so now is the time to add your name in support of Utah’s Renowned Rivers.
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of boating on the Ausable Chasm. The EA marks a critical milestone in the paddling community’s efforts to secure access to the beautiful Class IV Ausable Chasm. The EA fully supports year-round paddling despite the power company's request for permission to totally block all paddling. While the access plan will require several months to implement, an interim access plan could allow paddling this summer.
Colorado - The Dolores Water Conservancy District has announced it's release schedule from McPhee Reservoir, promising flows at or above 3000 cfs in May. Release estimates are approximate and updates will be made available based on emerging weather conditions, in-flow rates and reservoir levels.
Today Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) announced their plan for increasing Wild and Scenic Rivers in Oregon this year. Their vision includes adding 79.6 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers on the Mt. Hood National Forest and 142.9 miles of tributaries to the Lower Rogue Wild and Scenic River.
Recently the Administration has initiated a national rulemaking that will decide the fate of 9.3 million acres of backcountry areas in Idaho's national forests—representing the core of the last intact forest ecosystem in the lower 48 states and some of our nation's most spectacular backcountry paddling destinations. Watch the video and learn what you can do today to help protect these areas.
On Friday, March 28th, hundreds of people gathered to watch the breaching of Milltown Dam just upstream of Missoula, MT. AW staff and friends were there to video the breach and celebrate the rebirth of a great river. For the first time in a century the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers have a riverine confluence, and flow free. Learn more about this historic event and watch the video.
Ron Stewart paddled his last river on March 22nd at his home on the campus of Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN. Along the way he inspired generations and played an instrumental role in securing releases on the Tallulah River.
AW is pleased to announce the schedule for new whitewater pulse flows on the
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission overturned a previous decision they had made that would have allowed the owner of the dams, flumes, and powerhouse on Sullivan Creek to simply abandon the project. The ruling came in response to rehearing challenges filed by American Whitewater, the United States Forest Service, and the State of Washington. The decision will likely lead to the removal of at least one severely outdated dam.
Last fall a proposal surfaced to build 250 homes on a 650 acre tract of land along North Carolina's Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek. Public support for protection of the land contributed to a withdrawal of the development proposal and negotiations between a land trust and the owner. This week, it was announced that the land will be purchased by the Foothills Conservancy and transfered to public ownership!
Using data from the USFS we have published a Google Earth layer of eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers. We encourage paddlers to use this map, which can be displayed with our whitewater database in Google Earth, to learn more about their local run and agency management priorities.
American Whitewater and Clif Bar are pleased to announce the 6th annual Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Campaign, pledging $2,500 to American Whitewater Affiliate Clubs for river stewardship work. Funding for this very effective program is provided by Clif Bar. American Whitewater Affiliate Clubs have the opportunity to apply for one of two $1,250 grants. Grants will be distributed to clubs for projects that promote river stewardship, conservation, access and/or safety education on our nation’s rivers.
The Sumter National Forest told AW today to expect even more delays in the release of their Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding recreational use in the Wild and
AW stewardship projects supported by membership and partners:
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