Yesterday the US Forest Service "voluntarily withdrew" their decisions and analysis regarding their illegal ban on paddling the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River. The decisions and analysis were under intense scrutiny in the administrative appeals process, and are currently being challenged in Federal Court. The step is just the most recent in 14 years of avoidance tactics employed by local decision-makers in the agency, and will create massive additional burdens for public participants in the process.
On October 13, 2009 East Bay Municipal Utility District's (EMUD) Board Members voted to approve their Waste Supply Management Program (WSMP) 2040. Proposals to enlarge Pardee Reservoir, included in this plan, remain a threat to our whitewater interests on the Molkelumne River.
Ship Creek Canyon has been known for several years as a great Alaskan whitewater run just outside downtown Anchorage that flows through the military's Fort Richardson light-tactical training area. Recently the base has stepped up enforcement of a paddling ban and charged local paddler with trespassing on military land for paddling Ship Creek this past summer.
Due to the current weather predictions, the US Army Corps of Engineers has cancelled the public meeting scheduled for Summit County (December 8). The meeting will be rescheduled for January 2010. Stay tuned for meeting anouncement.
American Whitewater is pleased to recognize Jared Hogle as our Volunteer of the Month for December, 2009. Jared was and remains the leading local advocate for access to New York's Ausable Chasm and other regional rivers. In recognition of his efforts Jason will be receiving an OuterCore Long-Sleeve Shirt from Kokatat!
The US Army Corps of Engineers has added a public hearing on the Moffat Collection Project. Date: December 8, 2009 Location: Keystone Conference Center (0633 Tennis Club Road, Keystone, CO, 80435) Time: Open House 4:00 pm; Public Hearing begins at 6:00 pm
The deadline for our March/April edition is right around the corner. Don't miss your chance to be a part of our "Intro to Whitewater" themed issue...
The state of South Carolina is considering funding the removal of the third of three dams on Twelvemile Creek. The other two dams are already slated for removal. Take an online survey to support the full restoration of Twelvemile Creek, and the potentially great whitewater currently lost under reservoirs.
American Whitewater has been working for three years to get improved flows on the McCloud River, quite possibly the best class III/ IV wilderness run in California. In order for this to become a reality we need your support!
Earlier this year Cody Erhart, a recent landscape architecture program graduate, produced images for American Whitewater depicting what Sullivan Creek (WA) might look like following the removal of Millpond Dam. We are pleased to share these images which are a blend of science and art aimed at facilitiating discussion about the future of Sullivan Creek.
American Whitewater continues to play a leadership role in efforts to protect the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers through Wild and Scenic River designation, Wilderness designation of the federal lands along the river, and designation of state-managed forest lands as a Natural Resource Conservation Area. Paddlers can take action today to keep these efforts on track.
Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to designate the Molalla River as a Wild and Scenic River (H.R. 2781). This legislation will protect 15.1 miles of the Molalla River and 6.2 miles of the Table Rock Fork of the Molalla River in Oregon.
Each fall American Whitewater sends out an end of year appeal to members for donations. Please take some time to review the American Whitewater winter appeal letter arriving in your mailbox.
Help! If you have submitted any material for publication in American Whitewater in the past several months, there's a good chance we don't have it anymore. Due to a pernicious computer failure, we're scrambling to recover much of the content for our January/February issue now, and we don't necessarily have contact info for authors and photographers. So, if we haven't already contacted you personally to re-send your contributions, please do so as soon as possible.
The November/December issue of the AW Journal is our INFLATABLES ISSUE.
Current members - Read the Inflatables Issue of the Journal Now!
Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will be releasing 350 cfs into California's Bear River below Rollins Reservoir on Saturday, and Sunday, November 14 & 15. Releases will also happen from Wednesday to Sunday, November 18 to 22, 2009. A third release of 200 cfs will happen from November 25 to 29. NID, with the cooperation of AW, will conduct an "opportunistic flow study" to take advantage of these flows.
Boaters are getting a surprise fall boating season on the NF Feather river in California, due to dam maintainence. Poe Dam to Poe powerhouse section will have flows through November and probably into December. At the same time, a new AW online gauge has just started reporting flows in that same reach.
American Whitewater's Thomas O'Keefe will be testifying in Congress this morning (Thur Nov 5) before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
For the low price of $45, this package includes a one year membership with American Whitewater (or a one year extension to a current membership) plus a copy of Doug Ammons' book "Whitewater Philosophy"! This package deal could be the perfect gift for the whitewater paddler in your life, or a great way to renew your own membership. A year saving rivers with AW and a book from one of the highest regarded whitewater writers and paddlers in the world.
Just in time for the Holidays this year, American Whitewater will be offering two books for sale from well-known paddler and author Doug Ammons: Whitewater Philosophy and Laugh of the Water Nymph. These books are some of the most well read in the all of whitewater. What's more, purchasing these books helps support American Whitewater but also Doug's decades long efforts to support rural schools in Nepal. Check out the book links for full details.
To meet their projected future water needs, Denver Water proposes to develop 18,000 acre-feet per year of new water from the Upper
Colorado River basin. Denver Water's prefered project, currently being evaluated by the Army
Coprs of Engineers (ACOE), includes raising Gross Reservoir on South Boulder Creek in Boulder
County to store an additional 72,000 acre-feet of water from the Fraser River and Upper Colorado
basin.
AW is evaluating how severely the project will impact paddling opportunities in the Upper Colorado and Boulder Creek drainages.
For more info, attend one of three public hearings announced by the ACOE.
American Whitewater has reached agreement with Snohomish PUD and other parties to the relicensing of the Jackson Hydropower Project on the Sultan River. The future proposed license will support whitewater boating on the Sultan River and in particular the reach between Culmback Dam and the Powerhouse known as the Upper Sultan.
A private hydropower company has proposed to install hydropower generation facilities in two Army Corps of Engineers Dams on the West River (VT), including Ball Mountain Dam which provides releases into the popular whitewater section of the West. The Company, Blue Heron Hydro (BHH) is hosting a public meeting and site visit to discuss their proposal. Paddlers interested in the effects that the hydropower installation may have on the West River are encouraged to attend the meeting and site visit.
Earlier this week FERC granted a permit that gives a private company sole rights to study and seek to develop a damaging hydropower project on Montana's famed Madison River. The project would pipe water from Quake Lake around the Class IV/V Slide section of whitewater to a new powerhouse downstream. American Whitewater and regional paddling clubs have opposed this project and will continue to do so.
Earlier this week the US Forest Service cancelled their plans to allow a paltry six days of paddling on one small section of the upper Chattooga River (NC/SC/GA) this winter. As it has been for 33 years, the entire Upper Chattooga River now remains banned to all canoeing and kayaking, while all other existing uses have no limits. Conservation-oriented paddlers have challenged the overarching agency decision to ban paddling on the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River in court and in the administrative appeals process over the past two weeks.
With a prolonged maintenance outage at Nantahala Hydro Station and higher than expected rainfall Duke Energy is expecting to begin releasing water through a gate at the Nantahala Lake Dam on Monday, November 2, 2009. This management marks an opportunity for paddlers to enjoy the Class IV+ Cascades and Class III+ Upper Nantahala, and is likely to last until late December.
Last week legislation (H.R. 1593) to protect Illabot Creek as a Wild and Scenic River passed the House of Representatives.
It's really rather simple - human-powered
outdoor pursuits need a healthy climate. If the climate is out of balance, then our favorite
ways to enjoy the outdoors can go from being degraded to actually disappearing. Check out a new
short video on the topic, and consider taking action.
After a two-year drought in the southeast, Tallulah releases are on track for this fall. Scheduled releases occur the first three weekends in November. Release dates for November 2009 are 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22. On Saturday 500 cfs is released and on Sunday 700 cfs.
Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacobi recently featured the Atlanta Whitewater Club's clean up of the Ocoee River in his "Gold to Green TV" video series. The featured clean up was assisted by a 2008 Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Grant provided through American Whitewater.
Ready for your viewing pleasure, you can now purchase the American Whitewater 2010 Calendar! A huge thanks goes out to all the many AW members who submitted their photos.
And the winners are: River Gypsies Mexico Trip: Samuel Wells of Fountain Hills, AZ. Small World Adventures Ecuador Trip: Helen and Gary Plummer of Salinas, CA. Thanks to all our members that joined, renewed or donated during this contest, we really appreciate your support!
Conservation-oriented kayakers and canoeists sought protection in federal court on Wednesday from an illegal decision by the United States Forest Service involving the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River. The USFS decision, which was the culmination of a 2004 administrative appeal by American Whitewater, makes it a federal crime for paddlers to float the northernmost 21 miles of the River and its tributaries except on a limited seven-mile section during 6 or fewer days per year.
American Whitewater is pleased to announce Bill Cross as our 2009 River Steward of the Year. American Whitewater annually awards this honor to a single volunteer who has shown exceptional dedication to our river stewardship mission, and who has recently reached a major milestone in their efforts. In addition to our appreciation the AW River Steward of the Year Award comes with a Jackson kayak.
American Whitewater would like to recognize Michelle "Mac" Miller as our October Volunteer of the Month. Mac was an outstanding volunteer at this year's Gauley Fest volunteering a ton of time to help us put on the event. She was tireless in her efforts and always met every challenge with a friendly smile and remarkable determination. Thanks Mac!
If you have the day off, can get the day off, have a furlough day or can even call in sick we need boaters at the October 13th EBMUD Board of Directors Meeting where they will vote to certify the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for their Water Supply Management Plan 2040.
Thanks to the awesome work of AW's many supporters, American Whitewater has won New Belgium Brewing's $10,000 Skinny Dip for a Cause grant! The final voting results put AW ahead of the closest contestant by almost 1000 votes. No doubt a testament to the wonderful support we're so honored to have from our members.
Our January/February issue is going to highlight our members' tales from the steep, tight, and technical. Got a story to share? We'd love to hear from you. The catch? Deadline to submit material is Monday, October 26th, so start writing up your adventures today.
Here's the complete list of winners in AW's Summer Membership Drive for September. Stay tuned for the grand prize winners announcement on Oct. 15th!
If you want to obtain a permit to float the Selway, Snake, Middle Fork of the Salmon, or wild main Salmon Rivers in 2010, you need to know about changes coming in the Forest Service permit lottery and launch reservation system. The Four Rivers Lottery is going "green", incorporating an entirely online system as part of our desire to go paperless.
The 2009 Whitewater Symposium will be held at Zoar Outdoor on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts. The Symposium seeks to advance the sport of whitewater paddling by bringing together key players from all aspects of the whitewater spectrum including freestyle, river running, racing, rescue and playboating.
Another year, another awesome American Whitewater Gauley Fest presented by Subaru! Gauley Fest is of major importance to AW as it's our biggest fundraising event. All the funds raised at this national level event go back to funding AW's River Stewardship work all over the United States. A huge thanks goes out to all our volunteers that helped out, people who attended and vendors that setup!
Right now the State of Colorado is accepting input on a management proposal for unroaded backcountry areas on Forest Service land including lands along Los Pinos, Piedra, Hermosa Creek, Mad Creek, Saint Vrain River, Conejos River, Lime Creek, Upper Animas River, Cache la Poudre, Elk River, and the Taylor River. Even though Americans already decided to protect ALL roadless areas in the Forest System through a federal plan in 2001, a plan that has been upheld in recent court decisions, the state continues to push a plan that includes some troubling provisions that impact the backcountry experience our community enjoys.
There is incredible potential for the White Salmon River to once again be home to abundant wild salmon and steelhead populations and a new whitewater run. But before this vision can be realized, the 95-year old, 125-foot Condit dam, which blocks fish passage and innundates a section of river awaiting a future first descent, must be removed. The Washington State Department of Ecology is currently accepting comment on one of the last permits the dam owner needs to make removal a reality.
Show your support of American Whitewater and your love of the Feather River by volunteering some time at the Festival!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced recently that there is sufficient reservoir storage behind Francis E. Walter Dam to complete all planned whitewater releases for 2009.
Great news, this year's American Whitewater Gauley Fest presented by Subaru will feature an awesome AW Members-only game of Rock, Paper, Scissors for over $3,500 of awesome gear (including a new Liquidlogic kayak!). Woody Callaway of Liquidlogic kayaks will be heading up this fun and friendly "competition" that's open to AW members only. Stop by the Liquidlogic booth at 9:15PM to participate, just make sure your membership is current by then, otherwise you can't play and win!
American Whitewater would like to recognize Bob Taylor as our September volunteer of the month. Bob has been a major volunteer dedicating hundreds of hours over the years to Deerfield Fest benefiting AW. He's worked tirelessly with all aspects of the festival from electrical, field setup, booth work and cleanup. Moreover, Bob is well known in the local paddling community as an excellent boater who's always willing to help teach beginning boaters the ropes. On top of all that, Bob's just a really cool guy. Thanks Bob!
Are you one of AW's Summer Membership Drive Winners for August? Read the full article and see if you've won! Don't worry, there's still time to get in on the contest. Join, Renew or make a donation (if you're already current) today!
American Whitewater received an open letter to boaters from the National Park Service outlining Gauley River access for 2009. For the last decade AW has leased the open field at Mason Branch for private boater parking - we are leasing the field again this year. These are your AW dues at work!
"Current" members you can Read the Canoe Issue of the Journal Now! In order to read the online version, you must be registered with the AW website and have your membership associated with your website user account.
CANCELLED--September 5, 6, 7 Bear River Study Flow
Based on recent scouting trips on the Bear River below Drum Power House, AW, PG&E and NID have agreed that the boating flow study of the Drum Power House and Dutch Flat Power House reaches on the Bear River is to be postponed until 2010. Based on recent scouting trips, the reaches have a level of difficulty and a level of potential hazard that will require better information regarding the reach, and a more controlled study than the "opportunistic" study that we had planned.
Currently, New Belgium Brewing Company is running a contest among water advocacy groups. The top vote recipient is eligible for a $10,000 grant. Please go to their website and vote for American Whitewater and help us restore more rivers!! http://www.newbelgium.com/skinnydip
American Whitewater is asking our members, particularly those living in Oregon to take action to protect the Wild Rogue. The Rogue River Wilderness and Rogue River Wild and Scenic River represents one of Oregon's most treasured natural landscapes. Legislstion in Congress (H.R. 2890 and S. 1271) will provide more comprehensive protection for the river corridor for future generations.
Since 2007, American Whitewater has negotiated with various state agencies and urban water providers intent on developing new management criteria for the headwaters of the Colorado River, that threaten to allow water providers to nearly dry-up the river without protecting instream flows necessary for fish, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts. For two years, American Whitewater has been the lone recreation voice in these negotiations, and we have had measurable success protecting the Colorado River.
Public Notice - Regional Watershed Supply
Project proposed by Million Conservation Resource Group.
The U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers announces the scoping comment period for the Flaming Gorge/Green River Pumpback has
been extended to September 28, 2009.
After considerable delay, US Forest Service officials announced a final decision on managing recreation uses on the upper Chattooga River and released the Environmental Assessment.
The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comments on a proposal to permit a "Heritage Center" interpretive site on 20 acres in the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River corridor in South Carolina. The proposal includes new construction, use of pesticides and introduction of a new user group to the Wild and Scenic River corridor where kayaking and canoeing is currently banned.
By the end of September, the Upper Colorado River Stakeholders Group will submit a local resource management plan alternative for the US BLM's Kremmling and Glenwood Springs Field Offices. American Whitewater has worked for over two years to represent paddlers in the negotiations, ensuring the plan explicitly protects flows that support a range of outstanding boating opportunities in Gore Canyon, Pumphouse, and Glenwood Canyon. The alternative plan crafted by the group seeks to balance permanent protection for recreational values in the Colorado River; water project yield; flexibility for water managers; and certainty for stakeholders.
This September 18th, spend a day paddling with Anna Levesque on the Lower Gauley and raise money for AW! If you haven't heard of the Ladies of the Lower G event it's an annual event that Anna Levesque of Girls at Play and North American River Runners (NARR) put on around Gauley Fest. All the ladies who sign up spend the day boating down the Lower Gauley with Anna and others for the low, low price of just $40 (which includes shuttle and lunch). To sign up call NARR at 1-800-950-2585 and reserve your spot soon!
Everyone loves to attend the world's biggest paddling festival: the American Whitewater Gauley Fest presented by Subaru. However, what most people don't realize is that outside AW's 8 full-time employees, it's a completely volunteer run event! AW sure could use your help. Please sign up for 2 hours (or more) and become a part of the Gauley Fest Volunteer Team!
Annual fall releases on Piru Creek in southern California will begin on September 10 this year and last for almost 2 months. Escorted access to the upper put in will be provided at a specific time (to be announced) on weekends.
We put up a Facebook event page for the 2009 Gauley Fest. Check it out and share with your friends. See you there!
There will be a whitewater release on the Rock Creek Reach of the Feather river this weekend (8/22-23).
A short note regarding summer flows on the Pit River. Releases of about 850 cfs will be happening Saturday and Sunday, August 29 & 30.
Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill (SB 670) placing a moratorium on suction dredge mining in California. This is a huge victory for paddlers, anglers, and anyone who enjoys California's rivers.
The 19th annual Feather River Festival (CA) will be held during the scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2009. The fund-raiser event for American Whitewater is hosted by local paddling club, the Chico Paddleheads.
Fifty years ago today a 7.3 magnitude earthquake triggered a massive rockslide that dammed Montana's Madison River and buried a Forest Service campground beneath 80 million tons of rock. Recently, a power company pitched a plan to divert water from the lake that was formed behind the slide to a powerhouse in the valley below, which would severely impact the river. American Whitewater, Beartooth Paddlers, and the Jackson Hole Kayak Club filed comments last week introducing legal, recreational, and ecological arguments against the project.
Clif Bar and American Whitewater teamed up for the 7th year in a row to offer AW's Affiliate Clubs the chance at two $1,250 grants to go towards a worthy river stewardship project. This year saw a bunch of great submissions, in the full article we reveal the 2009 recipients.
As part of the Yuba Bear / Drum Spaulding
Relicensing Boating Flow
Study, PG&E and NID will be providing flows on the Bear
River CA reaches below Drum Afterbay and
Dutch Flat Afterbay for opportunistic flow
studies over the Labor Day Weekend.
After several years of anticipation, Hemlock Dam removal on Trout Creek in the Columbia Gorge is underway. The crews are out doing the final work on restoring the historic channel and if all goes well over the next couple days water will once again flow over beautiful river-polished bedrock that was buried under a reservoir for decades.
American Whitewater was featured prominently in a New York Times article about the benefits of dam removal to whitwater paddlers. The story is a great example of what's good for a river is also good for recreation, habitat, fish and local communities.
This is the classic Class V whitewater race on the Upper Colorado River that brings together the finest whitewater rafters, kayakers and paddlers of all types of river craft. As always the race is open to all boaters willing to take on some of the best Class V whitewater in the state of Colorado.
Spectators are welcome but remember: stay off the railway tracks!
Join your friends for this one day event at Ohioplye State Park in western Pennsylvania. American Whitewater will be hosting the annual Ohiopyle Falls Fest on August 22, 2009.
Are you one of AW's Summer Membership Drive Winners for July? Read the full article and see if you've won!
Don't worry, there's still time to get in on the contest. Join, Renew or make a donation (if you're already current) today!
American Whitewater recognizes Jason Bliler as our August Volunteer of the Month.
Jason was instrumental in helping coordinate American Whitewater's activities at this years FIBArk Festival in Salida, Colorado. FIBArk was again a great opportunity to learn more about AW's work in Colorado and across the country, and we want to thank Jason for making it possible. Jason volunteered five long days to helping AW grow it's membership and support through movie premiers, fundraising events, and opportunities for Q&A at AW's riverside booth. Thanks Jason and Kristine, and we look forward to another great year in 2010!
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is currently investigating opportunities for restoring natural functions to the Connecticut River Watershed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. TNC's efforts are focused on reconnecting rivers and streams, restoring floodplain forests, and managing flows for people and nature. AW is working with TNC, and we are hopeful that this process will benefit several whitewater rivers and their enjoyment.
Paddle rafters, catarafters, IKers, and inflatable paddlers of all kinds, our issue celebrating inflatable paddlers--their unique approach to whitewater, their accomplishments, and their culture--is coming up soon. Deadline for submitting material for the Inflatible Issue is August 31. Please contact the editor directly at editor@americanwhitewater.org
The National Forest Service is currently in the process of implementing a new river management plan for the Wild and Scenic Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. The USFS proposes to maintain all exisiting designated roads but take steps to curtail off-road use that is damaging ecological and recreational values of the river corridor. Today, American Whitewater submitted a letter to the USFS in support of their proposed actions.
Earlier this year, the Idaho Legislature passed new legislation to provide funding for programs aimed at preventing the introduction of invasive aquatic species in Idaho. The new law requires boaters, both motorized vessels and non, to contribute to the Idaho Invasive Species Fund. For most paddlers, this means that you must purchase a $5 sticker for each boat you intend to paddle in Idaho each year, and stop at a boat inspection station each time you enter the state where an inspection station exists.
On Friday, July 24, 2009, American Whitewater signed a settlement agreement with South Carolina Electric & Gas Company and a suite of other organizations and agencies that resolves issues regarding the management of Lake Murray Dam for the next 50 years. Lake Murray Dam regulates flows in the popular Saluda River, as it flows through Columbia, South Carolina. AW was represented by Charlene Coleman throughout this process and the exciting agreement signed last week is a testament to her hard work and creativity.
TVA is gathering information from stakeholders on how to meet the needs of the Tennessee Valley and its residents for energy, environment, natural resource management and recreation. As users of public lands and waters, please tell TVA what you think. Please submit your comments by August 14, 2009.
On June 30, 2009 a report was released that definitively finds that the high flow events that paddlers use on the Cheoah River have no significant biological or stream channel impacts that need to be addressed. American Whitewater is very pleased that the releases on the Cheoah are a good thing for the river, as predicted, and will continue to work to restore the Cheoah River.
Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief of the National Forest System, recently provided American Whitewater with a brief update on the status of the long-overdue management plan for the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River, located in NC, SC, and GA. Mr. Holtrop offered that at this time the USFS is expecting to issue a final decision by the end of summer. Mr. Holtrop also stated that "Most recently, we have been conducting an extensive legal review to ensure that we have addressed all relevant concerns."
Last summer and fall, and then through the winter and spring, AW worked with Licensees NID and PG&E to conduct "opportunistic flow studies" on numerous reaches within the Yuba Bear Drum Spaulding Relicensing project area. Surveys filled out by boaters are an important part of the "Recreational Flow Study" that is being conducted as part of the Relicensing process (Photo of Canyon Creek by Daniel Brasuell).
July 25th Immersion Research and Wilderness Voyagers will be hosting the 29th Annual Upper Yough Race - with the proceeds going to American Whitewater!
Challenge the exciting Upper Yough and help raise a few bucks for American Whitewater at the same time. There will be classes for everything from Wavehoppers to short boats and even a team class for three paddlers where at least one must be female. What's more is each racer gets a cool t-shirt and everyone is invited to a fun party afterwards. It will surely rock.
The Chelan Gorge Recreational Releases present whitewater boating opportunities that will be available for two weekends this July. American Whitewater has invested more than a decade of effort into bringing this opportunity to the paddling community of the Pacific Northwest, and we are excited to kick off the first weekend of releases. All paddlers considering this run need to carefully evaluate their skill level and understand that continued access to this river and the opportunity depends on our ability to safely enjoy it.
Last summer and fall, and then through the winter and spring, AW worked with Licensees NID and PG&E to conduct "opportunistic flow studies" on numerous reaches within the Yuba Bear Drum Spaulding Relicensing project area. Surveys filled out by boaters are an important part of the "Recreational Flow Study" that is being conducted as part of the Relicensing process.
Are you one of AW's Summer Membership Drive Winners for June? Read the full article and see if you've won!
Don't worry, there's still time to get in on the contest. Join, Renew or make a donation (if you're already current) today!
Gauley Fest is coming up (Sept. 18-20) and it's time for vendors to send in their registration forms.
Each year we pack Gauley Fest with vendors from all over the country and always have to turn away applicants as we only have so many spaces. So, don't delay and miss your chance to be a part of the nation's biggest paddling festival.
This year, prices will go up 15% for all booth registrations after September 1st.
The State Legislature has proposed amendments to Senate Bill SB 14 and AB 64 that would allow Hydropower to be imported from out-of-state sources (including Canada and Mexico), as well as change the mega-wattage RPS qualifications for existing Hydropower in both California and out-of-state sources from 30mw to 50mw. AW needs paddlers to write comment letters a.s.a.p.
AW is asking you to make a special effort on a critically urgent matter. Certain members of the legislature and the administration are attempting to pass a combined water bill package through the legislature that will provide for a "water czar" and tens of billions of dollars in fees and bonds to construct a peripheral canal and more dams. We are very concerned as to the implications this may have on the delta.
Come see American Whitewater at this year's Deerfield Fest July 25th in Charlemont, MA.
After 15 years, Deerfield Fest keeps gettting better! The fest will have no shortage of things to do and will feature vendors, food, boats, a silent auction, plus - and most importantly - the chance to begin or renew an AW membership! Not to mention all the proceeds of the event go towards funding American Whitewater's river stewardship.
American Whitewater would like to recognize John Regan as our July volunteer of the month.
John did the tractor work spreading gravel and brush-hogging to help, along with others, in maintaining the Upper Yough access area. This acess area, owned by the State of Maryland, has been maintained by American Whitewater volunteers for the last 8 years. John has been instrumental spearheading this work so all paddlers can enjoy the excellent Upper Yough. Thanks John!
Last week FERC approved a whitewater recreation plan for the North Fork Rogue. We are pleased to be working with PacifiCorp who has committed to immediately implementing the plan and providing the whitewater recreational opportunities this summer.
Features articles on:
* Whitewater of the Sea
* It's Nile or Never!
* Women's Canoe Headed for Int'l Competition
. . . .and much more
"Current" Members Read the Journal Now! (In order to read the online version, you must be registered with the AW website and have your membership associated with your website user account.)
On June 18th the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new 50 year license for several dams on the Spokane River, near Spokane Washington and Post Falls Idaho. The license is based on several years of intense negotiations between the power company, tribes, agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, Northwest Whitewater Association, and American Whitewater were involved on behalf of paddlers. The results of the new license are significant, and paddlers will certainly notice some positive changes in the not too distant future.
American Whitewater is pleased to announce the 2009 release program for West Rosebud Creek, located in Montana's beautiful Beartooth Mountains. Paddlers should expect optimal boating conditions on weekends beginning sometime in early to mid July and these conditions will likely continue well into August. Read this article to learn how to predict flows, and enjoy West Rosebud safely!
This spring Lewis County PUD released a Draft Study Report for Chehalis River Water Retention Facilities. If implemented, the plan calls for the construction of two dams including a 220 foot high and 1960 foot wide dam on the mainstem of the Chehalis River and another slightly smaller dam on the South Fork Chehalis. This project would inundate a whitewater river along with high quality salmonid habitat.
Over the past several months American Whitewater has been participating in mediated settlement negotiations regarding the fate of two dams that are part of the Sullivan Creek hydroproject, which has not generated power in over half a century. The negotiation team is exploring opportunities for enchancing the management of Sullivan Lake in a manner that benefits both recreation and the environment, and is considering options including removal for Millpond Dam.
Front Page News