Right now there is a proposed national rulemaking to decide the fate of Colorado's backcountry roadless areas. Rivers flowing through Roadless areas in Colorado include the Los Pinos, Piedra, Hermosa Creek, Mad Creek, Saint Vrain River, Conejos River, and Lime Creek. Many additional rivers are bordered by Roadless areas that define their superb scenery and water quality. These include most notably the Upper Animas River, Cache la Poudre, Elk River, and the Taylor River. The Animas, Poudre, and Taylor Rivers are commercially rafted by large numbers of citizens, supporting significant regional economies. Your comments to the Forest Service are needed by October 23rd.
North Cascades National Park is currently revising the management plan for the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, which includes the Skagit River. As part of the planning effort the Park Service has considered a request by American Whitewater to conduct a study on the eligibility and suitability of the Skagit River for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. While the downstream section of the Skagit, which is popular for eagle floats, is designated as Wild and Scenic, what many paddlers do not know is that the well-known whitewater run upstream is not currently designated.
Right now the largest land and river protection bill in recent history is in the US Senate, awaiting action. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 (S. 3213) represents a legislative package that will protect several rivers and headwater streams that the paddling community enjoys. AW encourages you to contact your Senators.
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has recently issued a draft rule for Colorado’s National Forests that weakens and removes existing protections for backcountry roadless areas. Starting Monday, August 18th in Pueblo, the USFS is hosting a series of Open Houses to discuss the proposed Rule and to hear your comments. American Whitewater has been working with our colleagues in the Outdoor Alliance to analyze the rule and we believe that the draft rule inadequately protects those remote areas with rugged terrain that provide the highest quality opportunities for human-powered recreation.
Colorado- While the US Army Corps of Engineers is drafting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the enlargement of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County, Colorado, Denver Water is taking comments on their proposed changes to the reservoir's FERC license, including tree removal, relocating recreation facilities, and hydropower generation.
Comments on the FERC License amendment associated with Gross Reservoir Enlargement Project are due September 29th, 2008.
AW has finished our initial review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding recreation on the
The District Engineer from the US Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled an additional THIRD public hearing to be held in conjunction with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Northern Integrated Supply Project.The public hearing will be held MONDAY, JUNE 16th in Fort Collins, Colorado at 425 West Prospect Road. The open house will start at 4:00 pm, hearing to begin at 6:00 pm.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Over the years American Whitewater has improved many of our nations rivers and we want to know which one is your favorite. Starting February 1st American Whitewater is hosting a contest through YouTube to showcase your favorite American Whitewater project past or present. All you have to do is make a short video about the river and upload it to YouTube. The winning video will be seen by thousands when it opens a future episode of Lunch Video Magazine and is shown at the 08 Gauley River Festival.
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