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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.

Earlier today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new 30 year license for the Prospect Hydroelectric Project (P-2630) on the North Fork of the Rogue River in southern Oregon. FERC addressed our requests in the issuance of the new license for restored flows, public access to the river, and flow information.

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.

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  The decision will likely lead to the removal of at least one severely outdated dam.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!

Construction of Elk Creek Dam in the Rogue River basin was halted in 1988. Since that time the dam has remained as a barrier to fish and navigation. This week the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract to notch the dam this year.

Late yesterday FERC issued a letter rejecting the Preliminary Permit Application for the McKenzie River Hydro Project by Principle Power Hydro. In the letter FERC stated that the application "patently fails to conform to the Commission's regulations" and went on to cite several deficiencies with the application.

Paddlers have been negotiating a new release schedule on Maryland's Upper Youghiogheny River with Brookfield Power and other stakeholders for over one year.  The results have just been released in a new permit for the operation of the Deep Creek Dam.  This year, and for the foreseeable future, paddlers will be treated to upper Yough releases on every Saturday from mid-June through mid-September!