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AW in the NorthEast

American Whitewater has been working for river enthusiasts in the Northeast for decades, with our results being flow and access to many rivers that were for years dry and/or inaccessible. With partner organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club, Merrimack Valley Paddlers, Kayak and Canoe Club of New York and New England F.L.O.W., AW volunteers are responsible for having created (previously dry) rivers that run on dozens of days per year.

Deerfield Fest - July 25th (MA)

posted July 3, 2009
by Jeffrey Paine
article photo

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.

West River Releases June 27,28!

posted June 25, 2009
by Kevin Colburn
article photo

There will be a release from Ball Mountain Dam on the West River this weekend to manage reservoir levels. Ramping will start late Friday (6/26/2009) afternoon. Flows are expected to be 1500 cfs all day Saturday and most of Sunday (definitely in the morning).

FERC Grants Seasonal Access to Ausable - AW Appeals Decision

posted June 1, 2009
by Kevin Colburn
article photo

Today, American Whitewater filed a formal challenge of a May 1, 2009 decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to prohibit public boating access to New York's Ausable River for 7 months of the year, while allowing access the other 5 months. Securing 5 months each year of public river access to this incomparable river - after decades of no access whatsoever - is certainly a major success for American Whitewater and the paddling community. While we are challenging the unfounded 7-month annual closure, we would like to thank the many paddlers and organizations that wrote FERC in favor of public access to the Ausable River over the past several years.

Hoosic Release on the Way

posted April 17, 2009
by Kevin Colburn
article photo

It is time once again for the Whitewater Release at Brookfield's Schaghticoke Development on the Hoosic River (Schaghticoke, NY). This year the release will be on the next saturday that sufficient flows occur. American Whitewater negotiated these releases, and we hope that paddlers enjoy them.

West River Update (VT)

posted April 16, 2009
by Kevin Colburn
article photo

By this time many paddlers are well aware that there will be no spring scheduled whitewater release on Vermont's West River for the first time in decades. AW and our partner groups in New England have been unsuccessful in securing these releases, after significant efforts were made over the past several months (and years). The Army Corps of Engineers decided to release the water on April 1 without alerting the paddling community of this significant change. We will continue to work with the Corps and the other agencies involved to improve communications and reach a more mutually agreeable release schedule for next spring.

Clean Water Restoration Act Reintroduced

posted April 8, 2009
by Kevin Colburn
article photo

Last week Senator Feingold (D-WI) reintroduced the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA), S. 787. This legislation will maintain the basic protection for rivers that we all appreciate and likely take for granted through restoring the reach of the Clean Water Act to headwater streams. We would like to thank Senator Feingold for looking out for one of our most basic human needs - clean water. Please call your Senator in the next week and voice your support.

American Whitewater Joins the EPA Green Power Partnership

posted April 7, 2009
by Mark Singleton
article photo

American Whitewater has joined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their Green Power Partnership. AW has purchased enough renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Clean Currents, a leading supplier of wind energy credits, to offset energy usage in our national office.

AW Calls Foul on Ausable Chasm

posted March 14, 2007
by Kevin Colburn
article photo
Today, American Whitewater sent a compaint to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding the ridiculous delays in providing public access to New York's Ausable Chasm. Letters from paddlers may help move along this woefully delayed project, and get us on the water this summer.

More News...

Upcoming Events

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American Whitewater Deerfield River Fest
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Events
American Whitewater Deerfield River Fest Charlemont,MA starts 07/25/09
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West River Release Jamaica,VT starts 09/26/09
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  (iCal)  

Associated Projects

  • Hoosic River
    American Whitewater negotiated recreational releases on a bypassed reach of the Hoosic River near Albany New York that contains both Class III and Class V opportunities.
  • Ausable River Access
    AW has fought a dam owners attempt to block access to the stunning Ausable Chasm.
  • Holtwood Dam
    Dam Owner is proposing to reduce flows and alter channel containing whitewater features as part of a FERC license amendment.
  • Saranac River
    AW used dam relicensing to advocate for land conservation, instream flows, and public access.
  • Moose River
    AW fought a proposal to dewater the Moose River beginning in 1982, and ultimately secured some of the first recreational releases in the nation.
  • Deerfield River
    The Deerfield was one of American Whitewater's first FERC relicensing victory's and remains one of the most impressive and valuable to the paddling community.
  • West River
    Paddlers have long enjoyed and defended the few recreational releases on Vermont's West River. New hydro proposals may offer opportunities or impacts.
  • Beaver Relicensing (NY)
    AW worked on restoring several boating flows to the Beaver River through a relicensing process, which concluded in 1999.
  • Black River Dam Licensing
    AW blocked the construction of a new dam on the Black and later settled for significant mitigation.