Charlene has been an integral part of the American Whitewater Chattooga Defense Team, with AW Board Member, Don Kinser and led by National Stewardship Director, Kevin Colburn. In 2004 American Whitewater appealed the revised forest plan for Sumter National Forest (SNF) which renewed the 30 year old ban because there was no basis for the ban in USFS record, law, literature, or legislation. The Chief of the USFS agreed the record was “deficient in substantiating the need to continue the ban on boating” and concluded that “No capacity analysis is provided to support restrictions or a ban on recreation use or any type of recreation user.” The Chief then directed the SNF to conduct a user capacity analysis and amend their forest plan as necessary after 2 years. This user capacity analysis is underway, but has been plagued by the following:
• Withholding critical information from AW
• Singling out boating as a new use of lesser value
• Relying on false information regarding navigability
• Refusing to adopt nationally consistent river management goals and techniques.
For her dedication and contribution to the Chattooga Defense Team, Charlene Coleman is AW’s Volunteer of the Month.
It’s important to note that Charlene is active on many other river issues (working on Saluda River issues since 1990). She still manages to log over 10,000 miles per year on her motorcycle and gives back to paddlesports through teaching, safety consulting and off color humor.