American Whitewater is reaching out to our membership to encourage participation in a study of boating conditions and recreation safety conducted by consultants working with the Yakama Nation Fisheries program. The study reaches include Nason Creek (RM 0–19) in the Wenatchee River sub-basin, and the lower Chewuch River (RM 0-20) and the lower Twisp River (RM 0-8) in the Methow Valley. These are rivers in the Upper Columbia Basin identified for potential restoration of salmon habitat.

 

Take the Survey

 

Nason Creek

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NTL7Y2H

 

Chewuch and Twisp Rivers

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NN7LW79

 

Background

 

American Whitewater has enjoyed a great working relationship with the Yakama Nation, most recently with Condit Dam removal and restoration of the White Salmon River. We are pleased that they are proactively reaching out to the recreational user community as an initial step in planning for restoration projects.

 

The overall purpose of the study is to identify known and anticipated river users and evaluate riverine hazards as habitat restoration projects are planned and implemented. To accomplish this, the Yakama Nation is surveying known river users, and evaluating existing large wood and other safety-related conditions under a range of surface flow conditions during spring and summer. This project questionnaire is the primary tool to help learn about boaters' experience on the subject river reaches, user skill levels and levels of use, known and perceived river hazards, and relative levels of support for salmon habitat restoration and related river management activities. Data collected as part of this study will be used to inform the design, location and implementation of restoration projects, as well as related management and mitigation strategies.