Securing Safe and Lawful River Passage in Colorado
01/14/2026 - by Hattie Johnson and Kestrel Kunz
The Colorado legislative session kicks off on Wednesday January 14th and American Whitewater has already had our lobby team at the Capitol talking with lawmakers about the importance of securing legal protections for people enjoying rivers. American Whitewater, Colorado Whitewater, and the American Canoe Association founded the Responsible River Recreation Alliance this past fall and continue to grow our coalition. That group is pursuing a bill in Colorado’s 2026 legislative session to clarify the public’s lawful ability to float, scout, and portage around hazards on Colorado’s rivers to ensure public safety, the health of outdoor recreation economy, and cultural values of river towns across the state. With the session set to begin, it is a critical time for your state reps to hear from you. Please use and personalize your letter in this easy action form today!
It's Permit Season!
01/14/2026 - by Thomas O'Keefe
If you haven't started already it's time to start planning for that big multi-day trip you've been wanting to do. American Whitewater's permit database can help you find the information you need.
Join American Whitewater on the Middle Fork of the Salmon (ID)
01/13/2026 - by Bethany Overfield
American Whitewater is pleased to offer a special six-day journey on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River, widely considered one of the crown jewels of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This trip takes place July 2–7, one of the most sought-after weeks of the season for ideal flows, warm weather, and stunning wilderness scenery.
The trip will be led by renowned kayak guide Phil DeReimer and the exceptional team at ARTA River Trips. You’ll be joined on the river by American Whitewater team members Dave Steindorf and Scott Harding, with opportunities for meaningful conversation about American Whitewater’s work protecting and restoring rivers across the country.
ARTA River Trips will provide professional guides, top-tier equipment, and outstanding meals. The trip is open to those who wish to raft or kayak, though space is limited.
Comment on Steep Water Quality Cuts Proposed in New Federal Rule
12/29/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
The Clean Water Act just can’t catch a break, and neither can those of us who like our rivers to be safe for people to enjoy. Earlier this month the administration proposed a new rule that would leave about 80% of wetlands unprotected and strip basic protections from vast numbers of rivers and streams. The implicit goal of the rule is to allow for more development and pollution at the expense of our nation’s water quality, flood resilience, outdoor recreation, and ecology.
The government has heard from industry groups that want more latitude to pollute and develop streams and wetlands–and they listened. Now they need to hear from the rest of us. We make it super simple using our easy-action form to comment opposing this new rule AND send a letter to your reps in Congress letting them know the Clean Water Act is not being applied as they intended–and to step up and protect this nation’s waters! If you have an extra moment, please read more and find out how to send a personal comment directly to the agency.
American Whitewater Secures Safer, Smarter Management for Slab Creek Run (CA)
12/18/2025 - by Scott Harding
American Whitewater just secured a key decision that improves how boater use and crowding is
managed on the Slab Creek Run of the South Fork American River in Northern California. By
shifting the trigger for additional whitewater releases to better reflect how boaters actually
use the river, the decision helps protect safety and the on‑river experience as use grows on this
amazing Class IV+ run. The outcome creates a clear pathway for adding more whitewater release
days when use grows, potentially tripling the number of boatable days and adding a fall season.
📷 Darin McQuoid
2026 Advances Southeast Release Schedule Announced!
12/04/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies, and discuss any issues with the release programs. We strive to create a schedule with minimal conflicts to maximize recreational value. Below are the 2026 dates for the Class IV/V Cheoah, Nantahala Cascades & Upper, West Fork Tuck, and Tallulah rivers. Also 2026 marks the fourth year of releases on the Great Falls of the Catawba! Thankfully, none of these rivers were significantly affected by Hurricane Helene. Enjoy these releases, big thanks to all the volunteers and agency staff that make these releases possible, be safe out there, and we appreciate your support of this work.
Success: Klamath River Access Sites Staying Open (OR/CA)
11/19/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Two weeks ago, the states of Oregon and California unexpectedly announced the seasonal closure of three of the new Upper Klamath River access sites. Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls, and K’utárawáx·u were scheduled to close from November 20 through March 31 — a move that would have cut off direct access to the Big Bend Run and the K’íka·c’é·ki Canyon Run during the very season when flows are typically at their best and affected take-out access for the Keno and K’íka·c’é·ki Valley runs. Thanks to rapid engagement by American Whitewater, strong support from outfitters, and calls from many of you, both states have now reversed course. All three access sites will remain open this winter, with only short, weather-dependent closures if conditions genuinely warrant them. This is an important victory for the boating community and ensures that the public can safely reach and enjoy the newly undammed Klamath River during its prime winter and early spring season.
Senator Murray & Representative Randall Reintroduce Wild Olympics Bill (WA)
05/13/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D-WA-06) reintroduced the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, legislation that would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries—a total of 464 river miles—as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to conserve ancient forests and pristine rivers, protect clean water and salmon habitat, and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would set aside the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in over four decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. With a strong foundation of overwhelming local support, the bill has made steady progress each successive Congress—passing the House with bipartisan support twice before and passing out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Congress for the first time in the bill’s history.
Local Coalition Celebrates Commission Ruling to Protect Colorado's Waters
09/09/2022 - by Kestrel Kunz
A Big Win for Rivers in the Sierra & Sequoia National Forests (CA)!
07/25/2022 - by Theresa Lorejo-Simsiman
The Sierra and Sequoia National Forests have released final forest land management plans containing protections for 498 miles of rivers found eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Since 2013, American Whitewater has been engaged in this forest planning process with the goal of getting California's whitewater resources included in the eligibility inventory and recognized for their outstandingly remarkable values. As a tenet of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, managing agencies like the Forest Service (USFS) provide interim protections for eligible river's free flowing character and outstandingly remarkable values until they can be designated by Congress.
American Whitewater Prevails in Case to Protect the Tuolumne River
06/21/2022 - by Theresa Lorejo-Simsiman
In a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, American Whitewater and our allies prevailed to uphold the Clean Water Act in protection of the Tuolumne River. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act which requires that any utility applying for a hydropower license that may discharge pollutants into waters of the United States must receive state certification ensuring the project complies with all state standards for beneficial use, water quality, and anti-degradation of the waterway. The case brought forth by the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts (the Districts) challenged a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order upholding California’s clean water certification for the Don Pedro and La Grange Hydropower Projects located on the Tuolumne River.
It’s Finally Time to Protect Colorado’s West Slope Rivers!
08/16/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz
Today, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest Unit announced the much-anticipated release of the Draft Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft Plan materials were released on Friday, August 13, initiating a 90-day review period. The GMUG National Forest is home to gems like Oh-Be-Joyful Creek, the Taylor River, Norwood Canyon on the San Miguel, and numerous others. Many of these rivers are free-flowing and offer outstanding values, including paddling, breathtaking scenery, fish habitat, and profound history and culture. This point in the plan revision process is the most important time for the river community to engage and speak up to protect our beloved West Slope rivers in Colorado!
Black Canyon Put-In Closed for 2021 Season (CO)
04/06/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz
The National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that the East Portal Road which serves as the put-in for the Black Canyon section of the Gunnison River will be closed for maintenance for the duration of the 2021 season. While the road closure is an unfortunate obstacle for many this season, the needed maintenance of the road will lead to fewer unexpected road closures due to rockfall and will improve access to the Black Canyon for the long term. American Whitewater will track the status of the road closure and we will share an update as soon as access to the Black Canyon is reopened.
Train Operations in Eagle and Arkansas Corridors to Require Full Review (CO)
03/25/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz
This morning, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) made a much-anticipated decision on the revival of the Tennessee Pass Rail Line - a 160-mile rail line that follows the Eagle and Arkansas Rivers between Sage and Parkdale, Colorado. The STB formally rejected Colorado, Midland and Pacific Railway’s (CMPR) request to be exempt from oversight and regulation of their proposed operation on the line, which would be leased under an agreement with Union Pacific. This decision comes nearly three months after CMPR filed a notice of exemption on December 31, 2020, as people were bringing in the new year.
Help Protect Colorado’s Western Slope Rivers this Valentine’s Day
02/09/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz
American Whitewater is asking the paddling community to step up this Valentine’s Day to help protect rivers like the Taylor, Oh-Be-Joyful, and San Miguel rivers in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) in Colorado. This Valentine’s Day and for the whole month of February we are collecting LOVE LETTERS from you to your favorite river in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests. We want to hear directly from you about why you love these rivers and why they are worth protecting. We have made this easy-to-use form to submit your letter to us!
Urgent: Help Protect Browns Canyon and the Arkansas and Eagle River Valleys
01/21/2021 - by Hattie Johnson
It’s hard to imagine what it would be like if up to 10 trains full of heavy crude oil and hazardous chemicals were rumbling by while paddling the Arkansas or Eagle Rivers. It would, without question, change the experience in negative ways, including opening up the opportunity for the major disturbances associated with any kind of derailment and spill of hazardous materials into the river. We need your help today to protect these incredible places. This past New Year’s Eve, Colorado Midland and Pacific Railway filed a notice of exemption for lease and operations of the Tennessee Pass line that runs through the Eagle and Arkansas Valleys to Parkdale. You have two options to make your voice heard. We have created a sign on letter to be submitted along with American Whitewater’s’s technical comments. However, if you’ve got the time to go the extra mile, we’ve included detailed directions below to submit your own filing directly to the Surface Transportation Board. Please follow these directions carefully and copy hattie@americanwhitewater.org if you decide to file your own comments. Comments are due by January 22 - please take action today!
Gauley Season 2020
08/21/2020 - by Mark Singleton
While Gauley Fest has moved to a virtual format for 2020 due to Covid-19 and social distancing concerns, releases on the Gauley River will still take place. American Whitewater received the following open letter to boaters from the rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area. This information will keep you up to date on important management actions of the National Park Service on the Gauley River for the 2020 season.