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.
American Whitewater has restored boater access to the Hoosic River at Schaghticoke through negotiations with Brookfield Renewable, operator of the hydro project. Brookfield had constructed a fence and locked gate that prevented paddlers from accessing the river below the dam. Negotiations with Brookfield over the past year resulted in a resumption of scheduled releases in the spring, and in addition, new procedures for boaters to gain access when natural flows are high enough for boating.
American Whitewater, along with Kayak and Canoe Club of New York and Appalachian Mountain Club, have joined with FERC in calling on Eagle Creek Renewable, owner and operator of three hydropower projects on the Mongaup River in New York, to conduct a whitewater boating study on section below the Rio Dam. The Mongaup is a scenic Class II/III river within easy reach of New York City and southern New England. Both whitewater groups and FERC are seeking to determine whether releasing flows into the natural river channel below the Rio Dam would provide new recreational boating opportunity at the Rio Project. The study will determine whether the whitewater boating run can be extended upstream to the Rio Dam. In addition, AW and its partners will be seeking additional whitewater boating release days through the relicensing process.
Northeast boaters can celebrate that another beloved whitewater gem has been protected. Paddlers on the Winnipeseaukee River are now assured that the put-in on the Lower Winni in Northfield, NH will be forever protected thanks to the donation of a parcel from Gloria Blais in memory of her husband Roger. Gloria donated the land to the Town of Northfield for the purpose of assuring that future generations of boaters will have access to the river. Protecting river access to the Winni is part of an ongoing effort by AW in the northeast region to protect river access.
In response to of the state’s draft basin plan for southern Vermont, American Whitewater and scores of boaters pressed the state to support the expansion of releases on the West River. Restrictions by the Corps of Engineers and Agency of Natural Resources have led to the elimination of nearly all scheduled boating opportunities on the West River over the past two decades, eliminating recreation opportunity and hurting the local economy. AW and its partners have been working to restore these releases.
In response to requests by American Whitewater, several affiliates, and other stakeholders, FERC directed Brookfield Renewable to study the impact of its hydropower operations on whitewater boating on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts. Boating groups and our supporters are seeking to determine optimal whitewater boating flows from the Fife Brook Dam and whether changes in hydropower operations would enhance boating opportunities, access and navigation.
American Whitewater, along with other paddling groups and outfitters, filed comments with FERC responding to the Whitewater Boating Evaluation at Turners Falls on the Connecticut River. The study showed that there is strong demand for boating on this section of the Connecticut River if sufficient flows, scheduled releases, better access, and real-time information are provided. The groups filed the comments in order to provide additional information for the environmental review and to respond to the unsupported statements by FirstLight, the utility performing the study, claiming that there is little demand for boating at Turners Falls.
A hardy group of northeast boaters climbed into the natural river channel below a hydropower dam to participate in a flow study designed to assess whether whitewater flows should be restored to this dewatered river reach on the Connecticut River. While significant obstacles remain, this site has the potential for providing instruction, playboating, and a big water feature that that could be run throughout much of the year and provide a much needed boost to the local economy.
American Whitewater and Merrimack Valley Paddlers have reached an agreement to purchase a 10-acre parcel fronting on Contoocook River in Henniker, NH. The land serves as an important launch point for whitewater paddlers enjoying the popular section of the river that runs from Hillsborough to Henniker. This section of the Contoocook River contains rapids ranging in difficulty from Class II to Class IV.
September 2018 |
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Raquette Release Schedule
08:00 am -5:00 pm est full release 10am - 3pm720-720 cfs
Beaver - Taylorville Section Release
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs |
2
Beaver Releases (Moshier Section)
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs
Beaver Releases (Eagle Section)
1:00 pm -5:00 pm est 200-200 cfs |
3
Beaver - Taylorville Section Release
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs
Raquette Release Schedule
08:00 am -5:00 pm est
Beaver Releases (Eagle Section)
1:00 pm -5:00 pm est 200-200 cfs |
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Beaver Releases (Eagle Section)
1:00 pm -5:00 pm est 200-200 cfs
Beaver - Taylorville Section Release
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs |
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Beaver - Taylorville Section Release
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs
Beaver Releases (Eagle Section)
1:00 pm -5:00 pm est 200-200 cfs |
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Beaver Releases (Eagle Section)
1:00 pm -5:00 pm est 200-200 cfs
Beaver - Taylorville Section Release
10:00 am -2:00 pm est 400-400 cfs |
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NY, Salmon River Release |
Lake Ontario,NY
runs 06/23/07 - 09/02/12 [+] favorites |
Kennebec Releases |
The Forks,ME
runs 05/01/08 - 10/07/17 [+] favorites |
Penobscot: Canada Falls |
Rockwood,ME
runs 07/05/08 - 09/21/13 [+] favorites |
Magalloway Releases |
Oxford County,ME
runs 06/28/08 - 09/03/17 [+] favorites |
Dead River Releases |
The Forks,ME
runs 10/05/13 - 10/01/16 [+] favorites |
Ashuelot Race and Release |
Gilsum,NH
runs 05/03/08 - 05/03/08 [+] favorites |
Blackwater Releases |
Webster,NH
runs 04/18/08 - 04/20/08 [+] favorites |
Millers Releases |
Erving,MA
runs 04/12/08 - 04/14/13 [+] favorites |
Lower Otter Brooke Releases |
Roxbury,NH
runs 03/29/08 - 05/04/08 [+] favorites |
Westfield Releases |
Huntington,MA
runs 03/28/08 - 04/21/13 [+] favorites |
Potential Hoosic River Release (NY) |
Schaghticoke,NY
runs 04/16/08 - 04/16/08 [+] favorites |
Suncook Fall Release |
Barnstead NH,NH
runs 10/04/08 - 10/04/08 [+] favorites |
West River Release |
Jamaica,VT
runs 04/26/08 - 09/28/13 [+] favorites |
Beaver Releases (Moshier Section) |
Beaver,NY
runs 09/04/16 - 09/02/18, next 09/02/18 [+] favorites |
Beaver - Taylorville Section Release |
Lowville,NY
runs 09/03/16 - 09/22/18, next 09/01/18 [+] favorites |
Hoosic River release |
Hoosic,NY
runs 04/21/04 - 04/16/11 [+] favorites |
Deerfield, Zoar Gap/Fife Brook Releases |
Fife Brook,MA
runs 07/29/05 - 10/10/16 [+] favorites |
Deerfield Dryway/Monroe Schedule |
Deerfield,MA
runs 05/24/08 - 10/09/16 [+] favorites |
Bottom Moose Releases |
Lyons Falls,NY
runs 04/17/16 - 10/28/18, next 04/22/18 [+] favorites |
Esopus Whitewater Funfest |
Phoenicia,NY
runs 06/02/12 - 06/03/12 [+] favorites |
Rapid River Release |
Upton,ME
runs 07/13/12 - 08/13/17 [+] favorites |
Farmington River Release |
New Boston,MA
runs 09/05/04 - 09/28/13 [+] favorites |
4th Annual Spring Black Moose Event |
Lyons Falls, NY,NY
runs 05/10/13 - 05/12/13 [+] favorites |
Esopus Whitewater Funfest |
Phoenica,NY
runs 06/01/13 - 06/02/13 [+] favorites |
1 Turbine Release |
Glen Spey,NY
runs 04/20/13 - 10/05/13 [+] favorites |
Deerfield Fest |
Charlemont,MA
runs 07/12/14 - 06/25/17 [+] favorites |
Black-Moose Kayak Event Spring Kayak Fest |
Lyons Falls,NY
runs 05/16/14 - 05/18/14 [+] favorites |
Whitewater Triple Crown |
Tarrifville,CT
runs 07/22/16 - 07/24/16 [+] favorites |
Deerfield Festival Weekend |
Charlemont,MA
runs 06/24/16 - 06/26/16 [+] favorites |
Raquette Release Schedule |
Colton,NY
runs 07/09/16 - 09/03/18, next 07/07/18 [+] favorites |
Beaver Releases (Eagle Section) |
Beaver,NY
runs 09/04/16 - 09/22/18, next 09/02/18 [+] favorites |
AW, VPC Intervene in Green River (VT) Relicensing
January 6, 2014
Two Weekend Releases Cancelled Due to Low Water
August 3, 2012
AW Working to Maintain West Canada Creek (NY) Flows
August 30, 2012
AW Opposes CT Farmington River Diversion
January 17, 2013
Waiting for Rain on the Missisquoi (VT)
May 10, 2013
AW Files Comments on CT River Study Plans
July 23, 2013
Gauley River (WV) Information for 2013
August 25, 2013
AW Completes Purchase, Donation of Contoocook River Access (NH)
October 3, 2013
Missisquoi River Releases a Long Time Coming
November 18, 2013
AW Testifies on Vermont Low-Impact Hydro
February 5, 2014
Adirondacks Whitewater Releases Scheduled
March 31, 2014
Deerfield River (MA) Access for 2014 Season
May 14, 2014
Connecticut River Flow Studies Planned for Summer
June 4, 2014
Annual Deerfield Riverfest Planned for July 11th
May 29, 2015
Boaters Enjoy Annual West River (VT) Release
September 29, 2015
AW Responds To Connecticut River Boating Study (MA)
November 18, 2015
Northeast Boaters Seek To Expand West River (VT) Boating
December 6, 2015
Vermont Opposes Whitewater Boating on the Green River
February 10, 2016
AW/VPC Appeal Vermont Move to Restrict Boating on Green River
September 8, 2016
Protecting Access to New Hampshire Rivers
November 3, 2016
Hoosic River (NY) Whitewater Releases Are Back!
April 7, 2017
AW, FERC Call for Mongaup (NY) Boating Study
August 7, 2017
Hoosic River (NY) Access Restored
December 21, 2017
NY Whitewater Release Schedule
March 13, 2018
Complete Recreation Plan Document with Appendices.