Ausable
7. Ausable Chasm to US Route 9(Ausable Chasm)
Alerts
Log in to add an alertNYSEG has infomed us that the Rainbow Falls access to Ausable Chasm will be closed therough July of 2026 in order to complete construction of improvements to address significant undermining that was identified at the whitewater access stair foundations. Check the NYSEG website before you go. We share your frustrations with this ongoing access closure. https://www.nyseg.com/w/ausable-river?p\_l\_back\_url=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dausable%2520river
Note that the power company is planning to close the public access area for all of the 2024 paddling season because they are replacing the stairs down to the river. American Whitewater is seeking intervention by federal regulators to eliminate or more narrowly tailor the closure. Stay tuned!
To close out the 1st season some of my opening day crew paddled the Ausable around 850 cfs Oct,2010...there was a significant strainer in the middle of Mike's. Be very careful. It could shift right into the mouth of the hole. @850 they were able to scout from rocks on the left. The Chasm is now closed for the winter 2010, starting nov 1st. Next Spring we need to see if the winter ice drags the tree out of there. The Ice has removed huge steel I-beams so I'm very hopeful. Side note these guys love the middleburry Gorge, Big Branch, and are up for just about anything......I think 850cfs is getting some talk now as the Normal sane high water run limit. Mike's hole itself (not the wood) was the reason for this thinking. I'm sure boaters will do it higher but I thought I'd pass the thinking of some local guys that push 5+ but not insanely so. nobody knows where the steel is down there so getting a beatdown there and swimming out deep out of the hole is not a real pleasant idea.
Articles
Jun 5, 2012
Ausable River Access Open for 2012
New York State Electric and Gas opened their gate to the Ausable River on May 25, 2012, and will continue to provide access through October 31, 2012. Public access to […]
May 27, 2011
Ausable River to Open – Wood Hazards Likely (NY)
The power company’s gate will be unlocked this Saturday on the Ausable River, granting access to the Ausable Chasm, and will remain open until the end of October. Currently flows […]
Jul 20, 2010
Ausable River Access Update
American Whitewater’s decade-long efforts to secure legal access to New York’s incomparable Class IV/V Ausable Chasm reached a major milestone on June 19, 2010 when New York State Electric and […]
Jun 21, 2010
Ausable Chasm Company Resists Public Access
Last weekend marked a major success for the paddling community: federally mandated river access at the power company lands at the put in for the Ausable Chasm. Unfortunately, in a […]
Jun 14, 2010
Ausable River to Open June 18, 2010!
New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), under an order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), plans to open New York’s Ausable Chasm to paddlers on Friday, June 18th, […]
May 28, 2010
FERC Lets Northeast Paddlers Down
Many paddlers are contacting AW about the Ausable Chasm, which was supposed to be opened to paddling for Memorial Day weekend based on a whitewater recreation plan filed in November […]
Dec 1, 2009
Jared Hogle Named AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat
American Whitewater is pleased to recognize Jared Hogle as our Volunteer of the Month for December, 2009. Jared was and remains the leading local advocate for access to New York’s […]
Jun 1, 2009
FERC Grants Seasonal Access to Ausable – AW Appeals Decision
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 […]
Apr 10, 2008
FERC Supports Paddling On Ausable! (NY)
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of boating on the Ausable Chasm. The EA marks a critical milestone in American Whitewater’s decade-long effort to […]
Apr 10, 2008
FERC Supports Paddling On Ausable! (NY)
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of boating on the Ausable Chasm. The EA marks a critical milestone in American Whitewater’s decade-long effort to […]
Jun 29, 2007
Last Chance for Ausable Access for 40 Years
July 6th, 2007 is the last chance you will have to request paddling access to New York’s Class IV Ausable Chasm for at least 40 years. The chasm is truly a […]
Apr 11, 2007
Ausable Study Finally Released (NY)
After over 17 months of senseless delays, FERC finally forced New York State Electric and Gas to release the flow study and access plan for the Ausable River. The report is […]
Mar 14, 2007
AW Calls Foul on Ausable Chasm
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. The dam owner, New York State […]
Sep 6, 2000
Boaters Seek $40.5 Million for USGS Streamgages in FY 2002
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) does at least as much as any other federal agency to promote safe river use, recreation, public health, and river conservation via their national […]