Articles

As you review the winter appeal letter I’d ask that you consider a couple of things. First, membership in American Whitewater is more than a subscription to our Journal. Your membership fuels our stewardship work. For each dollar that you give, American Whitewater is able to leverage that dollar for another two dollars in foundation and sponsorship support. Thus, your dollars go three times as far in supporting on-the-ground river projects. Second, American Whitewater is very lean administratively. Over the

The November/December issue of the AW Journal is our INFLATABLES ISSUE featuring:   * R2-ing the Grand Canyon * Epic Descent of Inflatables on the Green Truss * Taming the Tons River, Uttarakhand, India * High Water Fun on the New River * Arkansas Raft Guides on the Gauley * Inflatable Rescue Ranger . . . plus much more!   Want to read the AW Journal online? You need a current membership and you must be registered with the AW

Surprise fall boatable flows are now expected on the NF Feather river in California.   The releases will be into the Poe Dam to Poe Powerhouse section, starting November 11, 2009 and lasting one or two months.   The next run downstream, Big Bend will also continue to receive boatable flows.    At the same time, PG&E is now supplying flow information for this reach and AW is posting that information online.  See: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/49034/ This is the latest in a growing number

The Youghiogheny River is being threatened by a proposed 480-acre strip mine. Amerikohl Mining Co. has proposed the Curry Mine right next to Ohiopyle State Park and the Great Allegheny Bike trail. This proposed mine could harm the Yough and two of its high quality tributaries, Morgan Run and Johnson Run. The Mountain Watershed Association (MWA), home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper , has led and organized the local effort to defend our river from this mine. To date, MWA has

  The US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, (Corps) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental consequences of the proposed Moffat Collection System Project (Moffat Project), submitted by the Denver Water Department (Denver Water) Denver, Colorado. To meet their projected future water needs, Denver Water proposes to develop 18,000 acre-feet per year of new, annual firm yield water delivered to the Moffat Treatment Plant and raw water customers upstream of the Moffat Treatment Plant pursuant

Just in time for the Holidays this year, American Whitewater will be offering two books for sale from well-known paddler and author Doug Ammons: Whitewater Philosophy and Laugh of the Water Nymph.   These books are some of the most well read in the all of whitewater. What’s more, purchasing these books helps support American Whitewater but also Doug’s decades long efforts to support rural schools in Nepal. Check out the book links for full details.   We hope you’ll

For the low price of $45, this package includes a one year membership with American Whitewater (or a one year extension to a current membership) plus a copy of Doug Ammons’ book "Whitewater Philosophy"!   This package deal could be the perfect gift for the whitewater paddler in your life, or a great way to renew your own membership. A year saving rivers with AW and a book from one of the highest regarded whitewater writers and paddlers in the

American Whitewater has reached agreement with Snohomish PUD and other parties to the relicensing of the Jackson Hydropower Project on the Sultan River. The future proposed license will support whitewater boating on the Sultan River and in particular the reach between Culmback Dam and the Powerhouse known as the Upper Sultan. The Settlement Agreement was signed earlier this month and celebrated yesterday in a ceremony at the powerhouse. Over the coming year federal regulators will review the agreement and we

  With a prolonged maintenance outage at Nantahala Hydro Station and higher than expected rainfall Duke Energy is expecting to begin releasing water through a gate at the Nantahala Lake Dam on Monday, November 2, 2009.  These releases will provide additional flows in the Cascades and Upper Nantahala runs, as well as the Lower Nantahala.  Duke Energy will attempt to maintain lower flows Friday-Sunday to support "delayed harvest" fishing in the Upper Nantahala, while releasing higher flows Monday-Thursday. High inflows

Last week legislation (H.R. 1593) to protect Illabot Creek as a Wild and Scenic River passed the House of Representatives. “I thank my colleagues in the House for supporting the permanent protection of Illabot Creek,” said Larsen. “This Wild and Scenic designation will benefit not only endangered species such as Chinook salmon, but also families who hunt, fish and hike near this pristine creek. I thank Senator Murray for teaming up with me to protect this important habitat.” Protection of

It’s really rather simple – human-powered outdoor pursuits need a healthy climate.  If the climate is out of balance, then our favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors can go from being degraded to actually disappearing.  We put together a short little film that bottom lines how the human-powered outdoor community intersects with this humongous issue and hopefully energizes the community to flex some political muscle and help get the climate back on track.   Check out the film in HD

Release Dates for November 2009: 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22   Scheduled releases occur the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November.  On Saturday 500 cfs is released and on Sunday 700 cfs.  Boaters are allowed on the water once the level stabilizes, which is about 9:30 am;  the water is turned off at 4 pm. All boaters must start down the stairs by 3:00 pm to beat the flow down

And the winners are:   River Gypsies Mexico Trip: Samuel Wells of Fountain Hills, AZ Small World Adventures Ecuador Trip: Helen and Gary Plummer of Salinas, CA   Thanks to all our members that joined, renewed or donated during this contest, we really appreciate your support! Of course, thanks to our industry partners who offered up all these great prizes to support our members: River Gypsies, Small World Adventures, Immersion Research, Kayak Session, Keen Footwear, Lunch Video Magazine, Smith Optics and

Location: Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia   Conservation-oriented kayakers and canoeists sought protection in federal court on Wednesday from an illegal decision by the United States Forest Service involving the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River.  The USFS decision, which was the culmination of a 2004 administrative appeal by American Whitewater, makes it a federal crime for paddlers to float the northernmost 21 miles of the River and its tributaries except on a limited seven-mile

Ready for your viewing pleasure, you can now purchase the American Whitewater 2010 Calendar!   A huge thanks goes out to all the many AW members who submitted their photos. Want to see your work in the 2011 Calendar? We’ll make a call for submissions starting this Spring on the AW website.   Enjoy!

American Whitewater would like to recognize Michelle "Mac" Miller as our October volunteer of the month.   Here’s what Stacey Johnson, Gauley Fest’s Volunteer Coordinator, had to say about Michelle "Mac was my right hand at Gauley Fest this year. From the second she arrived on site she was working, helping with set-up, greeting festival goers, training volunteers, and even headed into town for supplies a time or two. From 7am til midnight, or later, she worked tirelessly to help make

American Whitewater is pleased to announce Bill Cross as our 2009 River Steward of the Year. American Whitewater annually awards this honor to a single volunteer who has shown exceptional dedication to our river stewardship mission, and who has recently reached a major milestone in their efforts. Bill has been assisting AW and representing the paddling community on Oregon’s Rogue River for the past several years. Bill was the primary local advocate who brought a section of the scenic North