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The United States Forest Service (USFS) has recently issued a draft rule for Colorado’s National Forests that weakens and removes existing protections for backcountry roadless areas. Starting Monday, August 18th in Pueblo, the USFS is hosting a series of Open Houses to discuss the proposed Rule and to hear your comments. American Whitewater has been working with our colleagues in the Outdoor Alliance to analyze the rule and we believe that the draft rule inadequately protects those remote areas with

Take a drive out to the Lock 32 Whitewater Park in Pittsford, NY this weekend for two days of clinics and competition.   The schedule of events at Lockapalooza will feature boatercross, rodeo, whitewater clinics, plus a plastic slalom race. Not to mention plenty of opportunities for spectators to enjoy the show too.   Most importantly, there will be American Whitewater signup forms for you to fill out to join your favorite whitewater-enthusiast-supporting non-profit.   Enjoy some food off the

An Open Letter to Gauley River Boaters   August 13, 2008 Dear Boaters, The 2008 Gauley season is going to be an exciting time for the Gauley River National Recreation Area.  For the first time in the since the Gauley River NRA was established, the park now owns mid-river access where upper Gauley trips may take off the river and lower Gauley trips may put on.  The river accesses recently acquired are the Masons Branch river access and the new

Since first raising the issue of boating on the Upper Chattooga with the Forest Service in 1995 AW has reached out to local and National Trout Unlimited (TU) leaders, the Chattooga Conservancy and Georgia Forest Watch on numerous occasions with no success. In 1995 our requests for a meeting was refused by all involved. Finally in May of 2001 two local TU representatives did agree to meet with us. It was a pleasant meeting but it was clear that they

Earlier this year in January, American Whitewater teamed up with Lunch Video Magazine and Teva to challenge AW's members to create a video that highlights a favorite American Whitewater project. Participants put together film on their chosen AW project then took their final video and uploaded it to YouTube.   After the final submission deadline in June, AW's own staff voted on their favorite video and choose a submission by Eric Martin for his video on the Feather River in

  Help AW protect rivers here in the states and you could win a trip with Small World Adventures in Ecuador.  Join or donate to be entered in the next drawing for a pair of sunglasses and the trip in Ecuador with Small World Adventures.    Anyone who joins or renews their AW membership or donates at least $10 to support our river stewardship efforts will be entered in a raffle to a week long trip in Ecuador with Small

      Colorado- The communities of Gunnison and Crested Butte in the Upper Gunnison River basin, will showcase hundreds of miles of scenic waterways and rugged recreation during the Gunnison River Festival and River Awareness Week. The schedule of events promises to deliver plenty of river fun and learning from August 14th-18th, 2008.         GUNNISON RIVER FESTIVAL & RIVER AWARENESS WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – 2008 – Thursday, August 14thState of the Upper Gunnison Presentation – Crested Butte

  Steve offers this overview of his internship: "Being part of the AW team has helped me understand what all exactly this organization deals with, and the true value of volunteers. I have been working on many Stewardship projects for AW beginning with development of the success story of the Cheoah River (story should be posted to the website soon).  From there I started developing a database for the FERC Releases, which will be used nationally for hydro power relicensing

    As paddlers and stewards of America‘s whitewater resources we have much to be thankful for in 2007. Your support of American Whitewater enabled us to gain ground on significant issues facing our rivers both at a regional and national level.   Our regional river stewardship program, an integrated approach to the American Whitewater mission of conservation, access and safety, is performing at a very high level. Our stewardship team is racking up on-the-ground achievements while building internal capacity

     Potomac Fest 2008 This July was once again the host to the popular Potomac River Festival just outside of our nation’s capitol in Washington, DC. Less than 14 miles from the White House, this section of the Potomac saw three days of competition including freestyle, surfing, downriver racing of the Class V+ falls (photo on front page), and a community paddle with awards for best costume and oldest boat. The weekend was capped off with a Saturday night

West Rosebud Creek will get a bump in flows this weekend that will bring the Class III-IV+ (V) creek into its optimal paddling range.  A dam on the creek generally delays and reduces spring snowmelt flows each year, thereby reducing the number of boating opportunities the creek provides.  During a recent dam relicensing process, paddlers recognized that historic dam releases often provide flows that are just below what paddlers can enjoy.  In response, we proposed that the power company occassionally

Today the US Forest Service announced that they will grant the public another two weeks to submit comments on their "environmental assessment" of recreational use in the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River corridor.  The new comment period ends August 18th.    Paddlers are encouraged to submit comments.    You can read the USFS announcement here and learn more about the environmental assessment and how to file comments here.       

Due to the fire activity near Caribou and the closure of Highway 70, the recreational flow release in the Rock Creek reach has been postponed until August 9.  This was the event first scheduled for July 26 and initially postponed until August 2.  Additional postponement is a possibility, depending on how quickly the fire can be contained and access into the watershed on Highway 70 can be made possible.  Please be advised that the situation continues to be dynamic.  Please

  The July/August issue of the AW journal is now online for AW members to enjoy.  This issue includes AW’s 2007 Annual Report.  The July/August issue of whitewater’s longest running publication is also full of great updates on AW’s river stewardship work – the Wild Sky Wilderness Act and Canyon Creek (WA), Susquehanna River Settlement Reached (PA), Mongaup River (NY), Bear River and Lolo Creek (ID), Tuckasegee River (NC), Colorado report, McCloud River and Yuba/Bear (CA), as well as, Andria

This Saturday be sure to check out American Whitewater’s Deerfield River Festival in Charlemont, MA. The Deerfield Fest has a ton of things to do and will feature vendors, food, boat raffles, a silent auction, plus – and most importantly – the chance to begin or renew an AW membership! Not to mention all the proceeds of the event go towards funding American Whitewater’s important mission. This year will also feature a combined mountain biking and down river race. Individual