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     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

The South Fork Feather River below the Little Grass Valley Reservoir will be running between October 5th and October 17th.  American Whitewater has been working with South Fork Water and Power to schedule their annual reservoir draw down so that it provides an opportunity for paddlers.  “Working with the folks at South Fork Water and Power has been a pleasure”, according to AW California Stewardship Director Dave Steindorf,  “ they have been completely open to our input in scheduling these

American Whitewater is looking for more story and photo contributions from canoeists, rafters, and C1ers. If you’ve always wished our magazine highlighted more folks who paddle like you do–with a single blade–this is your chance to make that desire a reality.   Our September/October issue will feature canoes and rafts, and we hope to be able to fill it with great content. So if you typically paddle a raft or canoe, or you know people who do, please contribute. We’re

  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

Great Falls, MD and VA – July 11-13th   This summer, beat the heat with a refreshing cocktail of whitewater paddling at the 18th Annual Potomac Whitewater Festival.  The spectacular race over Great Falls will make your heart rush as world-class paddlers venture down the rough waters of the mighty Potomac.   The Festival will also bring together paddlers of all skill levels through a number of events such as on-water clinics, the classic attainment (paddling upstream against the clock) and

American Whitewater recently submitted testimony to the Water and Power Subcommittee, Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives for their Oversight Hearing on “Hydropower: Providing 75% of America’s Current Renewable Energy. Exploring its Role as a Continued Source of Clean, Renewable Energy for the Future”. We presented perspectives on behalf of the paddling community on the need for a more honest review of undeveloped hydropower potential. Past reviews have presented inflated values for future hydropower development in the U.S.

  American Whitewater would like to recognize Sue and Dave Wester as our Volunteers of the Month. For many years Sue and Dave have been steadfast volunteers at both Sky Fest and Wenatchee Fest.    While many volunteers have made these successful events, Sue and Dave have played key roles on organizing the behind the scenes details for each of these events. They have organized the raffles and auctions that have been the primary fundraisers at these events raising over

On June 23rd, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the The Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 2452). Currently there is no federal law requiring sewage operators to monitor for sewage releases or notify the public. American Whitewater was in Washington DC the week of June 16th to educate members of Congress on the importance of this issue to the whitewater paddling community. Whitewater paddlers have a particular interest in the issue given the fact that few people in