Articles

On Friday, March 28th, hundreds of people gathered to watch the breaching of Milltown Dam just upstream of Missoula, MT.  The dam had impounded the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers for a century.   During that time the dam trapped mining waste from upstream that contained toxic chemicals like arsenic.  The pressure of the reservoir drove arsenic into nearby wells, and to top it all off the dam was deemed a high risk for failure.   Based on nearly

Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission overturned a previous decision they had made that would have allowed the owner of the dams, flumes, and powerhouse on Sullivan Creek to simply abandon the project.  The ruling came in response to rehearing challenges filed by American Whitewater, the United States Forest Service, and the State of Washington.    FERC states in the decision: "The Forest Service, Washington DFW, and American Whitewater argue that the existing license is valid, and that the Commission

On April 12, the 9th Annual Tame the Tyger River Race and Festival promises paddling enthusiasts more fun than ever as they paddle their way through 7.5 miles of Class I and II whitewater on the Tyger in Spartanburg County, SC.   Boaters can push their endurance to the limit or float their way down the course.  Great prizes and boat giveaways will spur more advanced boaters to rush to the finish line. Safety boaters along the river will ensure participants of all

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, on behalf of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, has secured a contract with The Lutz Family Partnership to purchase 649 acres along almost four miles of National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek in Caldwell County for $7 million dollars.   Surrounded by Pisgah National Forest, the land will be owned by the State of North Carolina and managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The scenic tract will offer outstanding public access to Wilson Creek, a favorite

Join us at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville, NC, Thursday, March 20 at 8pm for the release of the official 10th Annual French Broad River Festival DVD. The party will start around 8pm…the movie premier will start at around 9pm and the Trainwreks will start around 10pm. We should also have a few musical guests join in here and there, as well. The best part about this party is that it is FREE!!! That’s

The Oregon Department of State Lands has recently released a Rogue River Navigability Report concluding that the 89 mile stretch of the Rogue River from Lost Creek Dam to Grave Creek meets the federal test for navigability. While this staff report supports American Whitewater’s position, the final decision concerning navigability rests with the State Land Board (consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer). The section of the river under consideration is just upstream of the wilderness run

On Thursday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it has awarded a $7.9 million contract to the firm McMillen-McDougall to remove a section of the Elk Creek Dam in the Rogue River basin and restore Elk Creek to its historic alignment. Construction of Elk Creek Dam was halted in 1988 in response to lawsuits over its construction but the partially completed dam has remained as a barrier to fish and navigation. Work on the site is expected to

Pacific Gas and Electric Company will increase water flows on a 22.5-mile stretch of the Pit River in Shasta County beginning on March 7th. The increased flows will occur at a frequency resembling natural water flows, which will benefit the associated ecosystem as well as provide additional whitewater boating opportunities. The increased flows will begin downstream from the Lake Britton dam, also known as the Pit 3 dam, which is on Clark Creek Road north of Burney. Dubbed “freshet flows,”

Endless River Adventures and Wave Sport Host Fourth Annual Nantahala  Falls Open Endless River Adventures and Team Wave Sport, as well as a myriad of industry sponsors are pleased to announce the 4th annual Nantahala Open, to be held on the Nantahala River on Saturday, April 26th, 2008. The Nantahala Open has gained the reputation as a fun competition; open to all boaters no matter the experience or ability, consisting of categories for every skill level–and the prizes that go