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Image for Flow Survey on Green River, WA

Flow Survey on Green River, WA

Over the past year American Whitewater collected information on flow preferences for the Green River. Using the data from this survey we are conducting a new survey beginning in October 2007. The City of Tacoma has hired Oasis Environmental to implement this survey and take a more detailed look at flow needs. The data will be used to develop a formal analysis and report of instream flow needs for recreation. We encourage all paddlers to report their runs. Click here

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Image for Georgia Power Issues Tallulah Press Release

Georgia Power Issues Tallulah Press Release

Georgia Power issued the following press release regarding Tallulah releases. October 9, 2007 Drought causes cancellation of Whitewater flows in Tallulah Gorge Tallulah Falls, Ga. – Georgia Power, in accordance with its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses to operate hydroelectric power projects, has cancelled the whitewater flows for the Tallulah River that were planned for the first three weekends in November. If the flows into Lake Burton are below 95 cubic feet per second (CFS), Georgia Power has the option

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Image for Rogue River Navigable

Rogue River Navigable

Oregon’s Department of State Lands recently released a draft navigability report for the Rogue River from RM 68.5 to 157.5 (Grave Creek to Lost Creek Dam) in Josephine and Jackson Counties (where the river flows through the towns of Grants Pass, Rogue River, Gold Hill, and Shady Cove). This is the section of the Rogue upstream of the popular Wild and Scenic multiday trip but it includes reaches that are popular for whitewater day trips. The draft report determines that

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Image for San Francisco Considers Taking More Water From The Tuolumne River

San Francisco Considers Taking More Water From The Tuolumne River

The Tuolumne River needs your help!   As part of its Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has proposed diverting an additional 25 million gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne River.   In total, about 60% of the Tuolumne River is already diverted for urban and rural uses, and increasing diversion will do further harm to the River.  The SFPUC already diverts one-third of the Tuolumne River as it flows through Yosemite National

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Image for Chattooga Meeting Poses New Challenges

Chattooga Meeting Poses New Challenges

Meeting attendees at the September 29th Chattooga River management meeting endured a confusing and challenging day.   The meeting was set up to refine the USFS’s 6 alternatives, however two days prior to the meeting the USFS released a staggering new set of 9 alternatives.  The alternatives were a disorganized and redundant collection of management components that generally had no clear connection to one another, to objectives, or to the scientific study that is supposed to underlie the analysis.  The

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Image for Ron Stewart Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron Stewart Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Last week, American Whitewater recognized Ron Stewart for his many contributions to river stewardship – or more accurately steep creek stewardship.   American Whitewater presented Ron with an AW Lifetime Achievement Award at an AW event in Atlanta Georgia on September 28th, following a presentation on the many rivers and creeks Ron has sought to protect.  The honor comes with a framed and numbered William Nealy "mystery move" print. Ron (pictured at right with Sutton Bacon and Kevin Colburn) has spent

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Image for Paddling Clean Rivers: Take Our Survey

Paddling Clean Rivers: Take Our Survey

Few people in modern America have as much direct contact with river water as paddlers do. River water enters our bodies every time we go paddling through our mouths, noses, ears, eyes, and any cuts or scrapes we may have. Few of us would scoop up a glass of water from the rivers we paddle and drink it, but in many ways that is exactly what we do every time we go paddling. As we approach the 35th Anniversary of

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Image for Whitewater Survey of the North Cascades

Whitewater Survey of the North Cascades

American Whitewater is completing an assessment of whitewater resources in the North Cascades. The North Cascades is a section of the Cascade Range of Western North America that spans the border between British Columbia and Washington. The information from this survey will be used in the development of a recreational resources layer in partnership with The Wilderness Society and other organizations. It will help us prioritize our river protection efforts through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, determine how to

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Image for Georgia Power Cancels Tallulah Releases for Fall '07

Georgia Power Cancels Tallulah Releases for Fall ’07

American Whitewater received the following email on October 1, 2007: Mr. Mark SingletonExecutive DirectorAmerican Whitewater Mark – Due to the exceptional drought that Northeast Georgia has experience this year, Georgia Power has already cancelled the aesthetic flows from Tallulah Dam for this season.  Due to the projections from the National Weather Service for the rest of this year and into the spring of 2008, Georgia Power has also determined that it will not be releasing water for the whitewater boating

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Image for NF of North Fork American River Access Blocked

NF of North Fork American River Access Blocked

The wild canyons of the North Fork of North Fork American River are nestled between the main North Fork American River and I-80 in the Sierra Nevada range. With headwaters just above Lake Valley Reservoir near Emigrant Gap, it is truly one of the jewels of the North Fork American River drainage. This mostly free flowing tributary drops nearly 4000 feet as it flows 16 miles from the reservoir to its confluence with the main North Fork American at Euchre

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Image for Chattooga Meeting this Saturday, 9/29

Chattooga Meeting this Saturday, 9/29

The next US Forest Service workshop relating to the management of the Chattooga River will be held Saturday, September 29th.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the development of alternatives for the USFS to analyze in the coming month.   We would like to thank the hundreds of paddlers that wrote the USFS comments regarding their initial proposed alternatives.  The USFS is now in the process of integrating those comments into their analysis.  Presumably the results of this weekend’s

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Image for 07 Gauley River Festival presented by Subaru Wrapup

07 Gauley River Festival presented by Subaru Wrapup

What a weekend we had!  With a drought in firm place throughout most of the country paddlers flooded into the mountains of West Virginia this past weekend for the 2007 American Whitewater Gauley River Festival presented by Subaru.  Paddlers were treated to warm sun filled days and blue skies overhead, which many people will tell you is a rare treat for running the Gauley. The festival is a huge fundraiser for American Whitewater’s stewardship work. In addition to AW’s largest

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Image for Wave Sport presents Steward of the Year Award to Barry Adams

Wave Sport presents Steward of the Year Award to Barry Adams

American Whitewater and Wave Sport presented the Steward of the Year Award to Barry Adams of Pittsburgh, PA at the 2007 American Whitewater Gauley Festival in Summersville, WV this past weekend. Adams is the second recipient of the annual river stewardship achievement award that recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to river access, conservation, and/or safety on behalf of American Whitewater. Along with the recognition Adams was awarded a Wave Sport boat of his choice. Barry has been instrumental in

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Image for September Feather Release 2007

September Feather Release 2007

 Recreational Flows: Rock Creek This includes the Rogers Flat, Tobin and Lowbin runs. Recreational flow will be provided in the Rock Creek reach on •     Saturday September 22 and Sunday September 23.  The August and September releases will reach 800 cfs by 11 AM on Saturday and be reduced to 700 cfs at 3 PM.  The 700 cfs level will then be maintained until 1 PM on Sunday.  Flows will be ramped up at rates of no more that

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Image for Events in Seattle and Portland this week

Events in Seattle and Portland this week

River Celebration Night at Rock Bottom Brewery – Wednesday 9/19Rock Bottom will be donating a couple kegs of their new Rocktoberfest which will be available by the pint with a $2 donation to American Whitewater. Drinks at 5:30Raffle at 6:30 Rock Bottom Brewery on the patio1333 5th Ave, Seattle, WA (map)(206) 623-3070 Sandy River Restoration Film – Thursday 9/20Catch the Portland premiere of our new short film about the Sandy River! Hear why the removal of Marmot Dam is important

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Image for New AW membership numbers

New AW membership numbers

American Whitewater recently upgraded our membership management software so we can better serve you, our members and donors.  As an unavoidable part of the process, all AW membership numbers were all traded in for new ones.  This might affect some members who have their website user names link to their AW membership.  If you experience any trouble logging in, you might need your new user id number, which we are happy to provide.  Please email Carla Miner at carla@amwhitewater.org or

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Image for Tieton River (WA) releases 2007

Tieton River (WA) releases 2007

Fall releases on the Tieton River began this week and should be good for this coming weekend. Every year around Labor Day the Bureau of Reclamation begins their annual drawdown of the Tieton River’s Rimrock Reservoir. Up until this date, reservoirs on the Yakima River provided the majority of the flow for irrigation needs in the Lower Yakima Valley. With these reservoirs almost empty (teacup diagram), the Bureau of Reclamation initiates the annual flip-flop, which consists of reducing flows on

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Image for No Boats in Wilderness?

No Boats in Wilderness?

One could summarize many recent scoping comments regarding the Chattooga River as follows: Anti-Wilderness ATV Advocates Seize Control of Rivers, Threatening Lives of Innocent Children!  The stunning thing is that they are talking about us, the community of folks who simply like to paddle down rivers of all shapes and sizes with our friends and families.  If they weren’t serious – and the US Forest Service wasn’t taking them seriously – this would be hilarious!   The South Carolina Council

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Accident Statistics for Guided Raft Trips

Updated release:  9/4/2007Original release: 9/05/2006  Facts about Whitewater Rafting Safety Issues         A CNN story on whitewater rafting deaths published in September 2006, which can still be found on the Web, omits the fact that most of the fatalities cited by the article did not occur on commercial raft trips, said to David Brown, Executive Director of America Outdoors (AO).  America Outdoors is a national association of outfitters, which includes many whitewater rafting companies.  The story cites 50 whitewater

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Image for Savage Release Sept 9th!

Savage Release Sept 9th!

While the planned August Savage River release had to be canceled due to unusually low inflows, the September release will occur thanks to significant recent rainfall.  The release will occur on Sunday, September  9th, from 9am to 3pm, and will be at a volume of 1000cfs.  The Savage is one of the premiere whitewater rivers of Western Maryland, and is typically dewatered by an upstream dam.   The 2007 release schedule for Savage River Dam has been posted on the

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Image for AW Ohiopyle Falls Festival September 15, 2007

AW Ohiopyle Falls Festival September 15, 2007

The Festival this year was postponed due to high water in August and rescheduled for September 15th. Activities for the one-day event include: Over the Falls Race and Freestyle EventPractice RunsHow to Run a Waterfall Clinic“The Upstream World Championships held on the Lower Yough and sponsored by Wilderness VoyageursSilent AuctionTown Party with live band 706 UnionFalls Under Lights For additional information, registration and updates see: www.FallsRace.com We need plenty of Help! Volunteers will get discounts and T-shirts. We have submitted

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Image for Ohiopyle Falls Festival Moved Sept 15

Ohiopyle Falls Festival Moved Sept 15

AW Over the Falls Ohiopyle Falls Festival and Access UpdateFestival September 15, 2007 The Festival this year will be a one-day event with a number of activities scheduled: Over the Falls Race and Freestyle EventPractice RunsHow to Run a Waterfall Clinic“The Upstream World Championships held on the Lower Yough and sponsored by Wilderness VoyageursSilent AuctionTown Party with live band 706 UnionFalls Under Lights For additional information, registration and updates see: www.FallsRace.com We need plenty of Help! Volunteers will get discounts

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