Articles

The Hydropower Reform Coalition and the National Park Service are proud to release "Flows and Recreation: A Guide to Studies for River Professionals." The guide consolidates cutting-edge instream flow science for recreation on regulated rivers.  It updates and supplements the National Park Service 1993 guide, "Instream Flows for Recreation: A Handbook on Concepts and Research Methods."  Thirteen years later, however, our guide is in full color with illustrative photos and graphs. Written by leading recreational flow scientists Doug Whittaker of

Over the last month the public has had an opportunity to comment on the issues of importance as Snohomish PUD and City of Everett initiate planning for studies that are required as part of relicensing of the Jackson Hydroelectric Project on the Sultan River. We want to thank all those who participated in public meetings and filed written comments. Major issues of interest that appeared in the majority of comments including those filed by American Whitewater included fishery and aquatic

Culminating a five year effort, American Whitewater signed the settlement agreement for the Oroville Project on the Feather River in California. This Settlement Agreement amongst 50 State and Federal Agencies, local governments, tribes, and non- government organizations will provide an array of recreational and environmental benefits to the area in and around the project. Dave Steindorf, California Stewardship Director for American Whitewater, speaking about the agreement said, “ Whitewater Paddlers and all river recreationist should be pleased and surprised what

Each fall and spring paddlers from around the country flock to the southeast for the opportunity to run the Tallulah River in northern .  Joan Hutton makes these Tallulah releases possible by working with local river clubs to organize amazing volunteers to help the park administer these releases. Last fall Joan stepped forward to work with AW’s affiliate clubs in the Southeast to make sure that Tallulah Gorge State Park had the necessary manpower to run the recreational releases.  Each

Culminating a five year effort, American Whitewater signed the settlement agreement for the Oroville Project on the Feather River in California. This Settlement Agreement amongst 50 State and Federal Agencies, local governments, tribes, and non- government organizations will provide an array of recreational and environmental benefits to the area in and around the project. Dave Steindorf, California Stewardship Director for American Whitewater, speaking about the agreement said, � Whitewater Paddlers and all river recreationist should be pleased and surprised what

The Cheoah River once again roars back to life this weekend with its first weekend release of the 06 season and AW is getting ready to celebrate.  April 8th American Whitewater is hosting a party on the banks of the river at Tapoco Lodge. The evening starts with a sold out fundraising dinner and continues with a river revival party in the Quanset Hut of Tapoco Lodge. The evening will feature film premiers of Wave Sport’s new promotional film, YGP’s

UPDATE on April 2 The budget that emerged from the conference committee included the $405,000 for EPD’s portion of the cost of operating the streamgages for fiscal 2006.  No guarantees, but it appears the Governor will sign the budget into law. In short, it appears the streamgages are safe for the moment. Further efforts to eliminate the funding may arise in the future and require ongoing monitoring. A special thank you to those of you that provided comments on this

It’s one of those signs of spring, the birds are chirping, the trees are budding, and the Tallulah is running!  Get ready for another year of spectacular boating on the Tallulah Gorge on April 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th.  Find out about the new policies in place atTallulahGorgeState Park .   RegistrationYou will need to fill out a permit form for each run you make. We will be handing these out in the parking lot as you arrive. Please fill

On September 26th, 2003, AW joined TVA commissioner Bill Baxter, Congressman Zach Wamp, Outfitter leaders, and other stakeholders at the Ocoee Olympic Center to sign an agreement for 54 annual releases on the Upper Ocoee River.  We posted a web article regarding the successful resolution of this project which we had worked hard on for 8 years.  The web article: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/archive/article/964/ As many paddlers have noticed, the 2006 schedule for the Upper Ocoee provides only 34 days, many of which are for a reduced duration of

After a North Carolina winter with many thaw and freeze cycles, access to the Watauga had become class IV or greater (depending on your vehicle). Thanks to on-the-ground leadership from volunteer Mike Mayfield, the AW Watauga property received some road and parking improvements. Gravel and grading work have recently been completed to improve access to the river and minimize unnecessary runoff. For more information go to Watauga River page.

Jackson Kayak is a proud member of American Whitewater and now their customers will be too.  Jackson Kayak is purchasing American Whitewater memberships for the next 500 paddlers who purchase a new Jackson Kayak. Beginning on April 1st purchasers of a Jackson Kayak will receive a free one-year membership to American Whitewater from the Jackson family.  This program is part of Jackson Kayak’s commitment to environmental responsibility.  Jackson Kayak and the Jackson family believe that membership in American Whitewater is

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service recently announced a public comment period on the proposal to sell 304,370 acres of public land. The money received from the sales (up to $800 million) would provide funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (see previous AW web article). Comments on the proposed list must be received by March 30 and can be submitted by one of three methods: Send comments by e-mail to SRS_Land_Sales@fs.fed.us. Written comments may be

Every year around the second weekend in May, we go into storage, dust off the cobwebs from our camping and rafting gear, pack it all up, throw in the car and head on down to good ol’ West Virginia. Why do you ask? Well its River Rage season of course.  It is the time of year when we take Fayetteville, WV by storm and enjoy a weekend of camping, relaxing, and enjoying some of the finest whitewater that West Virginia

The proposedRiverScapeRiverPark in Dayton, OH is currently in a feasibility study and the McLaughlin Group will be seeking public input on March 30.  We encourage anyone interested not only in paddling but in outdoor recreation and/or downtown revitalization to attend.       This project is more than just creating a place to play for whitewater kayakers.  It’s about providing safe access for all levels of paddlers to navigate the river.  We need your input to help shape this project and

Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director Tom O’Keefe will be at the Seattle REI (details and directions) for the monthly meeting of the Washington Kayak Club (Friday 3/24 at 7 pm). He will give a presentation on river conservation and access issues on rivers throughout the region. Come learn what projects are happening in the Pacific Northwest and get the update on national policy issues affecting all rivers. Hear the latest on dam removals on the Elwha, White Salmon, and Sandy Rivers.

Do you paddle on the Ohio River? Boaters Beware: More raw sewage headed into the Ohio River Not many people think it, but locals know it— there are some really good whitewater play spots on the Ohio River. But safe surfing days are numbered if the commission that sets water quality standards on the Ohio River formally adopts a proposal allowing increased discharges of raw sewage into the river during high flows.   ORSANCO, the interstate commission that sets water

 2ND ANNUAL HEFF-FEST ON THE NOLICHUCKY RIVER  Saturday, May 20th, Noon –10:30  WHO  Attention all paddlers, outdoor enthusiasts, music lovers and anyone who likes to have a good time.  WHAT The Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APEs) invite everyone to come out to the banks of the beautiful Nolichucky River to celebrate a festival in memory of good friend and fellow paddler John Heffernan.  WHERE           The festival will be held at Riverpark Campground near Erwin, TN and will run from noon until

Have you experienced the Cheoah yet?After 77 years of dam-induced dryness, theCheoahRiver , located nearRobinsville, N.C. , flowed on Saturday, September 17, 2005. About 1,500 CFS of water surged down a stretch of the Cheoah, carrying hundreds of boaters who came from all over the Southeast to experience this historic run. 2006 will bring the first full season of releases to theCheoahRiver with 18 releases spanning the spring and fall months.     TheCheoahRiver is soon to be a southeastern classic

On March 8th, 2006 a letter signed by American Whitewater and 17 other groups was sent to congressional representatives advocating for full funding of the National Streamgaging System.  The diverse group of signatories was made up of organizations representing environmentalists, boaters, anglers, hydrologists, geologists, biologists, river managers, and dam safety specialists.  Together, we requested that the USGS’s Cooperative Water Program and the National Streamflow Information Program  be fully funded.  The budget, as currently drafted, would leave the programs underfunded for the second year in a row.  American

This year’s (2006) release at the Schaghticoke Development of the Hoosic River Project is tentatively scheduled for April 19th. Erie is currently shooting for a flow of 1,200 cfs in the Schaghticoke bypass reach on Wednesday, April 19th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The release is contingent on weather and river conditions and will be postponed for 7 calendar days (to the following Wednesday) if necessary. For now please mark your calendars for the 19th, and, as the release date gets

Next week AW Stewardship staff will be in Portland, OR for meetings of the Hydropower Reform Coalition. We would like to take the opportunity to update the local community on issues relevant to paddlers in the Pacific Northwest along with several national policy issues we are tracking. Mostly though we just want to come out and meet the community and learn more about issues of interest to local boaters. AW’s full stewardship team will be there including National Stewardship Director