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
A new project has been proposed that would likely destroy most or all of the popular play waves and holes downstream of the Holtwood Dam on Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River. The project would add new generators to the existing dam, thereby eliminating 55 of the 95 days the dam spills water into the channel containing the playspots in an average year. In addition, proposed channel excavations may replace waves with deepwater channels, new diversion dams may destroy, flood, or dewater
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
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
American Whitewater mourns the loss of longtime river advocate and American Whitewater supporter Daniel DeLaVergne. Daniel is most well known for his joint role in founding Lunch Video Magazine and had become an international leader in whitewater cinematography. Daniel’s enthusiasm, can do attitude and devotion will be missed by all of us at American Whitewater. Daniel was a proud member, supporter, and friend. Daniel’s young life was tragically brought to a premature end this morning after being struck by a
American Whitewater mourns the loss of longtime river advocate and American Whitewater supporter Daniel DeLaVergne. Daniel is most well known for his joint role in founding Lunch Video Magazine and had become an international leader in whitewater cinematography. Daniel’s enthusiasm, can do attitude and devotion will be missed by all of us at American Whitewater. Daniel was a proud member, supporter, and friend. Daniel’s young life was tragically brought to a premature end this morning after being struck by a
Next weekend AW’s Tom O’Keefe will be in Madison for Canoecopia, the Rutubaga’s annual retail show that kicks off the Midwest paddling season. As part of the event Rutubaga has graciously offered space to host a stewardship roundtable at 4 pm on Saturday (3/11) in the upstairs board room. This will be your chance to learn more about AW’s work in the region and an opportunity to help us identify projects that require our attention. We will update you on
Earlier this afternoon American Whitewater joined 33 organizations in signing a Settlement Agreement to relicense PGE’s hydropower projects on the Clackamas River, OR. The Clackamas River is well known for Bob’s Hole and great playboating just a short distance from downtown Portland, OR. Recognizing whitewater interests on this river, American Whitewater worked collaboratively with PGE to complete a series of studies that included flow studies on the Oak Grove and Faraday sections, a regional whitewater demand study, a study of
Just like your favorite public radio station, it is time for AW to ask for your financial help. Our Spring Appeal is online and will be in mail boxes soon. Please look it over carefully as it is chock full of great information. We are excited to be able to report all of this activity to you! To read the appeal online, click on Join/Donate on our main menu bar above. This is a pdf file and will require Adobe
Please copy and paste this link to your browser to read our monthly e-news, AW Beta, if you don’t already! http://view.exacttarget.com/?ffcb10-fe921070756d037a77-fdfe16777461057c72157370-fef515767d6300 Sorry to all Allman Brothers fans for the typo!
Charlene has been an integral part of the American Whitewater Chattooga Defense Team, with AW Board Member, Don Kinser and led by National Stewardship Director, Kevin Colburn. In 2004 American Whitewater appealed the revised forest plan for Sumter National Forest (SNF) which renewed the 30 year old ban because there was no basis for the ban in USFS record, law, literature, or legislation. The Chief of the USFS agreed the record was “deficient in substantiating the need to continue the
SPRING FOR THE RIVER! A NIGHT OF MUSIC, SILENT AUCTION BARGAINS AND CAJUN FOOD TO BENEFIT THE LYONS RIVER PROJECTJoin the Town of Lyons at Oskar Blues on Sunday, March 19TH for a fundraising party to help build a world-class whitewater feature on the St. Vrain River. The extravaganza will include a Cajun buffet, bluegrass music by Whitewater Ramble and a huge silent auction. The new whitewater feature will be a keystone for a new town park, which will be
WHAT: Each year, Western Carolina University (WCU) teams up with the local community to help beautify an icon of Western North Carolina, the Tuckaseegee River. Last year, over 900 people volunteered to pick up trash along the river’s banks and islands.WHEN: This year’s cleanup is on Earth Day, Saturday April 22nd. Participants will meet at the UC lawn at 11am.WHAT TO BRING: Remember to come with a full stomach, hydrated and energized for the day of fun! You will be
