The Klamath River in far northern California is currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis borne of wildfire and extreme weather that has thickened the river with mud for 155 miles, causing a massive fish kill. It is one of several wildfire-related emergencies simultaneously affecting the river, its two largest tributaries—the Salmon and the Trinity—and multiple river communities right now. Twenty whitewater runs totaling 293 miles are impacted. The Klamath is a shocking disaster scene with tens of thousands of dead fish
The Sierra and Sequoia National Forests have released final forest land management plans containing protections for 498 miles of rivers found eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Since 2013, American Whitewater has been engaged in this forest planning process with the goal of getting California’s whitewater resources included in the eligibility inventory and recognized for their outstandingly remarkable values. As a tenet of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, managing agencies like the Forest
After a 2-year hiatus, the northeast whitewater boating community will come together on August 6th at Deerfield Fest, a celebration of nearly 40 years of whitewater boating on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts. This year’s festival will be held at Berkshire East Mountain on August 6th and features paddling outfitters and industry partners, music by Lake Side Drive, AW’s Silent Auction, food and refreshments. Deerfield Fest commemorates the historic 1994 Settlement Agreement that requires scheduled boating releases on the Fife
For over a decade, American Whitewater has worked with a diverse and collaborative group to find consensus on how to provide durable protections to the outstandingly remarkable values of the Dolores River while honoring local concerns around the protection of existing water and land uses. Years ago, the group identified a federally designated National Conservation Area as the best means to preserve the Dolores River Canyons, its recreation, wildlife, and scenery. Yesterday, Colorado’s senior senator, Michael Bennet, introduced that legislation.
In October 2021 Governor Jay Inslee and Senator Patty Murray announced a joint federal-state process to determine whether there are reasonable means for replacing the services and benefits provided by the four lower Snake River dams (LSRD), sufficient to support dam breaching as part of a salmon recovery strategy for the Snake River and the Pacific Northwest. The Governor’s Office hired a Consultant Team to support the process, review existing studies, and engage with tribal sovereigns, stakeholders, advisors, and
Writer and raft guide, Krystal Marie Collins (K.M. Collins) is our American Whitewater June Volunteer of the Month. Covering everything outdoors and a spectrum of journalism, she operates her content and marketing company, Guerrilla Media Bend, from Central Oregon. Between whitewater paddle boarding, kayaking and rafting, she’s a jack of all water trades. Roller skating, snowboarding and cycling rank among her favorite land-based activities. Sunstones, petroglyphs, obsidian, wildflower identification and cooking in a Dutch oven all make her smile.
American Whitewater’s database of whitewater accidents and fatalities, maintained since 1972, documents that 10% of river fatalities nationwide are a result of individuals getting caught in a low head dam hydraulic. These dams are generally defined as a manmade structure, up to about 25 feet in height, built across a river or stream channel from bank to bank. Powerful hydraulics and hard to see horizon lines create a dangerous hazard. Most paddlers have had a run in with a low
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued Bureau of Land Management (BLM) negotiated 4(e) conditions that ensure vital improvements at Ward’s Ferry Bridge, the take-out for the iconic Merals Pool run on the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River. During the hydropower relicensing process, Section 4(e) of the Federal Powers Act allows mandatory federal agency conditions necessary for the protection and use of BLM land. The boundary for Don Pedro Hydropower Project, owned by Modesto & Turlock Irrigation Districts (Districts),
On June 14, Colorado’s Water Quality Control Commission voted 7-1 to protect 520 miles on 25 streams across Southwest Colorado, adopting the first proposal of its kind. American Whitewater and our partners that make up the Southwest Colorado Outstanding Waters Coalition have been hard at work over the past three years to prove that these high quality rivers and creeks deserve protection. Our proposal included beloved paddling segments like the headwaters of the Taylor River, Escalante Creek, Lime Creek, and
In a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, American Whitewater and our allies prevailed to uphold the Clean Water Act in protection of the Tuolumne River. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act which requires that any utility applying for a hydropower license that may discharge pollutants into waters of the United States must receive state certification ensuring the project complies with all state standards for beneficial use,
The May/June AW Journal is hot off the press! Check out the digital copy here. In this issue we focus on Executive Director Mark Singleton’s legacy as he transitions away from AW. A few other highlights include: Access areas in California that were recently reestablished after significant action from our community An inspiring plan for a 1000+ mile journey tracing the Salmon River from its source to the sea First descent account from the Upper Little North Santiam in Oregon
On June 8, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on two Wild and Scenic River bills that would permanently protect over 830 river miles in New Mexico and Montana. This hearing was a critical milestone for these bills and moves them closer to the President’s Desk and being signed into law. American Whitewater and our partners worked hard to secure the hearing and we are thrilled to celebrate this win with our members and
After conducting a nationwide search and interviewing several highly qualified candidates, American Whitewater announced today that Clinton Begley will be its new Executive Director. The Team at American Whitewater, including our Board of Directors and Staff, were recently able to meet the finalists for the position, including Begley, and there was unanimous support for his selection. Clinton has a passion for whitewater paddling and river stewardship, and has a long history of support and involvement with American Whitewater. He
On Tuesday, June 7, Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater’s National Stewardship Director, participated in a roundtable hosted jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Cahaba Brewing Co. on the importance of clean water protections in the Southeast. He joined stakeholders from a broad spectrum of land and water users who live or work in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee, including a director of a water and sewer utility; general
This past Saturday, June 4, was the first of four negotiated Saturday releases that will occur annually between May-July for the Scrambled Eggs section of the Weber River (UT), a 1.8-mile roadside run south of the cty of Ogden. The release day was well attended and critically restored river flows to a region severely impacted by dams and diversions. American Whitewater has spent the past seven years working towards these releases and we hope paddlers enjoy them this year and
Recreational flow releases have been scheduled on the Scrambled Eggs Section of the Weber River for June 4, June 18, July 2, and July 9 of this year, subject to change if unexpected conditions occur. These are the first releases of their kind on this reach, following years of negotiations and studies that led to the issuance of a new 40-year federal license for the hydropower project. Flows will unfortunately be lower volume than expected this year. American Whitewater advocated
The Tonto National Forest in Arizona will receive robust protections for some of Arizona’s finest rivers. The Final Land Management Plan for the Forest was released this Spring and we are celebrating a big win for rivers. The Tonto National Forest is home to rivers like the multi-day section of the Salt River, the Verde River, and steep waterfall runs like Christopher Creek. American Whitewater and our partners worked to advocate for more protections for these rivers and for
Sign here to protect water quality in Colorado’s exceptional rivers and creeks! American Whitewater and our partners are working to protect water quality in 26 creeks and rivers in Colorado. The designation of Outstanding Waters provides the highest level of water quality protections in Colorado. The federal Clean Water Act gives individual states the authority to designate and oversee Outstanding Waters and Colorado reviews different river basins on a rotating 3-year schedule. In order to qualify for Outstanding Waters designation,
It is looking like another great year to be a paddler in the Southeast! Over the past two decades American Whitewater has worked with affiliate clubs and partners to negotiate an awesome array of scheduled releases on river reaches previously dewatered by hydropower dams. Each year we are part of a process to schedule these releases in an integrated manner that aims to maximize their recreational value. Below you’ll find the schedule for 2019, and it is always a great
Annually, American Whitewater and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) coordinate required recreational flows on South Fork Silver Creek below Icehouse Reservoir and South Fork American River below Slab Creek Reservoir. The final water year forecast that will determine scheduled recreational flows will be released on May 9th. Recreational flows will vary depending on the final forecast which will either be a DRY or a BELOW NORMAL water year. The schedules for recreational releases by water year are below. South
We’re happy to announce that the U.S. Forest Service has lifted its long-term closure of Eagle Creek and paddlers are now able to legally paddle the creek, including Punchbowl Falls. The Forest Service had closed the burned area to public access for nearly five years following the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. American Whitewater advocated for this re-opening and played a key role in ensuring that the falls itself was not closed just as access to the creek was reopened.
Low-Head Dams dot rivers and creeks of all sizes across the country, creating hazards to paddlers and other river users. American Whitewater and our partners have been working to include an authorization of a nationwide inventory of low head dams in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Help us in asking the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to include the inventory in their 2022 WRDA bill. Last week, the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously advanced
Show your support for American Whitewater with limited edition Planning for Rapids Returning to the Colorado River gear! American Whitewater has partnered again with FLOAT to bring you these tees, tanks, and hoodies, but only for a limited time! Celebrate the beauty of rivers and that ever important ingredient – flowing water! Support American Whitewater in our stewardship efforts! We have several t-shirt and hoodie styles available and for every item sold FLOAT will donate $8 to American Whitewater in
