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AW Journal Safety Archive Would you like more information on a safety topic? Check out the American Whitewater Journal archive All the articles written since 1955 except for accident reportsare listed here. There are dozens of useful hints that will make your paddling safer and more fun. You can also see how whitewater safety thought and practice has evolved through the last 50 years. Article Year Issue Page Author Kayaking is Safer Than You Think 2000 Sept.-Oct. 102 Laura Wittmann

American Whitewater is part of a coalition of groups currently working to develop a stewardship plan for invasive weeds in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley. As part of this effort volunteers are needed who are willing to help map the location of invasive weeds for removal. Given the speed and regularity with which paddlers can monitor the river corridor, a unique opportunity exists for paddlers to contribute towards this effort. Background The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley is one

  Atlanta Paddlers…. November 4th What:  An evening to benefit American Whitewater…Vistit with Eric Jackson, listen to Tishmango and enjoy food and beverages! Why:  To raise money for the organization and learn more about the work AW is doing on southeastern rivers: Guaranteed water in the Tuckaseegee and Nantahala (including the Upper Nanty) Working with the USFS to determine a plan for the two year study period of the boating ban on Chattooga HeadwatersWorking to secure whitewater releases on the Catawba in South Carolina Secured releases on the

  Atlanta Paddlers…. November 4th What:  An evening to benefit American Whitewater…Vistit with Eric Jackson, listen to Tishmango and enjoy food and beverages! Why:  To raise money for the organization and learn more about the work AW is doing on southeastern rivers: Guaranteed water in the Tuckaseegee and Nantahala (including the Upper Nanty) Working with the USFS to determine a plan for the two year study period of the boating ban on Chattooga HeadwatersWorking to secure whitewater releases on the Catawba in South Carolina Secured releases on the

West Virginia’s Wild Whitewater is being threatened by a bad USFS forest plan! The Monongahela National Forest is the heart and soul of wild and wonderful West Virginia and contains numerous whitewater runs and the headwaters of countless others.  Sadly, the Forest Service’s recently released draft 15-year management plan for the Monongahela puts our forest and streams at risk.  The agency has chosen Alternative 2 as its preferred alternative, which would allow logging and road building in protected areas.  In addition, the

If you want to share a ride to Gauley Festival and save on gas expense, be kinder to the environment by burning less fossil fuel and make new friends check out the AW Ride Share Board. AW is posting this as a service to those wishing to participate in the upcoming Gauley Festival, September 23 – 25. The ride board is posted at the following URL: AW Gauley Festival Ride Share Board

AUSABLE CHASM FLOW STUDY         Paddlers wishing to paddle the Class IV/V Ausable Chasm section of New York’s Ausable River will be allowed to do so on two more days this year.  The remaining dates planned for 2005 are Saturday, September 24, and  Saturday, October 22.     UPDATE: The first date of the study, June 25th, was very successful.  28 paddlers showed up to tackle the class IV rapids and enjoy the world class scenery of the Ausable Chasm, which boasts a canyon that

As many of you know, mid-river access for this Gauley season was almost shut down for private boaters by stalled negotiations between landowners and the Park Service. Fortunately, through significant involvement from numerous groups, a focused dialog regarding private boater mid-river access produced positive results for this season. Two groups are providing boat shuttles from designated mid-river access points. Information on these shuttles is posted below. Mason’s Branch Starting the first Saturday of Gauley Season (Sept 10th) West Virginia Rivers

Check out pre-festival Gauley Fest details by going to www.kayakjournal.com.  Here all about the logistics and useful festival info. before showing up to the festival.Great tracks from this year’s festival can also be heard.  Put this on your media player and bring it with you for your road trip.We hope to see you all there!

Recreational Engineering and Planning (REP) has completed their conceptual drawings for enhancing the recreational value of the Black River as it flows through Watertown New York.  Black River paddlers are encouraged to check out these drawings and submit comments to REP on their website.  The plan outlines many options for modifying the river channels to create playspots, modifying dams to provide safe passage, and enhancing public access to the river.  Zoom into these drawings and see what you think.  Check

Each fall, American Whitewater gathers paddlers from around the country to celebrate another great whitewater season at a little river in the mountains of West Virginia, “The Gauley”. This year we have an extra reason to rejoice: A near disaster was recently averted by securing access to the Mason’s Branch access area through an agreement with the Lost Paddle group for the 05 season. Read the full access story here. Here is what is on tap for this fall’s festival,

Louder this time…”Calling All Clubs!”  One more month. September 30th is fast approaching but it’s not too late for your Affiliate Club to earn a free one-year Affiliate Club membership.  For details see our original posting at http://www.americanwhitewater.org/archive/article/1367/ We currently have 37 clubs participating in this membership drive and want more.  Below you will see the statistics to date.  If you belong to one of these clubs show your support in helping them receive a one-year free Affiliate Club membership by bringing their

The 2004 Annual Report is out and it brings both a positive and less than positive message to American Whitewater.  Our work on the ground continues to be successful.  From the Cispus in Washington State to the Gauley in West Virginia, from the North Fork Feather in California to the Cheoah in North Carolina…we are currently at some point of negotiationing for access, conservation and stewardship of over 70 projects.  This is with five full-time and two part-time staff.  We are a lean,

Earlier this month Oregon’s The 73rd Legislative Assembly adjourned and with it bills that would have limited the public’s right to use Oregon’s waterways for river travel and recreation died. Senate Bill 1028 proposed the institution of a new fee program that would have charged the public for implementation of a complicated new set of regulations severely reducing the opportunities for the public to enjoy Oregon’s rivers. This threat would have had a significant impact on recreational opportunities for state

Earlier this month Oregon’s The 73rd Legislative Assembly adjourned and with it bills that would have limited the public’s right to use Oregon’s waterways for river travel and recreation died. Senate Bill 1028 proposed the institution of a new fee program that would have charged the public for implementation of a complicated new set of regulations severely reducing the opportunities for the public to enjoy Oregon’s rivers. This threat would have had a significant impact on recreational opportunities for state

As part of ongoing programs offered by American Whitewater’s River Stewardship Institute, our members working on hydropower relicensing in the West will have an opportunity to receive formal training in negotiation skills. Funding from the Hewlett Foundation through a grant to the Western Caucus of the Hydropower Reform Coalition has allowed us to provide this unique opportunity. The program will be led by Steve Smutko of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute and our goals will be to develop knowledge and

The US Forest service recently announced their access plan for the fall Cheoah River releases, and possibly the 2006 releases as well.  The plan, described in detail in their press release (below), requires all paddlers to pay a $16 fee and ride a shuttle from Robbinsville.  Until new access areas are built next year, a shuttle is the only option for river access since parking is very limited throughout the Cheoah River Gorge.  Ten dollars of the fee will pay for the actual shuttle

The US Forest service recently announced their access plan for the fall Cheoah River releases, and possibly the 2006 releases as well.  The plan, described in detail in their press release (below), requires all paddlers to pay a $16 fee and ride a shuttle from Robbinsville.  Until new access areas are built next year, a shuttle is the only option for river access since parking is very limited throughout the Cheoah River Gorge.  Ten dollars of the fee will pay for the actual shuttle

Our fourth season of Feather River Releases is underway. As in the past, release weekends will include a Saturday release on Cresta and a Sunday release on Rock Creek (Rogers Flat and Tobin). It is amazing that four years have passed since we gained this amazing whitewater resource that has changed summer boating in California. There are some changes, this season, that the boating public needs to be aware of: The release dates are : June 26th (Sunday only Rock

Dear fellow American Whitewater affiliate club member,I am an AW member and a member of the Pikes Peak Whitewater Club, an AW affiliate club. I’m writing to tell you about some work we did this summer to increase AW membership within PPWC, and to ask for your help to take similar actions in your affiliate club. ( If you are not the most appropriate club member for this information, please forward this to the correct person in your club).First let’s

American Whitewater has been told that the current Gauley Access solution for private paddlers is only temporary, until the Park Service obtains mid point access land. We believe strongly that the Old Woods Ferry Road will be important until a long-term access solution is found. It does not change the fact that the outfitters want a lot more for their property than the Park Service is currently prepared to offer. While we are working with others to pursue a number

American Whitewater has been told that the current Gauley Access solution for private paddlers is only temporary, until the Park Service obtains mid point access land. We believe strongly that the Old Woods Ferry Road will be important until a long-term access solution is found. It does not change the fact that the outfitters want a lot more for their property than the Park Service is currently prepared to offer. While we are working with others to pursue a number