Articles

Better information leads to safer paddling, that’s our theory here at American Whitewater. It started of course with the American Whitewater Journal in the mid-1950s, and then at the dawn of the public internet we began using our website for crowdsourcing information on whitewater rivers. The result is a site with information on over 6000 whitewater runs. Over the past three years, thanks to support from the US Coast Guard and our membership, we’ve upgraded our online platforms to be

On September 12, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission reversed its previous decision and voted unanimously to increase protections for portions of Clear Creek and the South Platte River near Denver, Colorado. The decision was in response to a petition brought forward by a number of our conservation partners and was supported by public comment from American Whitewater staff and our members.  The river segments were upgraded from Use Protected to Reviewable, meaning that polluters must prove that the economical

As part of the hydro dam relicensings of the Moose and Beaver rivers in upstate New York, we need boaters to complete surveys for the Moose River from Agers through Crystal (Bottom Bottom Moose). We are also asking for your help completing surveys on the Beaver River describing your experience at Moshier, Eagle, and Taylorville sections. These surveys are being collected as part of the whitewater boating studies on the Moose and Beaver rivers for the FERC relicensing of the

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments this morning on a case that will likely shift the balance of which wetlands and perhaps streams are covered under the Clean Water Act. A permit is required to dredge, fill, or discharge pollutants into waters that are covered under the Act. Waters not covered under the Act lack this federal review. Now, just days from the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the Supreme Court considered this request to significantly weaken

On September 21, Sen. Manchin (D-WV) released the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022, long-anticipated legislation seeking to speed up environmental review and approval of energy projects under the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act. The new permitting legislation is the result of a narrow and closed-door deal with Senator Manchin to secure his vote in support for the Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted in August. The permitting bill has sparked strong opposition from scores of

The Colorado Water Conservation Board released the 2023 draft update to the Colorado Water Plan this summer. The plan is an important framework to ensure we have a vibrant future in Colorado. The original plan was finalized in 2015 and identified water based recreation as an important value. American Whitewater is working to ensure that the update builds on that plan by identifying the valuable socio-economic role recreation plays in our state and identifying actions to ensure it’s protected and

Gauley Fest is rapidly approaching! Gather with hundreds of your favorite friends in Summersville, WV from September 15th through the 18th. This is our biggest outreach event of the year and it takes a village to pull it off. We’re currently in need of volunteers, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Get a free t-shirt for helping us out and good river karma for the rest of the year! To volunteer please check-in at festival headquarters (first cabin) by the

Dear Feather River Festival Community, We are geared up to see folks at our 2022 Annual Feather River Festival and look forward to the Slalom Race, Film Festival and Feather River Party! But we do have unfortunate news to share. We have made the difficult decision to cancel the Class V Tobin Downriver Race for the 2022 Feather River Festival due to a lack of adequate insurance coverage. The reality, as we have discovered in today’s insurance market, is the

September 1st, 2022 – The New Mexico Supreme Court issued their full written decision reaffirming the longstanding right of the public to recreate on all streams of the state, including walking or wading on the streambeds. The written opinion follows the court’s action in March, when it unanimously threw out a New Mexico State Game Commission rule that purported to allow landowners to block public access to public waters. In today’s unanimous opinion, the New Mexico Supreme Court made explicit

The South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River (ID), a kayak run popular with North Idaho and Eastern Washington boaters, is about to get some much needed love. Local community members have formed a cleanup committee, with the goals of improving recreational access, and removing large metal industrial debris from the river bed.  The River has sustained extensive streambed modifications from historic mining activity throughout its watershed, and over 100 pieces of large, historic metal debris currently line the streambed

Although a broken dam curtailed Upper Yough water releases this year, it’s been a great season for American Whitewater volunteers. On the left, Jesse Shimrock is AW’s new Upper Yough Access Manager. A lifelong resident of Garrett County, he learned to paddle here as a teen. After years on the freestyle circuit he built a house in Sang Run and is ready to look after the interests of river runners. AW has maintained the site for decades thanks to an

Dear Gore Fest Community, It is with great regret that American Whitewater must announce that the Class V Gore Race for 2022 will be canceled. After purchasing race insurance in May, on Friday, August 19, we were informed that our policyholder can no longer provide insurance for Class IV and Class V whitewater events. American Whitewater as an organization, and myself personally, are committed to and care deeply about the Gore Race which is why we prepare months in advance,

We want to see YOUR most stunning images in American Whitewater’s annual calendar! Deadline for submissions is August 19th, 2022. Use our easy form to submit high-resolution files (suitable for printing up to 10″, at least 1MB). Please limit photo entries to 10 per person. You’ll get a free copy of the calendar if your photo is chosen, you’ll know you helped support AW’s river stewardship projects, as our calendar is a fundraiser, and well, fame. Images that feature rivers