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In 2003 and 2004, American Whitewater’s Jason Robertson helped advise the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program on the development of a new instructional manual called “Logical Lasting Launches”. The guide is free and is now available to the public at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/helpfultools/ht_launch_guide.html in pdf format.As noted on the Park Service webpage, “This guide provides design guidance for developing canoe and kayak launches. Case examples, designs, and photos of launch sites are included.”General recommendations in the manual for designing an accessible launch

In 2003 and 2004, American Whitewater’s Jason Robertson helped advise the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program on the development of a new instructional manual called “Logical Lasting Launches”. The guide is free and is now available to the public at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/helpfultools/ht_launch_guide.html in pdf format.As noted on the Park Service webpage, “This guide provides design guidance for developing canoe and kayak launches. Case examples, designs, and photos of launch sites are included.”General recommendations in the manual for designing an accessible launch

In response to a proposal to modify the Route 3 Wave on the Black River (NY) that surfaced several years ago, American Whitewater advocated (through meetings, letters, and emails) that the City of Watertown hire an independent consultant to take a broader look at the potential whitewater park locations in their city, and to gather public input on any proposed actions.  The City has done just that.  They hired Recreational Engineering and Planning (REP) to study the entire length of the

In response to a proposal to modify the Route 3 Wave on the Black River (NY) that surfaced several years ago, American Whitewater advocated (through meetings, letters, and emails) that the City of Watertown hire an independent consultant to take a broader look at the potential whitewater park locations in their city, and to gather public input on any proposed actions.  The City has done just that.  They hired Recreational Engineering and Planning (REP) to study the entire length of the

Colorado’s Senate Bill  SB 62 passed another hurdle this week and moves to the Senate Floor with all Republicans and 2 Democrats (Isgar and Takis) supporting the bill. Now SB 62 heads to the House where it will be heard in Committee.SB62 allows only the minimum flow for kayaking, canoeing, inner tubing, boating and rafting, all other water can be diverted and even the minimum flow standard is weak as it requires, in all cases, that water flows exceeding 350

Colorado’s Senate Bill  SB 62 passed another hurdle this week and moves to the Senate Floor with all Republicans and 2 Democrats (Isgar and Takis) supporting the bill. Now SB 62 heads to the House where it will be heard in Committee.SB62 allows only the minimum flow for kayaking, canoeing, inner tubing, boating and rafting, all other water can be diverted and even the minimum flow standard is weak as it requires, in all cases, that water flows exceeding 350

Jon Dragan, the first outfitter to offer trips on West Virginia’s New and Gauley Rivers, died suddenly on February 12th, 2005. He was 62. Jon began his commercial rafting career in 1964 on the Youghiogheny River, and in 1966 John Sweet took him down the New River Gorge. Dragan looked past the areas strip mines, junked cars, and ramshackle houses and saw the marvelous beauty of it’s mountains and rivers. Jon and his brothers founded Wildwater Unlimited in 1968 and

Jon Dragan, the first outfitter to offer trips on West Virginia’s New and Gauley Rivers, died suddenly on February 12th, 2005. He was 62. Jon began his commercial rafting career in 1964 on the Youghiogheny River, and in 1966 John Sweet took him down the New River Gorge. Dragan looked past the areas strip mines, junked cars, and ramshackle houses and saw the marvelous beauty of it’s mountains and rivers. Jon and his brothers founded Wildwater Unlimited in 1968 and

The Styrofoam Cup is back!  Warren Wilson College (WWC) is again hosting the Southeastern Intercollegiate slalom and rodeo championships.  This year WWC is holding the 7th Styrofoam Cup in conjunction with the 37th Southeastern Wildwater Championships. The 2005 Styrofoam Cup will be held April 23 and 24, 2005 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) near Bryson City, NC.  This venue includes ample parking, excellent spectating venues,  reliable water, and facilities in which to conduct the raffle and award ceremonies.  The

The Twitch V West Coast Video Premiere will be hosted by Seattle Raft and Kayak in support of American Whitewater. Join producer Eric Link and athlete Tao Berman, who has starred in all 5 Twitch films, as they bring their film to the Seattle boating community. Your $5 donation will be collected by the Washington Kayak Club, local AW affiliate club and a long-time supporter of the Twitch Video premieres. 100% goes to AW, to support access, conservation, and safety

The Styrofoam Cup is back!  Warren Wilson College (WWC) is again hosting the Southeastern Intercollegiate slalom and rodeo championships.  This year WWC is holding the 7th Styrofoam Cup in conjunction with the 37th Southeastern Wildwater Championships. The 2005 Styrofoam Cup will be held April 23 and 24, 2005 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) near Bryson City, NC.  This venue includes ample parking, excellent spectating venues,  reliable water, and facilities in which to conduct the raffle and award ceremonies.  The

The Twitch V West Coast Video Premiere will be hosted by Seattle Raft and Kayak in support of American Whitewater. Join producer Eric Link and athlete Tao Berman, who has starred in all 5 Twitch films, as they bring their film to the Seattle boating community. Your $5 donation will be collected by the Washington Kayak Club, local AW affiliate club and a long-time supporter of the Twitch Video premieres. 100% goes to AW, to support access, conservation, and safety

American Whitewater recognizes Richard “Ricardo” Martin as our March 2005 Volunteer of the Month for his leadership on Colorado River Management in the Grand Canyon.             Richard was one of the first Grand Canyon boaters to recognize the need for healing the boating community and compromising on certain key issues now for the long term health of the river and improvement of long-standing access issues.  Richard was key to securing the joint compromise letter between the private boating community and outfitters

The Lehigh River below the Francis E. Walter dam runs through a scenic gorge containing 26 miles of Class II-III whitewater. For the last five years Pennsylvania Senator Stuart Greenleaf has worked closely with American Whitewater, local outfitters and paddling clubs to relocate a low-lying road on the upstream face of the dam. This will increase the project’s managed storage capacity and give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers additional flexibility to store and release water.  At a public meeting

The 22nd National Paddling film festival this past weekend was a tremendous success (no comma) for the festival, filmmakers, and American Whitewater.  This year the event was at a new location at the newly renovated Lexington Convention Center, which worked out perfectly. American Whitewater unveiled its new membership recruiting tool this past weekend, the Kokatat man purse full of swag.  Typically at an event like NPFF, AW has about 30 people who will sign up for membership.  We decided to stretch

The 22nd National Paddling film festival this past weekend was a tremendous success (no comma) for the festival, filmmakers, and American Whitewater.  This year the event was at a new location at the newly renovated Lexington Convention Center, which worked out perfectly. American Whitewater unveiled its new membership recruiting tool this past weekend, the Kokatat man purse full of swag.  Typically at an event like NPFF, AW has about 30 people who will sign up for membership.  We decided to stretch

Oppose Senate Bill 62 – Limiting Recreational Water Use The Senate will be voting on SB 62 on Monday, February 28th! We have a great chance to defeat this bill in the Senate, but we need YOU to call your Senator TODAY! Please call your Senator and ask him/her to VOTE NO on SB 62! For your Senator’s direct phone number:  http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/directory?openframeset The main Senate numbers at the Capitol are: 1-888-473-8136 (outside of Denver)303-866-2316 (within Denver) **Not sure who your Senator is?  Go to www.vote-smart.org and

Just four hours before the hearing that would have decided whether or not 2200 homes would be built on and near the rim of the New River Gorge, the developer withdrew their application. In a letter, the developer stated that “After careful consideration, the applicant has determined it will be necessary to revise its application … to more accurately reflect the scope and nature of the Roaring River project in Fayette County.”  The development company continued that it “remains confident that the Roaring River

When: Saturday, February 26, 2005, 12 PM to 1 AMWhere: Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY The NPFF started in a barn 22 years ago, received an education while held at the University of Kentucky, grew into the City Theater and now has evolved to our spacious new home here at the beautiful Lexington Convention Center. We hope the new location and program schedule will continue to be another positive step in the right direction for everyone involved – artists, volunteers, sponsors,

Saturday March 12th, 9:00pm Great Dane – DowntownMadison, WIIn Summer 2004, six kayakers set out to explore the upper reaches of Seven Sierra Nevada rivers, a feat never accomplished by a single group in one season. Plunging 25,000 feet of vertical descent in 150 miles of river, their path took them through some of the most unique landscapes found anywhere in the world.Dropping into un-scoutable, un-portageable, and quasi-navigable gorges is both breathtaking and terrifying, and losing your shoes in the

The following anouncement comes as the result of several years of advocacy by AW, the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, and other user groups.  The process will allow the ACOE to propose changes to the management of the Lehigh River and recieve public feedback on those proposals.  There is a very good chance that different proposals will be on the table that could enhance whitewater boating opportunities or impact them.  It is very important that the paddling community participate in this opportunity to enhance

A developer is proposing to build upscale houses along a 10 mile section of the rim of the New River Gorge.  The 4300 acre development would impact vistas in the gorge and would forever change the character of this beautiful national treasure.  The development requires a zoning change by the Fayette County Planning Commission and approval of the County Commissioners in order to move forward.  The Planning Commission and County Commissioners can stop this project dead – but can also

American Whitewater expects to receive the USFS decision on whether or not to lift the ban on boating 21 miles of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River no later than April of this year.  The decision will come at least 6 months past the agency’s legal deadline, however American Whitewater has chosen to accept this delay.  We feel that granting the USFS adequate time for analysis of our appeal of the 2004 decision to continue the boating ban will only improve the chances of

Jason D. RobertsonManaging DirectorAmerican Whitewater1424 Fenwick LaneSilver Spring, MD 20910E-mail: Jason@amwhitewater.org301-589-9453Joseph F. Alston, SuperintendentGrand Canyon National ParkP.O. Box 129Grand Canyon, AZ   86023Fax: 928-638-7797 RE: Grand Canyon DEIS Comments, January 31, 2005 Dear Superintendent Alston: Thank you for providing this opportunity to comment on the “Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado River Management Plan for Grand Canyon National Park,” released on October 1, 2004.American Whitewater (AW) is a non-profit 501.c.3 public interest group that works to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and