Articles

American Whitewater is happy to report that New York area paddlers got a very special Christmas gift this year – two days early.  The Ausable River is one of AW’s 2004 Top River Issues because a dam owner on the river has been actively seeking to deny public access to the whitewater river downstream of their dam.  On December 23rd, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dealt the power company a lump of coal, a denial of their attempts to exclude paddlers

American Whitewater worked with Duke Power and other Stakeholders to provide realtime flow information for the Nantahala River through a multi-year dam relicensing process.  AW was interested in gaining better flow information on the Cascades and Upper Nantahala sections, around which the Nantahala River is bypassed through a large tunnel.  While the Nantahala’s main flow is bypassed, Whiteoak Creek and other tributaries regularly provide boatable flows in the reach after significant rains.  The gage is now online at:  http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv/?site_no=03505550&agency_cd=USGSThe gage

The Citizen’s Agenda For Rivers was developed as a policy platform for river conservation, and can be found at: (http://www.healthyrivers.org/read.html).  The agenda is a blueprint for action for federal and state decision makers and outlines some 30 state and federal actions that can be taken to protect water quality, ensure enough water for people and rivers, and protect watersheds by managing the effects of sprawl.  The document has been written to remind our elected and appointed officials that rivers and streams matter

By now you’ve probably heard a lot of things about the alternatives listed in the Grand Canyon Management Plan, which were good, bad, or downright incendiary. The surprising truth is that the Grand Canyon Management Plan (http://www.nps.gov/grca/crmp/index.htm) is actually a really good start with some really strong ideas that are worth pursuing.  All of the alternatives are improvements over the status quo, and the Park has come out with a solid proposal that gives a little something for everybody.   American Whitewater

The state of North Carolina recently filed their water quality permit for the dams controlling the Cheaoh River and the Little Tennessee rivers.  The permit closely mirrors the settlement agreement for the relicensing of those dams, however does not include controversial language from the settlement agreement that would require the public to pay the power company for recreational releases.   The permit (like the settlement agreement) requires the power company (Tapoco) to provide 15-18 annual boatable releases on a five year rotating

The U.S. Forest Service is currently revising the forest plans for the Wenatchee, Okanogan, and Colville National Forests in eastern Washington (Forest Plan Revision Website). These plans will determine how the forests are managed for the next 10-15 years. Comments are currently being collected, and are due on December 15th, 2004, for use in the development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that is scheduled for release in June 2005. While the Forest Service is accepting comments to be used

Kokatat is offering a limited edition Kokatat Meridian Dry Suit with the American Whitewater logo and Kokatat will donate 100% of each sale to AW.  This GORE-TEX suit incorporates an adjustable overskirt with neoprene waistband that keeps water out of your boat while river running, hole-playing, or during extended surf sessions.  The Meridian Dry Suit also features additions such as GORE-TEX socks and a relief zipper that make it comfortable to wear for an hour or all day long. Just in time

North Carolina Rivers & CreeksBy Leland DavisGraphic Arts by Colorado Rivers & Creeks Author Gordon BanksComing Spring 2005, NCRC will contain information on 101 runs and playspots from 9 regions, with OVER 200 COLOR PHOTOS! It will be an 8×10 inch sturdily bound book with a heavy duty cover and color glossy pages. Each region will have detailed scale maps, and each run will have:• Beta Block – easy to find info on class, length, gradient, drainage area, put in,

Asheville, NC — American Whitewater, the nations leading advocacy group for preservation and protection of whitewater river resources, announces a 50-year online archive of American Whitewater Journals available on their web site, www.americanwhitewater.org.The archive chronicles the history of whitewater paddlesport beginning with the first publication in 1954. From homemade boats to today’s hi-tech designs, from before Glen Canyon Dam was built to the first Tallulah releases, and from backyard rain gauges to river level emails. These archives document the development

On December 7th Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Staff will visit the Nantahala River, and on December 9th will visit the West Fork of the Tuckasegee and Dillsboro Dam.  The purpose of these visits will be to tour the Duke Power facilities and the areas effected by those facilities (ie the reservoirs and rivers), and to hold public scoping meetings.  In the scoping meetings the FERC staff will listen to the public’s concerns, ideas, and opinions about these projects and their past and future management.  Paddlers who

Leptospirosis is caused by water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. The bacteria have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rats, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated by their urine. The infection usually begins with skin contact, especially via mucosal surfaces like as the eyes or nose, or through broken skin. The bacteria survive in fresh water for as many as 16 days and in soil for as many as

During a winter storm in 1999, there were two washouts on the 2160 road at MP 0.85 and MP 1.1. This road provides access to Upper and Middle Matheny Creek as it starts at the take-out for the middle section and parallels the entire run. Those who wanted to check out the run over the last couple years had to hike the shuttle (one energetic group even tried a motorbike shuttle, which although entertaining was not successful). While the Olympic

American Whitewater and the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) cooperated in a land-based reconnaissance whitewater boating study on the Upper McKenzie and Smith rivers, 70 miles east of Eugene Oregon. The Carmen – Smith Project is EWEB’s oldest hydropower endeavor. EWEB has initiated the relicense process for this hydro project (relicensing website). The project includes three dams and two reservoirs, partially dewaters a two and a half mile stretch of the McKenzie River and totally dewaters a two and

American Whitewater and the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) cooperated in a land-based reconnaissance whitewater boating study on the Upper McKenzie and Smith rivers, 70 miles east of Eugene Oregon. The Carmen – Smith Project is EWEB’s oldest hydropower endeavor. EWEB has initiated the relicense process for this hydro project (relicensing website). The project includes three dams and two reservoirs, partially dewaters a two and a half mile stretch of the McKenzie River and totally dewaters a two and

 American Whitewater, working as a member of the Hydropower Reform Coalition, filed comments opposing proposed rulemakings by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Interior.  Commerce and Interior are proposing in separate rulemakings to severely limit public participation in hydropower licensing proceedings.  Commerce and Interior are proposing to give dam operators special privileges to appeal agency license conditions while at the same time excluding the public from this appeals process.  Excluding the public from the appeals process on federally

By now you’ve heard that the Park Service has issued a plan for fixing the permit system on the Grand Canyon. Don’t miss your chance to comment and be heard.National Park Service Announces Public Meeting Locations To Discuss Colorado River Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement AlternativesWHAT: The National Park Service (NPS) will host a series of public meetings to provide an overview of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), allowing for public comment and a comprehensive review of the

Last month the Ashlu District Council voted to formally oppose the Ashlu Hydroelectric Project. While this was an important victory, the District Council does not have decision making authority and next week the project moves to the next stage as it comes before the regional decision-making body: the Squamish Lilloett Regional District (SLRD). The SLRD will meet on November 17th at 7 pm when a public hearing will be held. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. After this meeting,

For Immediate Release: 11/06/2004Contacts: John King, Regional Access Coordinator                 Phone: 276 328-8908                Email: virginiacreekin@hotmail.com Town of Big Stone Gap is underway with new dam construction for Big Cherry Resivoir. The town has proceeded with replacing the failing Big Cherry Dam with a new structure designed to increase the lake’s storage capacity from 400m gallons to 600m gallons.  On Thursday 11/4/2004 I spoke with Estes Brothers Construction job superintendent Greg Estes and informed him about the resource found in S. Fork Powell

For Immediate Release: 11/06/2004Contacts: John King, Regional Access Coordinator                 Phone: 276 328-8908                Email: virginiacreekin@hotmail.com Town of Big Stone Gap is underway with new dam construction for Big Cherry Resivoir. The town has proceeded with replacing the failing Big Cherry Dam with a new structure designed to increase the lake’s storage capacity from 400m gallons to 600m gallons.  On Thursday 11/4/2004 I spoke with Estes Brothers Construction job superintendent Greg Estes and informed him about the resource found in S. Fork Powell

Send a Strong Message for River Stewardship Today! Thanks to a massive letter writing campaign and public outcry, the Bush Administration extended its comment period on its proposal to repeal the landmark Roadles Area Conservation Rule – otherwise known as the Roadless Rule.  The Roadless Rule protects what is left of our public roadless lands from logging, mining, and other development, and keeps these lands suitable for future Wilderness designation.   Roadless lands support a vast number of rare, threatened, and endangered