Articles

American Whitewater honors volunteer of the month Dag Grada. Dag resides in De Kalb, Illinois and has volunteered time as a kayak instructor for Northern Illinois University for well over a decade. Dag also volunteers on behalf of American Whitewater’s efforts to gain access to the whitewater of northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan including monitoring the ongoing removal of Michigan‘s Sturgeon River dam and obtaining releases on Minnesota‘s St. Louis River. As American Whitewater’s original streamkeeper for the northern Midwest, Dag has been exploring

Each year at the AW Gauley Festival many memories are created, old friends are reunited, new friendships are forged, and many t-shirts are sold.  At the end of the weekend most people have many memories to take home with them, few may not be able to remember anything at all, but one memento each person can take home with them is the official American Whitewater Gauley Festival T-shirt.  Now is your opportunity to see your creative work on the backs

PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED FOR NEW EIS & DAM DECOMMISSIONINGDeadline: Friday, April, 2, 2004The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is proposing modifications to Glen Canyon Dam as part of its failing effort to halt the extinction of endangered fish in Grand Canyon National Park caused by the dam’s four decades of operation. Four native fish species have already been lost, and a fifth is eminent–the humpback chub. The BOR is attempting to fast-track a cursory environmental assessment of this proposal, and avoid

BELLINGHAM, WA—Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its decision affirming federal jurisdiction for a hydropower project on Nooksack Falls, located on the North Fork Nooksack River in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forest.  Conservation groups hailed the order, which would bring greater protections for the river, dependent fish and wildlife, and recreation. “The truth is, no one knows what the impacts are,” said Seth Cool, Conservation Associate for the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance.  “We know there are listed endangered species in the area. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 25, 2004Contact: Kevin LewisAW Board President, klewis@snowcrest.net  RISA SHIMODA ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM AMERICAN WHITEWATER Risa Shimoda has announced her resignation as Executive Director of American Whitewater. She will work closely with the organization during this transition period while the board searches for her successor. In the interim, AW National Policy Director Jason Robertson will serve as acting Executive Director. Risa has a long history of involvement with American Whitewater as a volunteer, and while she pursues other

Comments are needed on new San Joaquin River Dam proposals.   The Bureau of Reclamation is conducting preliminary environmental impact studies on a wide range of possible new storage reservoirs on the San Joaquin River and on several offsite locations.  For the full feasability study and latest updates see:  http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/index.html     The largest option on the San Joaquin river is being promoted by irrigation interests and by congressmen Devin Nunes and George Radanovich. This proposal is for an 840′

The Twin Lakes Canal Company applied for a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a new dam down-stream from the existing Oneida Narrows dam on the Bear River.  The canal company plans to construct a seven-megawatt hydropower facility and create a 200-acre reservoir that backs up to the existing dam.  This proposed project would inundate the existing whitewater resources in the Oneida Narrows not to mention cause irreparable ecological impacts.  In 2002 American Whitewater reached a

On March 3, 2004 American Whitewater submitted testimony to Senator Larry Craig’s Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management in regard to the Outfitter Policy Act (S.1420). The latest version of the bill is interesting because it includes two important sections that clarify the effects of the bill on public rights of access to Forest Service and BLM lands.When AW learned of the hearing, AW Board Member Adam Cramer and National Policy Director Jason Robertson contacted the comittee and submitted written testimony

Your help is needed now, please read on…. Sadly, the recently released Record of Decision, final environmental impact statement and new Sumter Forest Plan did not incorporate American Whitewater’s comments submitted in early July 2003.  The Record of Decision (ROD) is a plan that will govern how the National Forests bordering the Chattooga River will be managed for the next 10-15 years!  Importantly, the ROD also determines whether boaters will be able to float the headwaters section of the Chattooga River

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!May 15th through the 23rd marks one of your best opportunities to give your favorite river a helping hand, through participating in a river clean up.  We all hate to see trash littering the bed and banks of the rivers we paddle, and River Cleanup Week is the perfect excuse to get out there and do something about it!  If you are more of a go with the flow type of person, check out one of the river cleanups that are

CONGRATULATIONS NATHAN GALBREATH!Nathan Galbreath called American Whitewater several months ago inquiring about opportunities to assist us on a volunteer basis with legal help.  Nathan’s offer came just before the USFS made a precedent setting decision to maintain the ban on paddling the Headwaters of the Chattooga River in NC, SC and GA.  We gave Nathan a call about the project and he was immediately interested and enthusiastic to help. Nathan attended school at Furman University in South Carolina before becoming an attorney, and regularly paddled

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently released the results of the 2 year long Reservoir Operation Study (ROS) that includes TVA staff’s recommended preferred alternative. The preferred alternative represents the TVA staff’s professional judgement on how TVA should change their operations to better meet the public’s interests in the Tennessee River Watershed. The public now has one final opportunity to comment on the ROS and the preferred alternative before the board of TVA makes a final decision on the operation

Thanks to everyone who took the time to write letters and/or attend the water board meeting in Grangeville, Idaho last October. Thanks to you, the overwhelming majority of the comments received by the water board were in favor of the plan! If you have already made comments you have received a notice from the IDWR about how the water board has made a few changes to the plan and has opened the plan for more public comment until April 23, 2004.

Conservation organizations, two electric utilities, state and federal resource agencies and other stakeholders have reached a landmark agreement that protects and restores the Stanislaus River and will ultimately lead to better conditions for wild trout, other aquatic species, and recreation, while continuing use of the river for hydropower generation and consumptive water supply.   The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC), Trout Unlimited (TU), Friends of the River (FOR), and American Whitewater (AW) joined with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E),

The USGS warns that the most popular streamgage in Idaho may be cut.  This streamgage is on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. While the station is officially identified as USGS 13309220 MF SALMON RIVER AT MF LODGE NR YELLOW PINE ID, boaters simply know it as the Middle Fork Gauge at Middle Fork Lodge.Even though the streamgage is referenced by thousands of boaters and visitors to Idaho every year, the gauge may be terminated. The USGS has posted an alert

Ticket to Ride.Senoritas on the South Fork of the American River1st Annual Fundraiser for American WhitewaterSunday, April 25, 2004 The watery women of Lotus Designs will be hostessing this gathering of the girls at the American River Festival as a gift to the good folks at American Whitewater.  Any woman who is comfortable paddling down the S.F. of the American River (Chili Bar section) is encouraged to sign up for tips, tricks, and take-out party.  Registration is free to Members of

BACKGROUND AND LOGISTICSReleases on the Tallulah were secured by American Whitewater in 1996 after the majestic Tallulah Gorge stood dewatered for nearly a century. It is a demanding Class IV-V run that merits serious consideration because of the numerous injuries each release season and the remarkably inaccessible Gorge. Please carry appropriate safety gear with your party and please note that boaters with inappropriate gear and experience may be turned away by DNR officials. On April 3-4 and April 10-11, releases

Changes are in store for the Powerhouse run on the Snoqualmie River. The road to the put-in will be closed for two weeks this spring and then at times through the summer for installation of a new turbine. In addition a new access trail will be constructed to an access point downstream of the powerhouse. The details of the trail leading to the upstream side of the powerhouse are still being discussed. 1) From March 22nd through May 1st the

American Whitewater is working to restore whitewater opportunities, access and real-time flow information on this section of the Rogue. The Prospect Hydropower Project diverts water from the Rogue River and limits access to the reach between the powerhouse and Lost Creek Reservoir.  On February 23, 2004 American Whitewater filed comments on the impacts and improvements needed at this hydropower project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.   The upper Rogue adjacent to the Prospect Hydropower Project contains three distinct whitewater runs

 From the Desk of the National Paddling Film Festival Director: I want to THANK EVERYONE – especially the film makers and photographers for their contributions to this year’s 21st NPFF.  We have 30 films in our program and 45 Still Image photos currently on display on the NPFF web site.  This year’s films come from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, California, Washington State, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Oregon, Canada, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Arkansas, New York, Virginia, and Idaho. Their films and photos

AW Wants to Give Your Club $500American Whitewater is pleased to announce its 2nd annual Flowing Rivers Campaign, pledging $1,000 to American Whitewater Affiliate Clubs.  Funding for this very effective program is provided by Clif Bar.Clubs have the opportunity to apply for one of (2) $500 grants.  Grants will be distributed to clubs for projects that promote conservation, access and/or safety education on America’s rivers.  This program provides Club Affiliates with the seed money necessary to implement programs in their backyards.Interested

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is seeking a 30 to 50 year license for their Poe Hydroelectric Project on the North Fork Feather River.  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently accepted PG&E’s license application thereby triggering a two environmental review of the application.  Regulatory procedures under the Federal Power Act require that the environmental review of the license application contain a complete factual record for making resource decisions.  To ensure that the record is complete the FERC requested resource