Articles

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

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

AW is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary of protecting and restoring America’s rivers.  This special year for AW will be packed with festivities in a variety of forms including a membership appreciation tour. The largest and most essential group of people to thank is each and every one of our generous members.  It is your membership fees that allow AW to carry on its mission and work. Throughout the entire 2004 boating season AW volunteers and staff will be

American Whitewater would like to thank the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York, (KCCNY) for receipt of donations totalling over $1,800 during the past two months. These gifts represent a variety of fundraising efforts including ‘match’ challenges by individual KCCNY members Jane Majeski and Jane Bernstein, in support of the long history and current work going on in the New York / New Jersey region.It was in New York that AW discovered the public’s ability to restore water to rivers that had been dried up (‘dewatered’)

The Senate Energy Committee passed S. 1107 this morning to limit Fee Demo to the Naitonal Parks. The legislation included NO amendments for other agencies such as the Forest Service or the BLM.  This is an enormous victory!Some Senators on the Committee received hundreds – even upwards of a thousand – calls and faxes over the last four days from across the nation.  One office received only FOUR faxes saying “recreation fees are maybe OK!”  It was clear to our Senators

Calling all craft people, collectors, restaurateurs, travel and guide services and retailers!  Do you have a special talent, collection, product or service you would like to showcase at American Whitewater’s 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Vail Colorado?  Have you thought about what more you can do to help protect and restore a resource that is in more and more danger every day?   American Whitewater will be hosting a silent auction preceding dinner at the Gala on June 5th, 2004 at

The National Park Service will be holding another meeting regarding Gauley River Access and other issues.  The meeting is being held on Thursday, February 12th from 7-9 pm, at the Midland Trail High School in Hico, WV.  The NPS has now proposed 3 alternatives on how to improve access to the Gauley and Meadow Rivers and is seeking public comment on the proposed alternatives.If you are interested in paddler access to the Gauley or Meadow rivers please read the most

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is holding a series of scoping   meetings this week in order to hear the public’s concerns and ideas regarding   for small dams in Western North Carolina. These dams are Bryson Dam on the Oconoluftee   River, Dillsboro Dam on the Tuckasegee, Franklin Dam on the Little Tennessee   River, and Mission Dam on the Hiwassee River. If you, as an individual or as   a representative of an organization or business have