Articles

On November 19th, 2003, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a notice of surrender of preliminary permits for hydro projects in the Western Cascades that were held by Washington Hydro Energy Development Corporation. One of these permits was for development of a hydro project on Skookum Creek (FERC docket 11850-003), a newly discovered creek run in the Nooksack watershed. Although we have had several victories with micro-hydro over the past year (see related article), the threat to the region’s

“But even for those who had somehow succeeded in getting to the high ground in time, even for those who were uninjured or were lucky enough to have a roof to sleep under, there was the indescribable agony of remembering what they had seen, and not knowing what had become of others. No one really knew for sure the extent of what had happened, but they knew it had been terrible beyond belief, and if the whereabouts of someone was

  How does paddling past a pipe gushing untreated sewage into the river sound to you? If this sounds less than ideal, you need to take a minute to send a comment to the EPA. Yes, the current administration is proposing to do it again, to make the environmental regulations that protect our environment and our health even weaker. The EPA has recently proposed a new policy that would allow partially treated sewage to be released directly into rivers during

On December 3rd, 2003 President Bush announced the passing of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, also known as the Healthy Forest Initiative. This controversial piece of legislation is intended to reduce the impact of wildfires but critics say it will do little to alleviate wildfires and will instead increase industrial logging of old growth and other sensitive areas. Specifically according to CNN, "The measure authorizes $760 million a year for thinning projects on 20 million acres of federal land, a

In a meeting today with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Agency officials asked me to approach American Whitewater’s membership and affiliates and ask for help.  The BLM would like your assistance in managing recreation. Specifically, the Agency would like us to compile answers to the following questions. We will share these answers with the Agency at the BLM ‘s National Recreation Forum in January 2004.QUESTION 1: What are your current views of CURRENT CONDITIONS regarding…Recreation Policy Recreation Uses Recreation Conflicts

The Upper North Fork Feather River contains two distinct whitewater runs: The eleven -mile Class IV-V Seneca run and the nine-mile Class III Belden run.  PG&E’s Upper North Fork Feather Hydropower Project, FERC No. 2105, dewaters each of these runs.  In 2000, American Whitewater Conservation Director John Gangemi began work on this lengthy relicense process.  In the fall of 2000 American Whitewater carried out a Whitewater Controlled Flow Study on both the Seneca and Belden runs.  Thirty-five participants consisting of

  Earlier this fall a landmark decision was announced to remove two dams and bypass a third on Maine’s Penobscot River. The agreement that calls for the removal of the dams was made between PPL Corporation, conservation groups, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the State of Maine, and the U.S. Department of Interior. The removal of the dams and the associated river restoration measures will restore access to hundreds of miles of habitat for atlantic salmon, shad, sturgeon, and other species

The start of the 2003-2004 paddling season in the Pacific Northwest has seen a change in access to a 3 mile section of the Washougal river located in Southwest Washington known as the Church Run. For a number of years local paddlers have utilized the footpath and parking lot of the Salmon Falls Church and Retreat. Due to a change in management, an impending sale, and the behavior of undisciplined visitors, this access is now closed. Other access points are

On November 24, 2003, a reporter for Vermont’s Rutland Herald, Peter Crabtree, reported (http://www.rutlandherald.com/News/Story/75064.html) that “Boating groups are protesting a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restrict whitewater releases on the West River. The Army Corps cut the fall release at the Ball Mountain Dam from two days to one in September, affecting hundreds of paddlers who turn out for the annual event. The Army Corps also intends to cut back flow levels for the spring release

Ground was broken for a $2 million federal project to improve the road across the top of Francis E. Walter Dam on the Lehigh River in Carbon County, PA, on Friday, November 14, 2003. An existing paved access road runs along the base of dam’s upstream face and is submerged when water-storage levels rise substantially. When that road is submerged, it prompts large water releases that some officials said can adversely affect the river. U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Luzerne, and

American Whitewater has learned that the term ‘Streamkeeper’ is a registered trademark of the Adopt-a-Stream Foundation. To avoid confusion we are going to stop using the term, and we’re asking for your help to think of a new name for our project.Whoever comes up with the winning name will win an IR/AW Thin Skin, AW Visor, and your choice of IR/AW Board Shorts.Please post your ideas to our Forum.When thinking of a new name, consider the ways in which we

Oregon’s Division of State Lands notified American Whitewater that they are initiating a formal navigability study on the John Day River from Tumwater Falls (approximately River Mile 10) to Kimberly (approximately River Mile 184).The process used to determine ownership of the beds and banks of Oregon’s waterwater is governed by ORS 274.400 to 247.412 (enacted in 1995) and administrative rules OAR 141-121-0000 through 141-121-0040.The study was requested by <b>John Day River Chapter of the Northwest Steelheaders</b> in 1997 and was endorsed

AW’s 50th Anniversary Gala EventTeva will host American Whitewater’s 50th Anniversary Gala at the Teva Mountain Games on June 5th.  The event will celebrate the past 50 years of American whitewater paddling while raising funds for AW to continue protecting and restoring the nation’s whitewater rivers.  To ensure that the soul of whitewater remains intact at the Gala, formal wear will be recommended and sandals will be required.  We hope that the entire boating community joins us in Vail, Colorado at the

Fortunately for us paddlers some individuals step up to the advocacy plate and start challenging the threats to our rivers.  Kris Schmidt stepped into this role in California with advocacy work on the Kern River and Piru Creek.  Both of these rivers are dewatered by hydropower projects.  Kris has taken a lead role in the relicense proceedings filing comments and attending meetings.  In July and again in September Kris was the point person organizing boaters, communicating with utilities and consultants for Controlled Flow Whitewater