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December Volunteer of the Month

Regional coordinator Vicky Vine, of Chico California, was a major factor in the very successful first season of recreational releases on the North Fork Feather River in Northern California. Vicky attended all five release weekends, spending many long hours working the booth and helping solve the many challenges that crop up during the start-up of a new release schedule. Vicky’s selfless dedication of her time and energy is but a small example of her love of rivers and her sense

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ACA and AW to Join Forces for River Safety

This past Monday AW Executive Director Risa Shimoda and long-time Safety Committee member Charlie Walbridge met with Pam Dillon, the new executive director of the American Canoe Association (ACA). Dave Jenkins, ACA’s legal expert, Virgil Chambers, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, and Ruth Wood, Executive Director of BOAT US also participated. ACA and AW were asking Ms. Wood’s advice on preparing a joint Coast Guard Grant application to be coordinated by Risa. In addition to support from

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Image for New Upper Ocoee Agreement Reached

AW Watershed Dry Bag 50% Off

Help to save a river and keep a loved one dry with a Watershed Dry Bag emblazoned with the AW Logo. These are first-rate quality bags made by people who support AW on and off the river.A full length closure and rugged carry handles make the ZipDry¨ duffle Watershed’s most popular style. All of the Watershed duffels feature over-the-top compression straps for a compact load. Whether it’s lunch and a camera for a day on the local creek, or luggage

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Image for New Project Threatens Holtwood Playspots (PA)

AW Watershed Dry Bags 50% Off

Help to save a river and keep a loved one dry with a Watershed Dry Bag emblazoned with the AW Logo. These are first-rate quality bags made by people who support AW on and off the river.A full length closure and rugged carry handles make the ZipDry¨ duffle Watershed’s most popular style. All of the Watershed duffels feature over-the-top compression straps for a compact load. Whether it’s lunch and a camera for a day on the local creek, or luggage

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NEWS: Court Removes Barrier to Protecting Roadless Areas

Today’s decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturning theIdaho District Court’s preliminary injunction on the Roadless AreaConservation Rule is an outstanding victory for conservation of the Nation’s headwaters rivers and streams. The Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling reflects the wishes of the millions ofAmericans who participated in the most inclusive rulemaking in federalrulemaking history. More than 1.6 million comments were received andmore than 600 public hearings were held throughout the country in theformulation of this landmark policy that protects

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AW Members: Vote for new members of the 2003-05 AW Board of Directors!

Vote today for those who have been recommended to serve on the American Whitewater Board of Directors. Recommended board members’ names, hometowns, and a brief summary of their background and qualifications are listed. These recommended board members, nominated to fill current board vacancies, will serve for a term of three (3) years, beginning January 1, 2003. You are eligible to vote if you are a dues-paying member in good standing. Individual Affiliate Clubs have two votes for each of the

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Enter and Attend the 20th NPFF

NPFF Announces BIG CHANGES for 2003! The Bluegrass Wildwater Association and it’s volunteers invite you to enter and attend the 2003 NPFF featuring the joy, challenge, and beauty of kayaking, and canoeing in a competition of video, film, and computer images, both still and motion. Each year the festival has grown and this year is no different as we continue to look at new ways to have fun, entertain and contribute more to river conservation. Please join with the volunteers

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Image for West River (VT) To Run This Weekend

Give the Cheat Canyon (WV) a Christmas Gift Today!

The following message is from AW Boardmember Charlie Walbridge. Charlie is working hard to protect the Cheat and Big Sandy Rivers. Please consider writing a letter as Charlie suggests to support the preservation of these wonderful rivers. What greater gift could you give a river!? I know it is the holidays, but this is really important! After joining the Friends of Cheat board I became the chair of a committeecalled the Cheat Canyon Coalition. About a dozen local conservation groupsare

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NEWS: Surf’s Up! California Beach Access Protected

December 7th, a lawsuit was dismissed that alleged that the California Coastal Commission does not have the right to require property owners to allow public access near their beachfront homes. The suit, brought by David Geffen of entertainment recording fame sought to keep people off the beach in front of his home. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe ruled that the September decision by California’s Coastal Commission requiring at least a dozen public pedestrian walkways along Malibu’s 27 miles

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Great Falls of the Catawba Information Needed

If you have scouted or paddled the typically dewatered "Great Falls of the Catawba" near the town of Great Falls, SC, Please contact Kevin Colburn at AW. Please email a trip report and your contact information to kevin@amwhitewater.org or call 828-252-6482.Thanks!

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Background on Staples and Dogwood Alliance Agreement

Southern Forests are the fiber basket of the world. As logging decreased in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990s, it accelerated across the South. Today, the Southern US is the largest wood-producing region in the world, producing 25 percent of the world s paper products and two-thirds of the paper made in the US. According to a 2-year federal study released last November: • The paper industry is the largest consumer of forests in the region, logging about 5

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Image for Dogwood Alliance Scores Protection for Southern Forests

Dogwood Alliance Scores Protection for Southern Forests

Staples Inc., the world s largest and fastest growing office supply retailer with more than a thousand stores nationwide, announced an unprecedented agreement with environmental groups. The agreement will result in sweeping protections for forests in the Southern United States and around the world. Led by the North Carolina-based Dogwood Alliance and California-based ForestEthics, the campaign targeting Staples has come to a successful close after two years. It featured more than 600 protests at Staples stores nationwide, ads featuring southern

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COMMENTS NEEDED: Road through Blackwater Canyon Proposed (WV)

Sample Letter — Maps of AreaThe Forest Service has received a request from Allegheny Wood Products to grant a road easement to cross the Monongahela National Forest. This road is intended to facilitate logging in the Blackwater Canyon. Your comments are neededThe Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act (ANILCA) requires the Forest Service to “provide such access to non-federally owned land within the boundaries of the National Forest System as the Secretary deems adequate to secure to the owner the

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Image for Wild and Scenic for Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie (WA) Passes House

AW Responds to Canal Collapse on NY’s Black River

The following letter was mailed to the utility earlier this week in response to the Glen Park Project canal wall failure that happened in late October of this year. American Whitewater will work with other interested parties in New York, and the owner of the canal, to have the river restored to a condition that is similar to or preferable to the pre-collapse site conditions. December 1, 2002 Mr. Mark Sundquist Northbrook EnergyGlen Park Hydroelectric ProjectGlen Park, NY Re: Repair

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Image for Help pass Colorado's "Right to Float" legislation

NEWS: Charlotte Headed Towards Becoming Whitewater Mecca

North Carolina’s Charlotte Observer reported on November 19th and 26th on two pieces of exciting whitewater news: the county commission is interested in helping to build a new $21.5 Million whitewater park; and USA Canoe and Kayak (USACK) will move its headquarters to the city.The whitewater park is being promoted by a non-profit organization, Charlotte Whitewater Park Inc., led by executive director Jeff Wise. This will be the only site like it in the United States; the closest rival is

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AW Needs Design Help

American Whitewater is looking for help from a graphic designer who is willing to volunteer their services to create the design elements necessary for this year’s American Whitewater River Festivals. These design elements would be used in national advertising, local/regional advertising, event posters, t-shirts, the event newspapers etc… The 2003 American Whitewater River Festivals will celebrate the health and well being of the river and its community. The Festivals will bring together river users and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a

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AW Needs Design Help

American Whitewater is looking for help from a graphic designer who is willing to volunteer their services to create the design elements necessary for this year’s American Whitewater River Festivals. These design elements would be used in national advertising, local/regional advertising, event posters, t-shirts, the event newspapers etc… The 2003 American Whitewater River Festivals will celebrate the health and well being of the river and its community. The Festivals will bring together river users and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a

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Image for AW Testifies in Colorado Senate on Right to Float

Settlement Agreement for the Bigfork Hydropower Project, Swan River, MT

PacifiCorp filed the Recreation Settlement Agreement for the Bigfork Hydropower Project to the FERC on November 8, 2002. American Whitewater negotiated river access improvements through the removal of chain link fencing and building pedestrian walkways across the canal, easements for public access for the 30 year life of the new license on non-project lands and Wednesday evening whitewater releases July 1 through August 31 annually. In addition the Settlement Agreement gives the local community of Bigfork the option to purchase

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Opportunity to Work for California Hydropower Reform

The CHRC is a coalition of conservation, sportfishing, and river recreation organizations that works to restore California rivers impaired by hydropower dams. The position description is as follows. Please visit www.calhrc.org for more information about CHRC, or contact CHRC Director Steven Wald with questions specific to the position. Assistant DirectorCalifornia Hydropower Reform CoalitionBerkeley, California The California Hydropower Reform Coalition is seeking a full-time assistantdirector to work with the coalition director in its downtown Berkeleyoffice. The CHRC works to restore and

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Holiday Shopping? You Can Give An AW Donation Painlessly!

With the holiday season coming on, some of you may be wanting to shop on line. If you go to the American Whitewater homepage and then click on Gear, Guides, and Services, and then on that page click on Books and Videos, that will take you to a link to Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com and whitewatervideo.com. If you click on any of those links from that page, AW will get a small percentage of each purchase at no additional

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LESSONS ON PROTECTING A STREAMGAGE

Save a Gauge in an HourBackground on Streamgaging – Sample Letters How do we get a gauge on the Fish? It looks like they have an old gauge house downstream on river left. Did they used to have one and it was shut down? With the help of AW, is there a way to get a gauge? I, myself, live 10 minutes from the Fish. I have no problem checking the gauge when people are wondering. BUT, I would love

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American Whitewater Refocuses Events Program to Better Serve Its Mission

American Whitewater Refocuses Events Program to Better Serve Its Mission ASHEVILLE, NC – After nurturing competitive freestyle paddling from its infancy in 1987, American Whitewater (AW) has announced a major shift in its events program for 2003. “AW will step aside as the organizing force for freestyle paddling competition” notes Michael Phelan, AW Events Director. “This move will usher in a new era, building upon our storied history of hosting exceptional whitewater river festivals that started in 1986 with the

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Image for North Fork Flathead (MT) Gets New Protections

Karen V’Soske November Volunteer of the Month!

American Whitewater would like to recognize Karen V’Soske as the November 2002 Volunteer of the Month! For the past four years, Karen has worked closely on the Ocoee River Festival. This year, she not only coordinated the 2002 Festival, but also the TEVA Tour Whitewater National Championships. With tremendous time and effort on her part, she pulled together volunteers and athletes to present a great event that provided widespread local media coverage regarding the loss of water on the Upper

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