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National River Clean Up Week

National River Cleanup® Week A Huge Success in 2002, Dates Set for ’03 Event! Knoxville, TN – Over 350 cleanups took place across the country this May in National River Cleanup 2002. A unique assortment of trash was collected in this year’s successful effort. Items included washing machines, water heaters, mattresses, truck and car bodies, oil drums, bowling pins and literally tons of cans, bottles and paper trash were removed from our nation’s waterways during this all volunteer effort. Since

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Image for White Salmon River (WA) BZ Access

White Salmon River (WA) BZ Access

When the rural community of BZ Corners was founded in 1930, few could have imagined that this would one day become the primary access point for the most popular whitewater river in the Columbia River Gorge (the take-out for the Green Truss section and put-in for the BZ section) . Over 18,000 boaters from around the Pacific Northwest and across the country enjoy paddling opportunities that are available year around in this federally designated Wild and Scenic River gorge.  

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Colorado Court Rules Parents Can Not Waive Liability for Minors

June 24, 2002: The Colorado Supreme Court has issued a decision that parents of minors have no right to sign liability waivers for their children under 18. This decision will affect all recreation liability waivers throughout the state, including those used by the commercial rafting industry. The ruling reports that the case stems from an accident in 1995, when David Cooper, then seventeen, suffered injuries, including blindness, when he lost control and crashed into a tree while training on a

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Image for Boxer Introduces Bill to Protect California's Wild Rivers

Boxer Introduces Bill to Protect California’s Wild Rivers

S. 2535: THE CALIFORNIA WILD HERITAGE ACT OF 2002 Note: American Whitewater is a member group of the California Wild Heritage CampaignSenator Barbara Boxer has introduced S.2535, the California Wild Heritage Act of 2002. The bill will significantly expand the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System and the National Wilderness Preservation System on federally managed public lands in California. S. 2535 is the largest river protection and the third largest wilderness bill in California history.The California Wild Heritage Act designates:

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American Whitewater Survey / $200 Gift Certificate

The survey is now over! Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey for us. We have received tons of valuable feedback! The winner will be announced shortly. We’d like to thank the following supporters of American Whitewater who have helped make this survey happen: ·         Thom Stanton of ProActive Multimedia for designing and developing the survey, ·         Scott Wellman of LogicDepot for providing the online survey engine and hosting, and ·         Mark Singleton and the Nantahala Outdoor Center for providing

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New Fee Legislation Introduced for National Parks and Forests

TOP – S.2607 – S.2473 – AW Reflections 2002 FEE LEGISLATION IN THE 107th CONGRESS S.2607 “The Bingaman Bill” To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to collect recreation fees on Federal lands, and for other purposes.S.2473 “The Thomas Bill” To enhance the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program for the National Park Service, and for other purposes. These two bills were introduced in May and June, 2002. Senator Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, held

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Grand Canyon River Planning to Begin Anew

USEFUL LINKS Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP – Official) Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association (GCPBA) GCPBA’s Grand Canyon Related Links Grand Canyon Private River Guides (GCRG) Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association (GCROA) CRMP Planning Schedule June 13, 2002 – The Park Service is seeking your help to fix the Private Boater Permit Waiting List (now over 20 years long) and protect the special places and experiences you value in the Grand Canyon!As a result of American Whitewater’s lawsuit, the Park

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Image for Boat Stickers Now Required in Idaho

Introducing. . .

It is not often that an organization gets the opportunity to welcome a staff member who has so much to offer. Bob Taylor will be joining the American Whitewater team as the new Events Coordinator. He brings unprecedented levels of enthusiasm, unquestionable dedication to the American Whitewater Mission and loads of skills that will enhance the overall events program. Bob has been a long-standing volunteer for American Whitewater and was recently recognized as a volunteer of the month for AW

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Image for Saluda Dam Relicensing Settled!

AW Comments on the Possible Alteration of the Route 3 Wave (NY).

The Route 3 Wave is a well-loved intermediate park-n-play spot on New York’s Black River. It is an urban feature located in Downtown Watertown. A recent proposal to alter the wave to make it a more advanced breaking wave suitable for competitive freestyle kayaking has many local boaters deeply concerned about possibly losing a wave they treasure. AW has recently gotten involved with this project by talking to many of the key players and drafting comments for distribution to all

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Tom O

American Whitewater is a lean, non-profit organization able to take on national issues as well as solve hundreds of local river issues. American Whitewater’s success depends upon the many volunteers working hard to protect the beauty and integrity of their local whitewater rivers. Tom O’Keefe is one of those volunteers that seems to be everywhere a river issue pops-up in the Pacific Northwest. His academic background (river ecology and research in salmon restoration at the University of Washington) resonates in

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Image for Bear River Releases Rescheduled for Late Summer (ID)

Tom O

American Whitewater is a lean, non-profit organization able to take on national issues as well as solve hundreds of local river issues. American Whitewater’s success depends upon the many volunteers working hard to protect the beauty and integrity of their local whitewater rivers. Tom O’Keefe is one of those volunteers that seems to be everywhere a river issue pops-up in the Pacific Northwest. His academic background (river ecology and research in salmon restoration at the University of Washington) resonates in

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Chattooga – Amendment #14 River Management Plan; Comments needed by June 12

Alert!  The Forest Service released the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the proposed Amendment #14 on May 7, 2002. The deadline for comments is June 12, 2002. Permits, reservation requirement, fees, access to the headwaters, and water quality are at stake. If you care about these issues, it is vitally important for you to submit comments on the new Amendment! This is true regardless of whether you’ve written other letters over the past three years. Time is of the essence and

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Image for Teva Potomac Whitewater Festival Huge Success

Teva Potomac Whitewater Festival Huge Success

The 2002 Teva Potomac Whitewater Festival is one of the most unique festivals in the country with its large number of different comeptitions which include squirt competitions, down river racing, extreme racing, hole riding, free riding, and attainment racing. Great weather and lots of spectators capped off a great event. Thank you to all of the new members of American Whitewater who joined up at the event. Check out results under the Events heading on the web page. Thank you

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Rhinelander WW Release Schedule

RHINELANDER WHITEWATER COURSE (PELICAN RAPIDS) 2002 RELEASES Note: Releases are water flow dependent, check for schedule updates DATE: May 29 (Work Day Brushing & Clean Up)TIME: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pmFLOW: No Release DATE: June 4TIME: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pmFISH RESCUE: 8:00 pm – 900 pmFLOW: 600 cfs DATE: June 24 (Paper Mill Shut Down)TIME: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (please no paddlers before 5:00)FLOW: Run of River Flows DATE: June 25 (Paper Mill Shut Down)TIME: 8:00 am –

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Image for Cheoah River Restoration Report Released - Thumbs Up!

What do you get when you cross Nealy with a dry river?

You get water in the North Fork of the Feather!! What IBR (Whaaaatt? Show up and find out!) Show up with your boat and gearWhen Saturday, June 15:00 p.m.Where Belden ResortWhy Because William says so. He’s watching you This will be the kickoff to an evening of celebration for the first release on the North Fork Feather, thanks to the years of work, angst and devotion to whitewater river restoration. The rest of the evening will also make William proud

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What Do You Get When You Cross Nealy And A Dry River?

You get water in the North Fork of the Feather? What IBR (Whaaaatt? Show up and find out!) Show up with your boat and gearWhen Saturday, June 15:00 p.m.Where Belden ResortWhy Because William says so. He’s watching you This will be the kickoff to an evening of celebration for the first release on the North Fork Feather, thanks to the years of work, angst and devotion to whitewater river restoration. The rest of the evening will also make William proud

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Image for What Do You Get When You Cross Nealy And A Dry River?

What Do You Get When You Cross Nealy And A Dry River?

You get water in the North Fork of the Feather…. Nealy Lives!Join the eclectic with a post river-run event that will celebrate and memorialize the king of the hilarious understatement. William Nealy continues to teach and delight through his wit and talent for being able to surprise and teach us, despite ourselves. What IBR (Whaaaatt? Show up and find out!) Show up with your boat and gearWhen Saturday, June 15:00 p.m.Where Belden ResortWhy Because William says so. He’s watching you

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What Do You Get When You Cross Nealy And The North Fork Of The River

You get water in the North Fork of the Feather…. Nealy Lives!Join the eclectic with a post river-run event that will celebrate and memorialize the king of the hilarious understatement. William Nealy continues to teach and delight through his wit and talent for being able to surprise and teach us, despite ourselves. What IBR (Whaaaatt? Show up and find out!) Show up with your boat and gearWhen Saturday, June 15:00 p.m.Where Belden ResortWhy Because William says so. He’s watching you

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Subscribe to Kayak Session – Support AW

The new edition of Kayak Session is waiting for you, at California Canoe & kaya, the NOC Outfitters Store, Zoar Outdoors, Idaho River Sports and many dozens of other retailers across the US and Canada! Issue No. 2 includes the writing of AW Access Director Jason Robertson on the recent victory for boaters on the Grand Canyon, and Dunbar Hardy covering AW Executive Director Risa Shimoda in a personal profile. As always, the creative and production are impressive and you

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Cheesman Gorge Access Agreement Reached by AW! (CO)

Short Summary of Courtesy Rules Despite AW’s Success…access to Colorado Rivers is still filled with Fear and Loathing. By Tim Kelley, AW Board Member After six years that saw paddlers being threatened, intimidated, assaulted, and ticketed for trespassing; the fishing club “Sportsmen’s Paradise” (SP) informed American Whitewater (AW) that they lifted the “trash rack” that created a river wide strainer on the Upper South Platte River in Colorado. The strainer prevented ready access to one of Colorado’s best creek runs,

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Chattooga EA Released: Deadline Extended to June 12, 2002

Amendment #14 AppendicesAW’s Early Analysis of EA AW’s Comment Period Extension Request “The Forest Service seems to be playing a shell game with river and land management issues in the Chattooga watershed. While the agency’s employees earnestly believe in what they’re doing, their actions demonstrate little regard for public input, the NEPA process, or the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. We want the agency to commit to resolving water quality issues on the tributaries and boating access above Highway 28.”

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VA, DE, PA, RI, FL, & MT Boaters: Please Call Senate to Improve Water Quality

Residents of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Florida, and Montana: Your Senators will cast pivotal votes in a committee hearing this Thursday authorizing funds for water infrastructure. Please call or write your Senator today, and ask him to support the Wyden amendment for non-structural solutions and environmental approaches. Take action. On Thursday, May 16, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will vote to authorize $35 billion in water infrastructure funding. Senator Wyden has proposed an amendment to the bill,

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Whitewater Releases Scheduled for the Mokelumne River, California

In late May and early June there are scheduled releases on the Tiger Creek (Class IV) and Ponderosa Way (Class III) sections of the Mokelumne River. American Whitewater secured these releases in the relicense process for the Mokelumne Hydroelectric Project. Releases will occur on Tiger Creek on the following weekends: May 25 and 26; June 1 and 2; June 8 and 9. The Tiger Creek section is roughly three miles long. The put in is directly downstream of the Tiger

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Whitewater Releases Scheduled for the Mokelumne River, California

Whitewater Releases Scheduled for the Mokelumne River,California   In late May and early June there are scheduled releases onthe Tiger Creek (Class IV) and Ponderosa Way (Class III) sections of theMokelumne River.  American Whitewatersecured these releases in the relicense process for the Mokelumne HydroelectricProject.    Releases will occur on Tiger Creek on the followingweekends: May 25 and 26;  June 1 and 2;June 8 and 9.  The Tiger Creek sectionis roughly three miles long.  The put inis directly downstream of the

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