Articles

Link to Savage River NewsMore than 125 boaters wrote letters to Governor Glendening at the 2001 Potomac Fest asking for his personal attention in getting regularly scheduled whitewater recreation releases on the World Championship Savage River. In September, Governor Glendening asked his staff to mediate between American Whitewater and the Upper Potomac River Commission. It now appears that the UPRC is willing to consider American Whitewater’s proposal for releases. Thanks to everyone who wrote the Governor and helped us with

A major success for AW and the paddling community! On August 23, 2001 a meeting was held with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and local hunt club representatives. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss paddlers’ access to the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area roadways during the managed hunts. This issue was identified by AW in its “top 40” access issues in the year 2000. The National Park Service management from Big South Fork and the Obed served as the

American Whitewater and Duke Power implemented a successful controlled whitewater flow study on the cascades and upper Nantahala on September 26th and 27th. Nearly 50 volunteers paddled either section of the river up to 4 times at 4 different flows; 175cfs, 250cfs, 350cfs and 500cfs. This study was a critical step towards establishing a regular schedule of releases on the class 4/5 Cascades and class 3 Upper Nantahala in Western North Carolina. The success of the flow study would not

John Cornwell and the Ace Outdoor Center rolled out another fantastic Rolling Rodeo on the Gauley River, September 21st. The Rodeo incorporated a wave event on Geek Wave, an FTR event at Pillow Rock, a hole riding competition at Hungry Mother, and a culminating FTR at Sweets Falls. Approximately, thirty-five NOWR Pro’s participated in the event. The highlights of the competition included Ted Devoe and Bryan Kirk wowing the crowd with some stunning aerial loops at Geek Wave, BJ Johnson

A partial view of the Gauley Festival from atop the Perception van. Close to 5000 attendees flooded this year’s Gauley Fest Spectacular! Among them were the 200 or so volunteers that made this stupendous event possible. We want to publicly thank them and give you the official event recap. I want to apologize up front. If I’ve left out your name, forgive me. That’s the problem with this sort of thank you — some get overlooked. Please let me know,

Congratulations to new member Steve Higgins of Windsor, Ontario, the winner of the Prijon boat of his choice. Steve’s name was drawn last Saturday night at the Gauley River Festival from among approximately 900 other new members who joined American Whitewater since April 1, 2001. Talk about new member benefits!!! Many thanks to Prijon for donating this great prize. Steve, enjoy your new boat!

Want to protect your FREE, unlimited access at Panther Creek (AKA Mason Branch)? Then don’t camp at the site, and don’t build fires in the field. Most importantly, if you see campers at the site, take charge of the situation and ask them to move along to a campground elsewhere. If boaters blow our access at the Panther Creek take-out, then there is no other access point until you get to Bucklick (the put in for the Lower), and it

AW’s Paddle Ecuador! Contest Imagine…lush rainforests, clean warm water, lava cliffs, tree-lined banks, tropical birds, waterfalls, polished granite bolders. You could be there! Sign up for the contest today and get one free entry in the drawing for a 7-day trip in ECUADOR. Click here! About the contest You probably know at least a handful of people who want to protect and paddle whitewater rivers just as much as you do. When they join American Whitewater, they’ll help us make

Volunteers are hard at work getting ready for the 2001 Gauley Festival to take place this coming Saturday. American Whitewater Board Members Joe Greiner, Kara Weld, Sherry Olsen and Tom Christopher hard at work on issues affecting whitewater paddlers across the country.Volunteer AW Directors from all over the US are in meetings this Thursday and Friday to make the decisions that will determine the direction of the only organization working solely on whitewater. AW Board Member Tom Christopher was instrumental

1. Ocoee River, Tennessee Issue: Releases on the Upper Ocoee River Goal: Secure an annual schedule of free releases Current Status: TVA recently decided to drastically reduce the number of releases available to paddlers on the Upper Ocoee. It is their opinion that they own the water and are therefore entitled to charge paddlers for the use of that water. American Whitewater disagrees; the water is part of the public trust and belongs first and foremost in the river. TVA

1. Ocoee River, Tennessee Issue: Releases on the Upper Ocoee River Goal: Secure an annual schedule of free releases Current Status: TVA recently decided to drastically reduce the number of releases available to paddlers on the Upper Ocoee. It is their opinion that they own the water and are therefore entitled to charge paddlers for the use of that water. American Whitewater disagrees; the water is part of the public trust and belongs first and foremost in the river. TVA

Nantahala Cascades Flow Study Alert American Whitewater and Duke Power are conducting a flow study on the Cascades and Upper Nantahala in the coming weeks as part of the relicensing of the hydro project on the Nantahala. This flow study could ultimately lead to scheduled releases on these great class 4/5 and 3 sections. Word has gotten out about the study and folks have been contacting us about paddling the river on the study days. Uninvited paddlers showing up to

Message from Ulrich Feldhoff, ICF President The ICF Slalom World Championships 2001, which were scheduled to take place between September 20th-23rd, 2001 on the slalom course of Ocoee Tennessee (USA) have been cancelled due to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America. This decision was taken by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) today in cooperation with the National Federation of the United States (USACK) and the local Organizing Committee (CBEDA) in Ocoee. The federal authorities in the United

Jay Kenney, American Whitewater’s President, reports that we have won the first round of our legal battles in Colorado! As Jay says, “This is great news!”By order dated September 10, 2001, the Gunnison County District Court granted Colorado White Water Association and American Whitewater’s motion to intervene in the “trespass” lawsuit filed there. The lawsuit, which Gateview Ranch and Timber Bridge Ranch filed against Cannibal Outdoor Network and Jack and Leslie Nichols, claims that boaters and floaters on the river

Ninety three kayakers and thirty one rafts created a terrific show of skill at the 2001 Gore Canyon Race on August 25th. Paddlers from around the country (including Jeff Snyder, striding!) joined to support safe fun, and a fundraiser for American Whitewater and Colorado Whitewater Assn. in their effort to insure access to rivers in the access-challenged state of Colorado. Safety was set expertly by Tim Kelley, assisted by 28 in a well-organized skilled safety team, statined at each of

You cannot buy this t-shirt!! This is the volunteer t-shirt for the 2001 American Whitewater Gauley Festival. There will only be 200 made. It has been specially designed for the American Whitewater 2001 Gauley Fest volunteers by Dan Peschio of Asheville NC. Once you earn it and wear it, it shows your boatin’ buds that you cared enough to give two (just two) hours of your time to help American Whitewater pull off the 2001 Gauley Festival on Saturday, Sep.

Enter American Whitewater’s Great Gauley River Festival Trivia Contest! Answer these questions about Gauley whitewater history correctly and you will have a chance to win a specially signed, first edition copy of Sue Taft’s new book "The River Chasers". This new book is a comprehensive history of whitewater sport drawn from the people who influenced it most in the U.S. and abroad. Well researched through personal interviews and illustrated with many personal photos this book should be in every whitewater

John Frachella, American Whitewater regional coordinator for Maine announced that Great Northern Paper will be releasing 400-450 cfs on September 7, 8 and 9 on the Canadian Falls section of the South Branch of the Penobscot, followed on September 10 and continuing through the month with 600 cfs on the Seboomook section of the West Branch. While not optimal boating levels, John points out that this should be welcome following a recent drought and that any rains could augment these

John Frachella, American Whitewater regional coordinator has announced that Great Northern Paper will be releasing 400-450 cfs on the Canada Falls section of the South Branch of the Penobscot on September 7, 8 and 9 followed by 600 cfs on the Seboomook section of the West Branch beginning September 10 through the month. While not optimal boating levels, John points out that these should be welcome following a recent drought and that any welcome rain could well augment these. Please

Long time Maine activist and regional coordinator John Frachella announced that Great Northern Paper will be having scheduled releases on the Penobscot in September. First, on the Canadian Falls section of the South Branch of the Penobscot they will be releasing 400-450 cfs on September 7, 8 and 9. Beginning September 10 and running through the end of the month they are promising to release 600 cfs on the Seboomook section of the West Branch. John informs us that there

American Whitewater listed the Blackwater River in our Top 40 River issues in 1998, 1999, and 2000, based on concerns about logging and development. Now, another national recreation and conservation organization, the Federation of Fly Fishers, has added the Blackwater to their list too; thereby demonstrating once again that boaters have much in common with fishermen including our love for naturally clean and protected rivers. NEWS FROM THE FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS Contact: Greg Pitts — President FFF — 406-222-6110AMERICA’S