Articles - American Whitewater

Leave No Trace Policy

January 22, 2001

Your actions on and off the river affect how people perceive boaters in their communities. Here are 10 things you can do to protect access to rivers nationally. <UL><li>1. Drive courteously, especially in small communities.</LI> <LI>2. Park in designated areas and avoid blocking driveways or traffic. Seek permission from landowners before accessing the river via private property.</LI> <LI>3. Use existing trails.</LI> <LI>4. Use discretion when scouting, and attempt to hike on rocks and boulders when portaging.</LI> <LI>5. Dispose of human waste properly.</LI> <LI>6. Maintain a

Risk Management in Six Steps

January 22, 2001

By Will LeverettePublished in American Whitewater January/February 2001Editor’s Note: Will Leverette is the Risk Management Department Director for the Worldwide Outfitter and Guide Association, International Special Event and Recreation Association, and Prime Insurance Syndicate. Will also does risk management consulting through his company, ARMOR, the Affiliation of Risk Managers for Outdoor Recreation. More importantly from our perspective, Will is the Whitewater Paddling Coach for Warren Wilson College. Will can be contacted at 353 Buckeye Cove Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778, Phone:

Passive Access Reductions on South Fork American (CA)

January 18, 2001

In January 2001, American Whitewater Regional Coordinator Mike Bean alerted El Dorado County officials that boaters are strongly concerned about the spectre of reduced access opportunities on the South Fork American. Access is being reduced through passive controls and agreements, which allow commercial access but limit or deny the public’s ability to get to and from the river. {Mailed January 17, 2001} Craven Alcott, El Dorado Parks and Recreation Manager 3000 Fairlane Court, Suite 1Placerville, CA 95667530/621-5864 or 621-5598 Dear

ALERT: Logging on Upper Yough Planned

January 18, 2001

American Whitewater recently learned of plans to log sections of the Upper Yough’s river bank near Friendsville, MD. Our volunteers mailed the attached letter to the Maryland DNR on January 18th, 2001. If you are concerned about the aesthetic and environmental impacts of logging on the Upper Yough, we strongly encourage you to write similar letters and mail them before January 25th. While logging is permitted under the Wild & Scenic River Management Plan for the Upper Yough, we are

Action Alert: Hydropower Relicense Process Reviewed

January 15, 2001

Your Comments Needed to Protect Rivers Undergoing Hydropower Relicensing. Your comments can make the difference between dry river channels and restored rivers! Comment Electronically by February 1, 2001. See Comment Form and address below. Background: In November, 2000, Senator Frank Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, added a few sentences to an energy-related bill, (known as a rider) ordering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study ways to "reduce the cost and time of obtaining a (hydropower dam) license." American Whitewater

Action Alert: Changes to Hydropower Relicensing Process

January 15, 2001

Action Alert: Hydropower Relicense Process Reviewed

January 15, 2001

Action Alert: Changes proposed to Hydropower Relicense Process

January 15, 2001

Your Comments Needed to Protect Rivers Undergoing Hydropower Relicensing. Your comments can make the difference between dry river channels and restored rivers!Comment Electronically by February 1, 2001.See Comment Form and address below.Background: In November, 2000, Senator Frank Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, added a few sentences to an energy-related bill, (known as a rider) ordering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study ways to “reduce the cost and time of obtaining a (hydropower dam) license.” American Whitewater and other groups

Oregon/California Action Alert: Hydropower Relicensing starts on Klamath River

January 11, 2001

PacifiCorp will hold three public meetings to provide an overview of the First Stage Consultation Document for the Klamath Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2082. The dates and locations of the meetings follows: January 24, 20018:30 am – 11:30 am Project Tour – Oregon Facilities Meet at Link River Trailhead, Lakeshore Dr, Klamath Falls, OR1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Public Meeting Shilo Inn, 2500 Almond Street, Klamath Falls, OR January 25, 20011:00 pm – 4:00 pm Project Tour – California

River Recreationists Win Big in Montana!

January 9, 2001

The Missoulian newspaper reported on January 5th, 2001 that U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell dismissed a case challenging public recreational rights on Montana’s rivers and streams. This is a huge win for boaters and fishermen. The case was brought by the Mountain States Legal Foundation, and challenged a 1985 law allowing recreational access below the high water mark on all rivers and streams. The Mountain States Legal Foundation was established in the 1980’s with assistance from James Watt, the

Oregon Navigability Law and Water Rights

January 9, 2001

Trends in Recreational Water Rights in the Pacific Northwest Written by Jason Robertson, Access Director for the American Whitewater Affiliation (AWA) & Steven Ledbetter, law student at Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College and summer intern at AWA. Recreational Limits of Navigability On July 31, 1998, Shannon Carroll kayaked off the 65-foot Sahalie waterfall on the McKenzie River in Oregon to set the world free-fall kayaking record. The Sahalie Falls represent the extreme limits “navigability,” accessible only

Southeast Action Alert: Duke Power Launches Hydropower Relicensing Studies

January 8, 2001

On January 12, 2001, Duke Power (formerly Nantahala Power and Light) will host a Relicensing Open House from 10 am until 2 pm at their office in Franklin, NC. This is a time for stakeholders (Agencies, NGO’s, general public, etc.) to meet with Duke Power to discuss Study Plan development. Duke is currently in the process of relicensing hydropower projects on the main stem, West Fork and East Fork of the Tuckasegee River and as well as the Nantahala hydroelectric

Southeast Action Alert: Duke Power Launches Hydropower Relicensing Studies

January 8, 2001

Southeast Action Alert: Duke Power Announces Hydropower Relicensing Studies

January 8, 2001

Action Alert: Whitewater Rivers Under Siege

January 4, 2001

As the New Year begins, the river and paddling community is bracing itself for one of its first battles in the effort to prevent rollbacks of important environmental regulations in the 107th Congress. From January 8 to January 18, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – the federal agency responsible for regulating private hydropower dams – will hold a series of public meetings as it prepares a report to Congress outlining ways to “reduce the cost and time of obtaining

American Whitewater Executive Director Position

January 4, 2001

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AMERICAN WHITEWATER WASHINGTON, D.C American Whitewater, the nation’s only whitewater organization focusing on whitewater conservation and access, seeks a Washington, D.C. based Executive Director. This is a unique opportunity to lead a well-established national organization into the 21st century. The director will have six core objectives: § Manage, develop and expand AW’s national conservation, access and membership programs; § Implement AW’s new 3 year strategic plan;§ Develop and integrate comprehensive national marketing plan; § Expand AW’s

Happy Holidays!

December 21, 2000

Our staff, volunteers, and board of directors at American Whitewater wish you happy holidays and a joyous new year. May the year be filled with exciting boating opportunities, perfect water levels, and safe experiences on your favorite rivers! Play hard, play safe, and play well!

What Are Recreational Use Statutes?

December 13, 2000

Editor’s Note: Adapted by Jason Robertson for American Whitewater with permission from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). The original article was prepared for IMBA by Tina Burghardt in 1996, and is available at: http://www.imba.com/index.html.Table of ContentsState-by-State Comparison of Recreational Use Statutes Introduction In today’s litigious society, private landowners and public land managers must concern themselves with the issue of liability. The fear of a lawsuit is often enough to prevent private landowners from opening their land to whitewater boating

Liability and Recreational Use Statutes

December 11, 2000

American Whitewater has prepared this table with substantial help from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) and the American Association for Horsemanship Safety (AAHS) as a tool for understanding the differences between state recreational use statutes on a national basis. This table is a valuable tool; however it is not the final word on liability law in America. Exercise your own good judgement when using the material and verify the status of your state statutes independently with an attorney before

State Liability Laws and Recreational Use Statutes

December 11, 2000

American Whitewater has prepared this table as a tool and research guide for understanding the differences between state recreational use statutes on a national basis. It is certainly not the final word on the current state of liability law in America. You should exercise your own good judgement when using the material and we strongly encourage you to verify the status of your state statutes independently with an attorney before relying on this data.What are Recreational Use Statutes and how

Whitewater Accident on the La Grande Canyon of the Nisqually River, Washington

December 8, 2000

A tragic kayaking accident occurred on the La Grande Canyon of theNisqually on December 2, 2000. Chris Ringsven became pinned in hisboat in a rapid referred to as Hammer Slammer. Detailed accounts of theaccident and rescue are circulating online at Boater talkhttp://boatertalk.com/HyperNews/get/BT/22254.html. American Whitewater is conducting an investigation of the accident thatlead to Chris Ringsven’s tragic death on the Nisqually. CharlieWalbridge, Safety Editor for American Whitewater, is heading up theinvestigation. Charlie has been conducting whitewater accident reportssince 1974. For many

Whitewater Accident on the La Grande Canyon of the Nisqually River, Washington

December 8, 2000

A tragic kayaking accident occurred on the La Grande Canyon of the Nisqually on December 2, 2000. Chris Ringsven became pinned in his boat in a rapid referred to as Hammer Slammer. Detailed accounts of the accident and rescue are circulating online at Boater talk http://boatertalk.com/HyperNews/get/BT/22254.html. American Whitewater is conducting an investigation of the accident that lead to Chris Ringsven's tragic death on the Nisqually. Charlie Walbridge, Safety Editor for American Whitewater, is heading up the investigation. Charlie has been

Housatonic River, CT FERC Public Meetings

December 6, 2000

Hydropower Relicensing meeting for Falls Village & Bulls Bridge Public Outreach Meetings:December 4, 2000, Lee Kellogg Elementary School, Falls Village, CTDecember 6, 2000, Northville Elementary School, New Milford, CTDecember 7, 2000, First South Congregational Church, Hartford, CT1 pm – 3 pm December 5 and 6, 2000 8:30 am Meet at the Northeast Generations Services-CT Hydro Office parking lot in New Milford and travel by bus to the facilities returning about 4 pm. Dec. 5 trip will visit the Falls Village

Housatonic River, CT FERC Public Meetings

December 6, 2000

Hydropower Relicensing meeting for Falls Village & Bulls BridgePublic Outreach Meetings:December 4, 2000, Lee Kellogg Elementary School, Falls Village, CTDecember 6, 2000, Northville Elementary School, New Milford, CTDecember 7, 2000, First South Congregational Church, Hartford, CT1 pm – 3 pm December 5 and 6, 2000 8:30 am Meet at the Northeast Generations Services-CT Hydro Office parking lot in New Milford and travel by bus to the facilities returning about 4 pm.Dec. 5 trip will visit the Falls Village facilities and

Access on the Middle-Middle

December 4, 2000

Takeout for the Middle-MiddleAs the closest intermediate whitewater to Seattle and the mostconvenient river for after-work paddling trips on weekdays, continuedaccess to the Middle section of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie is animportant issue for area boaters. While access at the current takeoutis adequate and is conveniently located at the end of the class IIIwhitewater, it’s location on a dead-end residential street is causefor concern. Recent events on the Skykomish and Wenatchee remind usall that we can’t take access for granted.King