Tom O’Keefe okeefe@u.washington.edu has created a nice web page http://students.washington.edu/~ukc/ww/river_access/snoq_mf_takeout.html with special information about access concerns on the Middle-Middle.
Deputy J.C. Olmos Ventura CountyPiru, CaliforniaNovember 1, 2000 American Whitewater is a non-profit river conservation organization. We were founded in 1957 with the purpose of conserving and restoring America’s whitewater resources and enhancing opportunities to enjoy them safely. We have 8,000 members, and represent more than 160 affiliate clubs with an additional 80,000 whitewater paddlers. Our program areas focus on safety, conservation, access, and events. Several of our members paddle on California’s Piru Creek. Dear Deputy Olmos, Thank you for
There is growing recognition nationwide of how whitewater recreation benefits river communities and improves local economies. This recognition has improved access, restored rivers, removed dams, and changed attitudes on the role of extractive industries—it has led to better rivers and better paddling. But not everyone shares this vision. American Whitewater needs your help to battle the TVA. The HUGE bureaucracy that believes rivers are its own personal property. That bureaucracy is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Founded in the 1930’s
Help AW Restore Flow to the Upper Ocoee There is growing recognition nationwide of how whitewater recreation benefits river communities and improves local economies. This recognition has improved access, restored rivers, removed dams, and changed attitudes on the role of extractive industries—it has led to better rivers and better paddling. But not everyone shares this vision. That bureaucracy is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Founded in the 1930’s to provide flood control, navigation, reforestation, agricultural and economic development for the
A dam has been proposed for a stream within the watershed of Daddy’s Creek ,TN within the Obed/Emory River System, just outside the National Wild and Scenic River boundary. The importance of this issue transcends the project itself; interpretation of the Obed’s hard-fought-for ONRW (Outstanding National Resource Water, or Tier-3) designation is at stake here, as are a number of other basic issues. Your involvement is going to be very important, so we hope you will take action. Letters and
Yough Coroner’s Inquest Reports: On November 28th I attended the coroner’s inquest into the three drownings that occurred on the Lower Youghiogheny at Dimple Rapid this past summer.Dr. Philip Reilly, the Fayette County Coroner, has examined other Yough River deaths with an eye towards improving safety on the river. This past summerhe stated that he thought it would be advisable to destroy Dimple Rock. Most of the day was devoted to gathering testimony from people who were there. This included
Yough Coroner’s Inquest Reports:On November 28th I attended the coroner’s inquest into the three drownings that occurred on the Lower Youghiogheny at Dimple Rapid this past summer. Dr. Philip Reilly, the Fayette County Coroner, has examined other Yough River deaths with an eye towards improving safety on the river. This past summer he stated that he thought it would be advisable to destroy Dimple Rock.Most of the day was devoted to gathering testimony from people who were there. This included
PG&E is relicensingmultiple projects on the Middle Fork and South Fork of the StanislausRiver. American Whitewater is activelyinvolved in the relicense proceedings. Because the runs on the Middle and South Stanislaus are remote little isknown about current use or the influence of the respective hydro projects onwhitewater opportunities. AmericanWhitewater has advocated a sequential approach to determine which river reacheswarrant further study in the relicense. PG&E has hired a consultant to gather additional information fromthe whitewater community regarding use of
IMMEDIATE OPENING – PLEASE POST Hydropower Program AssistantCalifornia Hydropower Reform CoalitionBerkeley, CaliforniaIntroductionThe California Hydropower Reform Coalition is hiring a full-time program assistant to work with the coalition coordinator in its downtown Berkeley office. The CHRC works to restore and enhance California rivers damaged by hydropower, through collaborative negotiation with hydropower operators and through state and federal administrative and regulatory processes. The CHRC Steering Committee includes American Whitewater, California Outdoors, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, California Trout, Foothill Conservancy, Friends of the River,
JOB DESCRIPTIONRIVER CONSERVATION & ACCESSEASTERN ASSOCIATEJob Classification: Regular Full-Time, SalariedDecsription:American Whitewater’s Conservation & Access Associate will assist the organization’s Conservation and Access Directors with on-the-ground river work from Maine to Georgia with a primary emphasis on the Southeast. The Associate works with and reports to the Program Directors and is responsible for assisting with river issues within their territory. Of primary importance is the direct growth, coordination and strengthening of grassroots efforts by American Whitewater volunteers, including our nationwide system
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW! The Nellie Juan River, one of the most phenomenal remote whitewaterrivers in Alaska is in danger. Your final comments are due by DECEMBER14, 2000. Email your comments to: dstlouis@fs.fed.usBe sure to include your name and address to be counted. What I'm going to say In as professional a manner as possible, I am going to ask that the U.S.Forest Service to:* Enact the current recommendation for wilderness designation along theentire Nellie Juan River Corridor and
Dimple Rock Safety Meeting Summary (November 2000):Ohiopyle State Park manager Doug Hoehn asked a group of river managers, outfitters, and experienced whitewater paddlers to come together with him on November 11th at the park office. Our purpose was to take a close look at safety on the Lower Yough and issues at Dimple Rock in particular. The group met in an advisory capacity, and gave park managers the benefit of their experience. Following three deaths at Dimple this past summer,
On November 8, the Director of the USGS, Charles Groat, announced an overall $72 Million increase for their operations in FY 2001. Director Groat sent a letter to American Whitewater saying,The increase in the USGS budget comes as a result of hard work by many players including key constituents like you. American Whitewater and several other conservation-oriented recreation groups including the American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, ORCA, and Access Fund strove to increase the USGS streamgaging budget by at
I went down to Dimple Rock on the Yough This morning with Ohiopyle State Park manager Doug Hoehn and s group of rangers, outfitters, and guides. The dam had shut the river back as much as possible, and it was reading .7′. The water was very clear, and the morning sun was shining down under the rock from upstream. From the river left shore we were able to wade out and probe under the rock with a long pole. Then
By John Gangemi On July 8th, 9th, and 10th a team of six boaters got a ticket. That ticket issued by Chelan Public Utilities District was a highly prized item. It granted each paddler access to the unrun Chelan Gorge in central Washington. That ticket also carried a heavy burden of responsibility for each boater: Prove to Chelan PUD and the surrounding community that the Chelan Gorge is boatable. These boaters accepted the challenge enthusiastically acting as ambassadors for the
Chelan Gorge Unplugged By John Gangemi On July 8th, 9th, and 10th a team of six boaters got a ticket. That ticket issued by Chelan Public Utilities District was a highly prized item. It granted each paddler access to the unrun Chelan Gorge in central Washington. That ticket also carried a heavy burden of responsibility for each boater: Prove to Chelan PUD and the surrounding community that the Chelan Gorge is boatable. These boaters accepted the challenge enthusiastically acting as
Nisqually Whitewater ReleasesWELCOME BACK BOATERS? John Gangemi, American Whitewater Conservation Director Boaters gathered excitedly on November 21, 1998 in anticipation of whitewater restoration in the Class V La Grande Canyon of the Nisqually River. This release, the culmination of a six year process to relicense Tacoma Public Utilities hydropower project on the Nisqually River, was advertised widely in the Pacific Northwest as the paddling event to attend. The releases were publicized for a reason: This is part of a three
RESERVE YOUR LAUNCH ON WASHINGTON’S NISQUALLY RIVER WHITEWATER RELEASES FOR 2000 REQUIRE A RESERVATION Tacoma Public Utilities has selected the dates for the November and December whitewater releases on Washington’s Nisqually River. This year Tacoma requires that boaters call to confirm their attendance at a respective release date. In 1999, no boaters showed up for one of the release days. Reservations need to be made at least three days prior to release date. Releases are contingent on two or more
RESERVE YOUR LAUNCH ON WASHINGTON'S NISQUALLY RIVER WHITEWATER RELEASES FOR 2000 REQUIRE A RESERVATION Tacoma Public Utilities has selected the dates for the November and December whitewater releases on Washington's Nisqually River. This year Tacoma requires that boaters call to confirm their attendance at a respective release date. In 1999, no boaters showed up for one of the release days. Reservations need to be made at least three days prior to release date. Releases are contingent on two or more
RESERVE YOUR LAUNCH ON WASHINGTON’S NISQUALLY RIVERWHITEWATER RELEASES FOR 2000 REQUIRE A RESERVATIONTacoma Public Utilities has selected the dates for the November and December whitewater releases on Washington’s Nisqually River. This year Tacoma requires that boaters call to confirm their attendance at a respective release date. In 1999, no boaters showed up for one of the release days. Reservations need to be made at least three days prior to release date. Releases are contingent on two or more paddlers making
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Congress declares that the established national policy of dams and other construction at appropriate
Link to www.nps.gov/rivers/tuolumne.html for more information about the Tuolumne.
About 40 years ago, a flood/avalanche/big event caused a bridge to come off of it’s footings. The bridge washed downstream approximately a quarter-mile to the bottom of the valley and settled in the streambed at what is now known as Bridge Drop rapid. Link to www.chrisj.winisp.net/bridge for more information about this hazard including excellent photographs of the site and information compiled by Chris Joosse.
A representative of SMUD has indicated that the maintenance on theCamino powerhouse (which has led to lack of boatable flows on the SouthFork for more than two weeks) is scheduled to be completed on October28. The representative did not have information on the plannedoperation of the Upper American River Project for the remainder of thefall, but he stated there is some water in the storage system that willbe released by SMUD and eventually make its way past Chili Bar dam.
