Articles - American Whitewater

Take Action: Oregon Waterway Access Permits

November 13, 2025

In 2025, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2982, expanding the types of vessels subject to waterway access permits and increasing associated fees. The legislation moved quickly, with limited public input, and American Whitewater was the only organization to formally oppose the bill during the legislative hearing. We were successful in helping secure an exemption for small, nonmotorized boats engaged in whitewater recreation. We’re encouraging boaters to weigh-in with public comments at a rulemaking hearing regarding this legislation on Dec. 4.

November ’25 North Fork Feather (CA) Releases

November 13, 2025

Recreational releases will be happening on the Poe Canyon (V) and Bardee’s Bar (IV) sections of the North Fork Feather River this weekend. Releases will be 1400cfs from 9am to 3pm on November 15th and 16th, and 22nd and 23rd. These releases were negotiated for and are annually coordinated by American Whitewater in conjunction with Pacific Gas & Electric. We also advocated for license-required repairs to Bardee’s Bar road, which were completed this past spring after a significant winter wash-out

Supporting Public Lands and Waters, Even During a Shutdown

November 13, 2025

This past fall, despite a government shutdown, American Whitewater continued our work meeting with decision makers in Washington, D.C., and advancing the protection of our public lands and waters. Our team partnered with outdoor recreation and conservation leaders on three trips to the nation’s capital, meeting face-to-face with lawmakers to discuss the value of public lands, the importance of the public voice in hydropower licensing, conservation priorities for rivers, and the effects of agency staff reductions and shutdowns on river

2026 Calendars + Holiday Offer Membership Now Available!

November 12, 2025

Looking for that special gift for someone or just feeling the need to treat yourself? Our American Whitewater Holiday Offer just went live! You can get a Standard Membership ($35), a 16 oz MiiR Mug, and a 2026 calendar (plus shipping) all for $75. Head to our membership form and snag a Holiday Offer today. This is a splendid way to support our Stewardship work at American Whitewater. We’re excited to partner with MiiR this year as they are a Climate

Give Early, Give Smart: Make the Most of 2025 Charitable Giving Rules

October 8, 2025

The tax landscape is shifting in 2026, bringing new limits on charitable deductions that could reduce the tax benefit of giving for many Americans, but 2025 offers a valuable opportunity to lock in today’s more favorable rules. These changes will especially affect donors who use donor-advised funds (DAFs) or who plan multi-year support for causes they care about. By giving—or contributing to a DAF—before December 31, 2025, you can secure a full charitable deduction under current law, while still granting

Visit Rivers Responsibly During the Shut Down

October 8, 2025

The US Federal government officially shut down October 1, 2025, and a resolution to reopen the government appears to be nowhere in sight. The shutdown threatens our country’s river based communities that rely on the clean water, healthy ecosystems, access, and infrastructure the Federal government provides for our public waters. From a recreation and tourism perspective, the shutdown’s disruptions will hurt small businesses, workers, and families across the country. In practical terms, river runners need to step-up our game and

National Low Head Dam Inventory is Live!

October 7, 2025

American Whitewater worked intently on two cycles of the biannual Water Resources Development Act to ensure a National Low Head Dam Inventory would be created and the inventory is now live! As many paddlers know, low head dams create incredibly dangerous hydraulics and extreme hazards for folks looking to enjoy rivers. Over the past 50 years, low-head dams have claimed more than 1,400 lives. American Whitewater’s database of whitewater accidents and fatalities, maintained since 1972, documents that 10% of fatalities

Grasstops Collective Application is Now Open!

October 7, 2025

American Whitewater and our partners at the Outdoor Alliance have been training community leaders for the past several years through the Grasstops Collective program. The Grasstops Collective is a leadership and advocacy development program that trains fledgling advocates to build relationships with policymakers and raise their voice for our stewardship priorities from an authentic, local perspective. Grasstops leaders are unique because of their meaningful place in their communities, whether they are in business, nonprofit, or local government. They are the

Use the Free Shuttle, Final 2025 Nantahala Cascades Releases, Sept. 27-28 (NC)

September 25, 2025

The last scheduled 2025 releases for the Upper Nantahala and Cascades are this Saturday and Sunday, September 27th and 28th. We are asking boaters running laps on the Cascades to make an extra effort to stay out of the way of traffic on the road by taking the free shuttle, walking well off the road, and generally avoiding conflicts. Take a Shuttle (instead of walking): NOC and Endless River Adventures will start a two-van shuttle from the Forest Service Lower

Accident Summary Jan–June 2025 Available Online

September 16, 2025

The American Whitewater Accident Summary for January–June 2025 is now available online. Since our inception, American Whitewater has been a vigorous promoter of river safety information, and accident reporting has become integral to this task. Charlie Walbridge has used reports submitted by our membership to compile regular summaries of fatalities and close calls for our Journal since 1986. American Whitewater has catalogued over 2400 incidents on whitewater rivers dating back to 1972, which you can find and analyze for yourself

Get your Gauley Fest Tickets online and WIN! And Gauley Fest News……

September 15, 2025

Online tickets sales for Gauley Fest are available now. Gauley Fest is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Ticket sales help fund the river project work we do at American Whitewater and we are grateful for every attendee! Early bird tickets start at $60 for Thursday entrance / $50 for Friday entrance / $40 for Saturday entrance. In person gate admission will be through cash or Eventbrite only this year. To encourage folks to buy tickets in advance (and

Restoring Access to the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River (CA)

September 9, 2025

For the past six years, American Whitewater and the Outdoor Alliance California team have been meeting with Congressman Tom McClintock’s (CA-05) office to advocate for supporting human-powered outdoor recreation access on America’s public lands and waters. California’s fifth congressional district is home to world-renowned public lands and waters and outdoor recreation landscapes including thru hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, big wall climbing in Yosemite National Park, and whitewater on the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River. Last month, American Whitewater,

Administration Seeks Comments on Repealing Roadless Area Protections

September 4, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially proposed to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected popular backcountry recreation destinations spanning nearly 60 million acres of Forest Service lands across the country since 2001. The result of this action, if successful, would open remote landscapes highly valued for backcountry river and other recreation activities to road building and logging. Protected Roadless areas are a treasure trove of whitewater boating and biodiversity gems. Runs like the Middle Fork Feather

Limited Edition Whatever Your Quiver AW Gear

September 1, 2025

Show your support for American Whitewater with limited edition river inspired gear! American Whitewater has partnered again with FLOAT to bring you these tees, tanks, and hoodies, but only for a limited time! Celebrate all the ways you can enjoy the river, with our “Whatever your quiver, American Whitewater delivers” line of gear. Purchasing these items directly supports American Whitewater’s stewardship efforts! Tons of colors and styles available. And for every item sold, FLOAT donates $8 to our program protecting,

Support Shoshone Permanency

August 14, 2025

If you’ve driven I-70 through western Colorado, you’ve likely driven by the Shoshone dam and powerhouse in the depths of Glenwood Canyon. Unless you have stopped to boat the Colorado there – and I hope you have! – you would likely miss the over hundred year old structures tucked in the canyon walls. But that small hydropower operation holds the largest and oldest water rights that keep the Colorado River flowing throughout most of the year from Kremmling to the

Gore Fest 2025

August 14, 2025

After eight years of hosting Gore Fest, American Whitewater is excited to announce we fully passed the festival off to the incredibly capable hands of the folks at Whitewater Racing LLC. We will be out there at our tent, so please still come and stop by and renew your membership or join for the first time! Click on read more for all the details about this year’s festival taking place at the Pumphouse Rec area from Aug 21st -24th (Thursday

Illegal Mine that Ravaged the Nolichucky Put-In Blocked By Courts

August 13, 2025

Boaters once began their trips down the Nolichucky River Gorge at a US Forest Service access site in the bucolic community of Poplar, NC and floated seamlessly into the natural scenery and big mountains that buttress the Gorge. Never again though. To supply rock to CSX for their railroad reconstruction in the gorge, a company called Horizon 30 LLC cut into the mountain at the gorge’s start and opened what would become a jarring 50-acre quarry. They had no permits.

Stand Up for River Access in Colorado!

August 13, 2025

American Whitewater needs your help to secure the right to float in Colorado. Many people are not aware that there is no secured legal right to float, fish, boat, portage, or swim Colorado’s rivers and creeks that run through private property. American Whitewater has helped reduce conflict and secure landowner agreements where possible, for example access to the Cheeseman Gorge or supporting access easements on the Upper Colorado. Despite these site specific solutions, every year we get calls from boaters

New Wild and Scenic River Legislation for Montana!

August 13, 2025

On August 1st, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism Act, legislation that would designate nearly 100 miles of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers and select tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Congressman Zinke worked closely with local stakeholders, including county commissioners, conservation groups, including American Whitewater, local outfitters, private landowners, and Northwestern Energy, to draft the legislation. The designations include approximately 42 miles of the Madison River beginning

Legacy Giving is Easy with Our Free Make-A-Will Program

August 12, 2025

Legacy giving through the Enduring Rivers Circle is more than philanthropy—it’s gratitude in action. Leave a lasting legacy to the special places that made a difference in your life. The Enduring Rivers Circle honors people who include American Whitewater in their estate plans—ensuring river stewardship continues for generations to come. Why It Matters Since 1954, American Whitewater has worked to conserve and restore free-flowing rivers and ensure safe recreation for paddlers across the U.S. The Enduring Rivers Circle was established

Submit Your Best to the 2026 American Whitewater Calendar!

August 12, 2025

Show off your best images to the entire community by submitting photos for inclusion in the 2025 American Whitewater calendar 📷💥📸 If your image is selected for the calendar, you’ll receive a free copy of the finished product! If your photo doesn’t make it into the calendar, we’ll hang on to it and consider it for inclusion in one of our other popular publications, like the annual impact report, our Journal, or other print and online uses intended to highlight

All Klamath River Accesses Now Open Along Undammed Reaches (OR/CA)

August 1, 2025

As of August 1, 2025, all five river access facilities that American Whitewater helped champion during the Klamath dam removal process are officially open! With four dams removed, five new access sites completed, and all existing access points open, the 45 miles of newly restored river between Keno and the former Iron Gate Dam offer exciting new opportunities for boating—and are now more accessible than ever. But before heading to the river, it’s important to know the specific use guidelines

American Whitewater Helps Defend State’s Rights Under Clean Water Act, Again

July 17, 2025

The D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in Nevada Irrigation District v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a court case deciding whether the irrigation district could stop providing instream flows below their hydropower projects in the Yuba and Bear watersheds in California. American Whitewater, along with California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Friends of the River, Sierra Club, and South Yuba River Citizen’s League intervened as parties. This case follows the recent case of Village of Morrisville v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where we

Call for Nominations to the American Whitewater Board of Directors

July 17, 2025

American Whitewater is now accepting nominations for volunteer positions on our Board of Directors. Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of river conservation, access, and safety while giving back to the boating community. About Board Service Our Board of Directors guides the strategic direction and governance of American Whitewater. Directors serve three-year terms beginning January 1 and are expected to: – Attend three board meetings per year (one in person, two virtual) –

Fires in Grand and Black Canyons (AZ, CO), Use Our Fire Map to Stay Up to Date

July 17, 2025

It’s mid-summer and for much of the country that means it’s prime boating and river season. For some areas, particularly the West, it’s also fire season. This means that in addition to checking flows and weather before heading to the river, it’s a good idea to also check for any wildfires, smoke issues, or closures that may impact your plans. We’ve built a map to help you with trip planning and safety. The American Whitewater Wildfire Information Map shows all