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Image for Moose/Beaver/Raquette (NY) 2021 Release Schedule

Moose/Beaver/Raquette (NY) 2021 Release Schedule

The General has coordiated with the hydropower dam operators to schedule the 2021 releases for the Moose, Beaver and Raquette. Looks to be a great year of paddling in the Adirondacks as we begin the dam relicensings this year for 21 dams on the Black, Beaver, and Moose rivers.  Adirondacks River Restoration Campaign date    river/run    release time    level    special eventsApril 18 – Sunday    Bottom Moose     approx. 10 am-5 pm (sign-in required)    varies

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Image for Fordyce Creek (CA) Spring Boating Opportunity

Fordyce Creek (CA) Spring Boating Opportunity

Pacific Gas and Electric reached out to American Whitewater with an opportunity for boating flows on Fordyce Creek. We took the chance to respond to PG&E and communicate preferred paddling flows. Thus, in good faith, PG&E is planning to open the outlet at Fordyce on Wednesday June 2. There is a good chance by the weekend (Saturday June 4) flows will be approximately 400 cfs and will persist in this range for at least the first few days. Flows will

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Image for Mokelumne (CA) 2021 Scheduled Recreational Releases

Mokelumne (CA) 2021 Scheduled Recreational Releases

Annually, in accordance with the negotiated 2001 License Order and Settlement Agreement for the Mokelumne River Hydropower Project, American Whitewater coordinates recreational releases with Pacific Gas & Electric, the Ecological Resource Committee including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. These annual releases are determined by the water year type which is predicated on the forecasted inflow into the downstream Pardee Reservoir. This year’s water year type is Critically Dry which allows for recreational flows on Tiger

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Image for Tonic of Wild – Online Event to Highlight Pacific Northwest Stewardship Issues

Tonic of Wild – Online Event to Highlight Pacific Northwest Stewardship Issues

On May 26th, American Whitewater will be hosting a special night of speakers, film showings, games, prize drawings and more to raise awareness for river stewardship issues in the Pacific Northwest. A Tonic of Wild will take place at 7pm Pacific Time and will feature a special presentation on the Wild Olympics legislation from professional kayaker and photographer Chris Korbulic. You do not want to miss this. As a fundraiser for this event we’re running an online auction with framed

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Image for How to Enjoy the Upcoming Savage River Release (MD)

How to Enjoy the Upcoming Savage River Release (MD)

The Savage River releases are on the calendar for 2021 with some changes in how to enjoy them. Commercial shuttles are now a thing of the past on the Savage, and with that comes new responsibilities for paddlers. It is vitally important that paddlers visit the Savage River responsibly so these releases can continue. It’s pretty simple:   1. Park Only in the Official Put In and Take Out: Much of the land along the lower half of the shuttle

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Image for Explore Northern Rockies Rivers with Purpose This Year

Explore Northern Rockies Rivers with Purpose This Year

Documenting your experiences on rivers in the Northern Rockies this summer could help secure lasting protections for those rivers. Several key landscapes are under review for protections by Congress and the US Forest Service, but we lack the kind of compelling descriptions and photos that can inspire and inform decision makers to offer rivers and their enjoyment key protections. So we need your help. As you explore rivers in the focal areas noted below, we encourage you to paddle with

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Image for Senators Merkley and Wyden Push to Expand Smith River National Recreation Area

Senators Merkley and Wyden Push to Expand Smith River National Recreation Area

Senators Merkley and Wyden introduced legislation this week to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area into Oregon.  In 1990, Congress enacted legislation to establish the Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) to protect the watershed, but the boundary of the NRA stopped at the Oregon border, leaving the North Fork of the Smith River and its tributaries unprotected. The whitewater community knows how special the North Fork of the Smith River is for its unparalleled water quality and exceptional

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Membership

Thanks for your support! As an AW member, your support keeps us funded and fighting for rivers. We really appreciate it! What else can you do? Sign up for auto-renewal of your membership (if you haven’t already) Increase your membership level (installment plans are available) Make a tax-deductible donation Purchase a Gift Membership for a friend or loved one Follow AW on Facebook and Twitter Encourage your friends to join! Thanks again for all your support, we really appreciate it!

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Image for Annual Rec Flows Start this Spring Horseshoe Bend San Joaquin River (CA)

Annual Rec Flows Start this Spring Horseshoe Bend San Joaquin River (CA)

Paddlers get your boating gear together for annual recreational flow releases on the Horseshoe Bend reach of the San Joaquin River. After nearly two decades of direct advocacy and engagement, American Whitewater is pleased to announce the fruits of our labor. In March 2021 Southern California Edison (SCE) announced they finally secured approval of Long Term Operating Rules for operation of the Big Creek 4 Hydroelectric Project on the San Joaquin River. These rules outline long awaited flow improvements that

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Image for Take Action to Protect Water Quality in Colorado

Take Action to Protect Water Quality in Colorado

Colorado’s waters are at stake. From our high mountain streams to the backyard of urban communities, water quality is threatened state-wide. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission has proposed a change to the antidegradation rule that would allow for more pollution into higher quality waters without review or justification. The proposed rule would go against the very premise of the Clean Water Act, which the Commission is tasked with implementing and overseeing in Colorado. All Coloradans should care about this

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Image for Final Bear River (ID) Release Moved to September

Final Bear River (ID) Release Moved to September

The final 2021 release on the Black Canyon of the Bear River has been rescheduled to September 11 and 12, 2021.   This shift was made possible because the dam owner will be conducting maintenance work this summer and fall that will increase base flows in the river, which decreases ecological concerns with late season paddling releases. The same rescheduling occured last year as well. Our partners in managing the Bear River graciously supported this change, which was requested by

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Image for AW Volunteers of the Month Presented by Kokatat: Barry Grimes and Emily Grimes

AW Volunteers of the Month Presented by Kokatat: Barry Grimes and Emily Grimes

American Whitewater is stoked to recognize Barry Grimes and Emily Grimes as our April Volunteers of the Month for their tremendous work with the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF). NPFF has been going strong since 1984 but found itself in peril this year due to Covid restrictions and the inability to hold an in-person event. In an effort to keep the festival alive, Emily took over the reigns and launched the first-ever Virtual National Paddling Films Festival. Pulling off anything

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Moose/Beaver/Raquette (NY) 2021 Release Schedule

The General has coordiated with the hydropower dam operators to schedule the 2021 releases for the Moose, Beaver and Raquette. Looks to be a great year of paddling in the Adirondacks as we begin the dam relicensings this year for 21 dams on the Black, Beaver, and Moose rivers.    date river/run release time level special events April 18 – Sunday Bottom Moose  approx. 10 am-5 pm (sign-in required) varies   April 25- Sunday Bottom Moose  approx. 10 am-5 pm

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Image for Moose/Beaver/Raquette (NY) 2021 Release Schedule

Moose/Beaver/Raquette (NY) 2021 Release Schedule

The General has coordiated with the hydropower dam operators to schedule the 2021 releases for the Moose, Beaver and Raquette. Looks to be a great year of paddling in the Adirondacks as we begin the dam relicensings this year for 21 dams on the Black, Beaver, and Moose rivers.  Adirondacks River Restoration Campaign date river/run release time level special events April 18 – Sunday Bottom Moose  approx. 10 am-5 pm (sign-in required) varies   April 25- Sunday Bottom Moose  approx.

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Image for Get Notifications on Glenwood Canyon (CO) Closures

Get Notifications on Glenwood Canyon (CO) Closures

Photo: Rafters on the Colorado River shortly after the Grizzly Creek fire started. Credit – Whitewater Rafting LLC.   Last August, historic wildfires raged across Colorado, threatening homes, recreational sites, and transportation arteries. The Grizzly Creek Fire quickly spread throughout Glenwood Canyon, jumping both I-70 and the Colorado River in the first few days. The active fire closed down traffic on the interstate for an unprecedented two weeks, blocking important freight, residents and tourists. Many Glenwood Springs businesses were impacted

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Image for Comments Needed on River Protection in the Arctic

Comments Needed on River Protection in the Arctic

A new proposed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) management plan for 55.7 million acres in Northern Alaska would fail to protect any of the 11 rivers their analysis finds to be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation. If you have paddled any of the affected rivers in this area we strongly encourage you to review the planning documents and submit comments in support of protection of Wild and Scenic River values in the Central Yukon Draft Resource Management Plan and

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Image for Moose, Beaver (NY) Dam Relicensings Set to Begin Again

Moose, Beaver (NY) Dam Relicensings Set to Begin Again

Federal relicensing of 21 hydropower dams in the Adirondacks begins this month on the Moose, Beaver, and Black rivers, home to iconic whitewater boating runs treasured by paddlers throughout the northeast. We’ve been paddling these rivers for the past four decades thanks to the efforts of dedicated paddlers including Pete Skinner and Chris Koll that resulted in historic settlement agreements providing scheduled boating releases on the Moose and Beaver. We celebrate those victories each year at Moosefest and at the

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Image for Moose, Beaver (NY) Dam Relicensings Set to Begin

Moose, Beaver (NY) Dam Relicensings Set to Begin

Federal relicensing of 21 hydropower dams in the Adirondacks begins this month on the Moose, Beaver, and Black rivers, home to iconic whitewater boating runs treasured by paddlers throughout the northeast. We’ve been paddling these rivers for the past four decades thanks to the efforts of dedicated paddlers including Pete Skinner and Chris Koll that resulted in historic settlement agreements providing scheduled boating releases on the Moose and Beaver. We celebrate those victories each year at Moosefest and at the

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Image for American Whitewater awarded eleventh Charity Navigator 4-star rating

American Whitewater awarded eleventh Charity Navigator 4-star rating

April 2021, Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, announced that American Whitewater has earned its eleventh consecutive 4-star (highest) rating. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that American Whitewater adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. The letter from Charity Navigator informing American Whitewater that it was awarded a eleventh 4-star rating from Charity Navigator

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Image for Black Canyon Put-In Closed for 2021 Season (CO)

Black Canyon Put-In Closed for 2021 Season (CO)

The National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that the East Portal Road which serves as the put-in for the Black Canyon section of the Gunnison River will be closed for maintenance for the duration of the 2021 season.   According to the press release, “the road project will improve access to East Portal, making the road safer and less prone to rockfall closures. Blasting and scaling of rock faces, resurfacing and other major work requires that

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Image for Opportunity to Speak up for Water Quality on the Pigeon River (NC/TN)

Opportunity to Speak up for Water Quality on the Pigeon River (NC/TN)

Blue Ridge Paper operates a paper mill on the banks of the Pigeon River in Canton, NC, that for generations has provided valued local jobs but also had negative impacts on the water quality of the river. Over the past few decades water quality has improved significantly, fishing has improved, and paddling use has skyrocketed. With this said, the river’s water quality has a lot of room for improvement while supporting the mill’s continued operation, and new permit requirements are

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Image for North Fork Feather Cresta Releases - April 2021 (CA)

North Fork Feather Cresta Releases – April 2021 (CA)

Throughout the pandemic American Whitewater, managing agencies and Pacific Gas & Electric have been following a collaborative COVID protocol for scheduled recreational releases taking the lead from the local counties.  We are happy to report Plumas County supports moving forward with planned boating flows for the NF Feather River below Cresta provided paddlers continue to follow COVID guidelines.  Paddlers can expect recreational releases of 750 cfs for the NF Feather River below Cresta on April 10th and 11th.   Please

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Image for NF Feather Cresta April 2021 Releases (CA)

NF Feather Cresta April 2021 Releases (CA)

Throughout the pandemic American Whitewater, managing agencies and Pacific Gas & Electric have been following a collaborative COVID protocol for scheduled recreational releases taking the lead from the local counties.  We are happy to report Plumas County supports moving forward with planned boating flows for the NF Feather below Cresta provided paddlers continue to follow COVID guidelines.  Paddlers can expect recreational releases of 750 cfs for the NF Feather below Cresta on April 10th and 11th.   Please take the

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Affiliate Club

Sign-up Your Club AW’s original purpose since 1954 has been to distribute information among its Affiliate Clubs. AW’s relationship with local clubs has provided the backbone for much of the river conservation and access work it accomplishes throughout the country. Over 100 clubs are now AW Club Affiliates and they are all doing great work on your behalf. If you don’t belong to a club, consider joining one of the organizations found on this page. Reasons why your club should

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