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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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re pleased to announce that we have a new Membership Join/Renew form as well as a new Donation form . We also have a brand new Affiliate Club Membership Join/Renewal Form.  We’ve spent the last several months switching to a more robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to better meet the needs of our membership base and to funnel your information into our membership database more efficiently. Additionally, we’ve gone green with new Digital AW Membership cards! Some highlights/changes include:

How will your voice contribute to the conversation around the importance of wild rivers? American Whitewater is proud to announce our 2021 Freeflow Institute scholarship opportunity for up to two emerging outdoor communicators. The winning applicant(s) will demonstrate a capacity to research and craft a compelling story with the goal of enhancing and expanding public awareness of an issue facing a particular watershed or landscape; igniting public dialog; and encouraging citizens to celebrate, experience, and protect the rivers of our