Articles

Claude Terry championed Georgia rivers Played a role in protecting Chattahoochee, Chattooga OBITUARIES Dec 09, 2019 By Bill Banks, Atlanta Journal-Constitution In 1974, Emory University professor Claude Terry took then-Gov. Jimmy Carter along for what is thought to be the first tandem canoe descent of Bull Sluice Rapid on the Chattooga River in northeast Georgia.It has lasting implications for the country.Bull Sluice is the jolting climax of a series of rapids that end in a double waterfall, both with roughly

We’re proud to now offer American Whitewater signature Klean Kanteen items for your holiday shopping or personal gifting pleasure! Keep that hot drink hot and that cold drink cold well into your paddling adventure with either the AW Klean Kanteen Travel Mug or Insulated Thermos. Stick’em in your boat and strap’em to your SUP. Be the hero who shares a hot beverage with your peeps during a frozen day on the water. Or just use one to drink your daily

American Whitewater is proud to recognize Priscilla Macy of Salem, OR as our December Volunteer of the Month. Priscilla is an avid boater and has paddled across the northwest, country, and world. She’s helped AW on an array of projects in her home region and has increasingly become involved in the policy side of our work, pushing for Wild and Scenic designations and other river protections, along with more state level boater friendly laws. Last month we celebrated the passage

With a recent grant from the United States Coast Guard, American Whitewater is launching a project to develop an open-source toolbox for river safety signage. We are issuing this Request for Proposals for assistance in this effort. 1. Background and Issue Project Seeks to Address As the recognized expert in whitewater safety for over 60 years and publisher of the Whitewater Safety Code, American Whitewater is often called upon to provide input on safety messaging for signage at river access

With a recent grant from the United States Coast Guard, American Whitewater is launching a project to develop an open-source toolbox for river safety signage. We are issuing this Request for Proposals for assistance in this effort. 1. Background and Issue Project Seeks to Address As the recognized expert in whitewater safety for over 60 years and publisher of the Whitewater Safety Code, American Whitewater is often called upon to provide input on safety messaging for signage at river access

American Whitewater is proud to recognize Jack Henderson of Brevard, NC as our December Volunteer of the Month. Jack is a dedicated paddler in the southeast and has volunteered many of his great photographs and beta for American Whitewater use for a long time, along with partnering with AW through his day job at the River Management Society, but we’re recognizing him this month in particular for his work to help designate the Nolichucky River as Wild and Scenic. He produced

The 2020 American Whitewater calendar is now available for purchase. Each year, we collect the best photos from our gracious paddling community and pick out our favorites for the annual AW calendar. The proceeds from calendar sales support our river stewardship work. When this years calendar arrives, Celebrating Wild Rivers On Public Lands, you’ll get to see a new beautiful image of a river that AW has made a difference on every month and find out about the work we’re

Colorado Gives Day is next Tuesday, December 10th! On this day, folks from around the state and country give to Colorado-based nonprofits like ours, with matches provided by ColoradoGives. Go here to schedule your online donation to support American Whitewater’s Colorado River Access Program. Our Colorado based regional team works on river access and conservation issues from flow protection, water quality enhancement, Wild and Scenic eligibility and management, as well as state level policies that highlight river recreation and the industry it

Double your impact when you support American Whitewater through our Patagonia Action Works Page! Patagonia will match all donations made through our Patagonia Action Works page between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31, up to $10,000 per donation! You donate $1 we get $2. You donate $100 and we get $200. It’s that simple to double your support for our river stewardship program, which protects, restores, and ensures your ability to enjoy the rivers you love to paddle. Your support fuels

The Vermont Supreme Court decided today that whitewater boaters have the right to paddle on the Green River. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision by the Environmental Division of the Superior Court that required the hydropower project on the Green River in Morrisville to provide three annual scheduled releases. The releases had been banned by the state agency in their 401 water quality certificate. AW appealed the decision and won in the lower court after a two week trial. The

American Whitewater was founded in 1954 by a group of paddlers under the belief that we love the rivers we know, and the rivers we know we’ll fight to protect. At that time, in the middle of the last century, many of our bedrock conservation laws did not exist and many rivers we now take for granted were threatened by dams, pollution, and resource extraction. These same issues still exist, but fortunately many of our most classic and favorite rivers

American Whitewater is pleased to announce our 2019 Holiday Membership Offer – a one year AW membership paired with our 2020 AW calendar AND a 12 oz AW Klean Kanteen travel mug. . . all for just $55! Give a great gift (or treat yourself!) and support your favorite non-profit at the same time. . . rockin’ river karma for the whole year!  We’ve made ordering the Holiday Membership Offer quick and easy, choose one of the options below and we’ll take care

Shred it, then protect it! American Whitewater has partnered again with FLOAT to bring you these limited edition tees, tanks, and hoodies! Celebrate the beauty of rivers and that ever important ingredient – flowing water! Support American Whitewater in our stewardship efforts! We have several t-shirt and hoodie styles available and for every t-shirt sold FLOAT will donate $8 to American Whitewater in support of our stewardship efforts restoring rivers. Head on over to FLOAT and SHOP today – lots of

This week’s introduction of the Malheur County Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act (S. 2828) represents a historic move to protect over 1.1 million acres of public lands as wilderness in Malheur County centered around the Owyhee Canyonlands. The legislation also includes protection for an additional 14.7 miles of the Owyhee River as Wild and Scenic. The Owyhee Canyonlands and the public lands of Malheur County are uniquely rich and wild places that so many Oregonians care deeply about. The

Twenty years after American Whitewater began engaging in the relicensing of the Poe hydroelectric project on the North Fork Feather River (CA), the section is finally seeing boatable flows that will support recreation almost year round in all but the driest years and will greatly improve ecological conditions for the river. FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) issued a new license for the Poe project in December of 2018. This new license included increased base flows and a volume of water

Want to be part of a project designed to protect recreation on the Green River (NC)? Take this survey! Chris Bell, who served 12 years on the American Whitewater board, created and maintains the boatingbeta.com website, and was one of the first 16 Green racers, is conducting a research project American Whitewater supports: An analysis of the economic impact on Henderson and Polk Counties of recreation-friendly water releases from the Tuxedo Hydro Station. The Green River in North Carolina is the magnet

American Whitewater has big stewardship plans for 2020, removing dams, securing new Wild and Scenic designations, enhancing access and protections for rivers on public lands, and protecting our landmark river conservation laws such as the Clean Water Act. We see a unique opportunity to pass legislation that’s good for rivers across the country, but we can’t do it without your ongoing support to keep our work on track.  Your membership dollars and donations will support our conservation efforts from protecting

American Whitewater would like to recognize Bob and Megan Larkin for their tremendous work as coordinators for the Russell Fork Rendezvous. They are our November Volunteers of the Month. Bob and Megan, who have organized the Rendezvous for a number of consecutive years, are part of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association—a club founded in 1976 that works tirelessly to support American Whitewater and shares a similar mission and vision.  The event began in 1994 as a Bluegrass Wildwater Association Fall Party