Articles - American Whitewater

Big decisions coming for Chehalis River–proposed dam, salmon and flood response

December 9, 2025

Storm season in western Washington is upon us, and with it, the risk of atmospheric rivers bringing severe flooding. Nowhere is this more evident than in the naturally flood-prone Chehalis River Basin, where the debate about a proposed flood control dam on the upper river has reached a critical milestone with the release of the state’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Following the DEIS, in 2026, the Chehalis Basin Board will be making its long-awaited Long-Term Strategy recommendation to the governor

Defending Public Lands and Waters–Winter Stewardship Update 2025

December 8, 2025

What does having safe access to clean water flowing through public lands mean to you and your family? For most of you reading this, we’d be willing to wager it’s incredibly important to your quality of life and that having intact and protected public lands is something you hold close to your heart as an American. Take a look at our 2025 Winter Stewardship Update to see some of the ways American Whitewater membership supports our work protecting rivers and

Deerfield River: The Next 40 Years of Whitewater (MA)

December 8, 2025

A decade of advocacy efforts in the hydropower project licensing on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts has finally resulted in a new hydropower license that will preserve and expand whitewater boating and angling opportunities for the next 40 years. The hydropower dam located on the Deerfield near Charlemont will be required to continue releasing whitewater flows on 106 days annually that support rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing by more than 50,000 river recreationists annually on the Fife Brook section and

Tax Smart Charitable Giving–Make the Most of the 2025 Rules

December 5, 2025

As you plan your year-end giving, 2025 is a uniquely powerful year to make tax-smart, non-cash gifts that protect the rivers you love and strengthen your own financial strategy. Tax rules are scheduled to tighten in 2026, reducing the benefit of charitable deductions for many donors—especially those who use donor-advised funds (DAFs) or like to plan multi-year support. By acting before December 31, 2025, you can lock in today’s more favorable rules while sustaining American Whitewater’s work for years to

2026 Advances Southeast Release Schedule Announced!

December 4, 2025

American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers like the lower Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Hiwassee, and Catawba, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies,

American Whitewater Year-End Membership Drawings

December 2, 2025

As our way of saying, “Hey! Thanks!”, we’re elated to announce that we have two great prizes for our end-of-year membership drawing for 2025. All current American Whitewater members as of Dec. 31, 2025 will be entered to win a week of boating in Ecuador through Small World Adventures or a Dagger Indra Kayak (S/M, shipped to your door). If you’ve let your membership lapse, now would be a great time to renew! If you’ve been sitting on the riverbank

Colorado Gives Day Happening Now!

November 28, 2025

Colorado Gives Day is happening now through December 9! Donate today to have your dollars go even further in supporting American Whitewater’s river access work in Colorado. We need your support more than ever this year as we are tirelessly working to secure legal public access to Colorado’s rivers in the 2026 state legislature. Donations made through Colorado Gives this year will go directly to our Colorado Access Program and will ensure that your dollars are matched from the $1

Success: Klamath River Access Sites Staying Open (OR/CA)

November 20, 2025

Two weeks ago, the states of Oregon and California unexpectedly announced the seasonal closure of three of the new Upper Klamath River access sites. Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls, and K’utárawáx·u were scheduled to close from November 20 through March 31 — a move that would have cut off direct access to the Big Bend Run and the K’íka·c’é·ki Canyon Run during the very season when flows are typically at their best and affected take-out access for the Keno and

Pursuing New Legislation to Clarify Stream Access in Colorado

November 13, 2025

American Whitewater, Colorado Whitewater, and the American Canoe Association are pursuing a bill in Colorado’s 2026 legislative session to clarify the public’s lawful ability to float, scout, and portage around hazards on Colorado’s rivers. This legislation would include robust protections for landowners, including expanding liability protections and clarity around property rights violations. For decades, Colorado’s murky river access laws have led to regular conflicts between public river users and landowners, risking the quality of life for both parties. “Enjoying our

Access Closures on Upper Klamath River (OR/CA)

November 13, 2025

Update: California has agreed to keep their sites open through the winter unless severe weather conditions justify a short-term closure. You can still call and thank the state for reconsidering their plan to close the K’utárawáx·u River Access for 4 months. We are still in conversations with Oregon but they seem inclined to reconsider their proposed closures and we are encouraging the state to align with the approach California is taking. Just when the newly undammed Klamath River is ready

2025 Board Of Directors Election–Current Members Please Vote Now!

November 13, 2025

Each year American Whitewater’s membership ratifies Board of Director members to serve three-year terms. These candidates volunteer to serve on the American Whitewater Board. Current American Whitewater members can cast their votes through Midnight Pacific Time, December 15th. American Whitewater has four Director Nominees to fill four open seats in this election, and you may vote for up to four candidates on the slate. The ballot for our Board of Directors election is placed online here. You must be a

American River (CA) Bridge Debris is Being Removed!

November 13, 2025

Placer County is currently in the process of removing bridge debris from the American River at Highway 49 just below the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork American Rivers. Debris removal was requested by the regional organization, Protect American River Canyons (PARC), and supported by local elected officials. A bridge failure in 1964 caused this hazardous and unsightly debris, which was abandoned in place at that time because an assumption was made that it would be flooded under

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