Articles

Search Articles:
Image for Double Your Impact – Patagonia Will Match Donations to AW in December

Double Your Impact – Patagonia Will Match Donations to AW in December

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

Read More
Image for Access Improvements - Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River (CA)

Access Improvements – Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River (CA)

A new put-in launch has been completed for the world class whitewater of Cherry Creek (Holm Powerhouse) on the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River. Funded by contributions from the U.S. Forest Service and private donations, Stanislaus National Forest River Ranger Bob Stanley spearheaded the design and construction of a slide/stairway to the river’s edge. The work was completed this Fall and the new put-in is ready for use. Special thanks go out to Darrell London, Adam Walker, and Ranger David

Read More
Image for New Mexico Game Commission to fix “Non-navigable Water” Rule

New Mexico Game Commission to fix “Non-navigable Water” Rule

This past Thursday November 21, the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission voted 6-1 to release an opinion from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office from September that – in line with the opinion of three prior Attorneys General – stated that the Commission’s rule cannot block the public from recreating on rivers and streams that cross private property. In addition, the Attorney General released a press release “directing the commission to strengthen the process to protect private property rights

Read More
Image for VT Supreme Court Protects Whitewater Boating on the Green River

VT Supreme Court Protects Whitewater Boating on the Green River

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

Read More
Image for American Whitewater Pledges to Support Public Lands - You Can Too

American Whitewater Pledges to Support Public Lands – You Can Too

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

Read More
Image for AW's 2019 Holiday Membership Deal now available!

AW’s 2019 Holiday Membership Deal now available!

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

Read More

AW’s 2019 Holiday Membership Deal now available!

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 coffee mug–all for just $55! Giving (or receiving) a rad gift and supporting your favorite non-profit at the same time. . . great river karma!  We’ve made ordering the Holiday Membership Offer quick and easy, choose one of the options below and we’ll take care of the rest. A gift for someone

Read More
Image for Comments Needed to Support Upper Yough Releases (MD)

Comments Needed to Support Upper Yough Releases (MD)

The 12-year state permit that governs the releases from Deep Creek Lake into the Upper Youghiogheny is up for renewal, and decision-makers would benefit from hearing from paddlers. Three public meetings and significant discussions have led to broad agreement on some minor changes that are important to the paddling community, and other important issues remain unresolved. Your comment letters could help ensure the Upper Yough is managed in a responsible manner for years to come. Consider the following points for

Read More
Image for Ashley National Forest (UT) Information Needed

Ashley National Forest (UT) Information Needed

The Ashley National Forest is in the process of updating its land management plan—something that hasn’t happened since 1986. This creates an opportunity to advocate for better protection of streams and rivers across the 1.4 million-acre National Forest, which spans from the Uinta Mountains to Flaming Gorge.  If you have paddled or hiked in the area, American Whitewater needs your help updating the National Whitewater Inventory to include better information on the rivers within the Ashley National Forest. This online

Read More
Image for Limited Edition AW tees, tanks and hoodies!

Limited Edition AW tees, tanks and hoodies!

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

Read More
Image for Owyhee Canyonlands Legislation Introduced (OR)

Owyhee Canyonlands Legislation Introduced (OR)

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

Read More
Image for Instream Flows Restored to Poe Reach on the North Fork Feather!

Instream Flows Restored to Poe Reach on the North Fork Feather!

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

Read More
Image for Help Quantify the Economic Impact of the Green River (NC)

Help Quantify the Economic Impact of the Green River (NC)

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

Read More
Image for Check Out the American Whitewater Winter Stewardship Update

Check Out the American Whitewater Winter Stewardship Update

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

Read More
Image for Colorado Voters Pass Proposition DD to fund the Water Plan!

Colorado Voters Pass Proposition DD to fund the Water Plan!

Voting day has come and gone. The mailings, text reminders, and campaign signs have all (for the most part) been put away for a brief period of time. We, like the rest of you, were excited to submit our ballots and wear our “I voted” stickers proudly on Tuesday. We were even happier on Wednesday when we found out the Prop DD passed! We had discussions with many members across the state about how Proposition DD could benefit all of

Read More
Image for AW Volunteers of the Month Presented by Kokatat: Bob and Megan Larkin

AW Volunteers of the Month Presented by Kokatat: Bob and Megan Larkin

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

Read More
Image for Eagle River and Gore Creek Flow Survey

Eagle River and Gore Creek Flow Survey

We need your help defining paddler flow preferences that support recreational opportunities in the Eagle River watershed. Please take this link to a user survey that will allow you to report on how changes in streamflows affect recreation quality on several sections of the Eagle River and Gore Creek. Information collected by this study will be used to assess river-dependent recreation as part of the Eagle River Community Water Plan. Your input will help identify the full range of flows necessary to support activities like kayaking, rafting, float-fishing, tubing, and stand-up paddle boarding for novice, intermediate,

Read More
Image for CHARITY NAVIGATOR AWARDS AMERICAN WHITEWATER TENTH CONSECUTIVE 4-STAR RATING

CHARITY NAVIGATOR AWARDS AMERICAN WHITEWATER TENTH CONSECUTIVE 4-STAR RATING

November 2019, Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, announced that American Whitewater has earned its tenth 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 tenth 4-star rating from Charity Navigator

Read More
Image for AW Launches Hiwassee Dries (TN/NC) Flow Survey

AW Launches Hiwassee Dries (TN/NC) Flow Survey

American Whitewater has long had an interest in restoring flows to the 13-mile long, biologically diverse Hiwassee River Dries. This section of river is severely dewatered by the Apalachia Dam’s hydropower diversion tunnel. This beautiful stretch of TVA-managed river stands in stark contrast to other privately dammed rivers in the region that have been restored through the Federal dam relicensing process. American Whitewater is gathering information on the recreational, hydrological, and ecological attributes of the river in order to create

Read More
Image for Halloween Vote in the House on Important Public Land and Rivers Protecting Bills

Halloween Vote in the House on Important Public Land and Rivers Protecting Bills

This coming Thursday, October 31st, there will be a vote in the US House of Representatives on the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act (H.R. 823). By permanently protecting over 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado, the CORE Act unites four iconic Colorado landscapes into a single bill, providing additional benefits by protecting watersheds across the state. Protection for each landscape hosts a wide diversity of constituency support that includes local counties and municipalities, businesses, recreation and sportsmen

Read More
Image for Protect Access to Rivers in New Mexico!

Protect Access to Rivers in New Mexico!

In 2017, the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission adopted a new rule allowing private landowners to apply to certify streams running through their property as “non-navigable” and subject to a trespass statute outlined in the new rule. This July, American Whitewater joined forces with our affiliate club, Adobe Whitewater, the American Canoe Association, and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation to request that the newly instate game commission rescind the rule, citing a 1945 ruling by the New Mexico Supreme

Read More
Image for Cheoah River Survey Responses Needed (NC) (Update - Results)

Cheoah River Survey Responses Needed (NC) (Update – Results)

American Whitewater was a lead negotiator of the releases on the Cheoah River back in the early 2000’s and we now collaboratively review and schedule the releases each year. Paddler attendance at releases in 2019 was significantly lower than in prior years, and we’d like to better understand and share with our partners why that was the case. If you paddled the Cheoah River in the past 2-3 years please take this quick 3-5 minute survey to help ensure we

Read More
Image for Funding Colorado’s Water Plan - What is Proposition DD?

Funding Colorado’s Water Plan – What is Proposition DD?

Although many individuals are already focused on 2020, there is an important election taking place in Colorado in 2019. This year’s ballot will be slimmer than others, but there is a proposition that is critical to funding the Colorado Water Plan. Proposition DD is a tax on casinos in the state for sports gambling that will provide a down payment of funding to Colorado’s Water Plan, and is a ballot measure that American Whitewater has endorsed.  ●      Proposition DD would provide

Read More
Image for EPA Proposing to Weaken State’s Ability to Protect Clean Water and Recreation

EPA Proposing to Weaken State’s Ability to Protect Clean Water and Recreation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new regulations that would weaken the ability of states to protect clean water at hydropower dams and other federally-licensed energy projects. Under the Clean Water Act, states must certify that these projects comply with state water quality standards before they can receive a 30-50 year federal license. The proposed rules would make it virtually impossible for the states to conduct a meaningful review of the impact of these projects on environmental quality including

Read More
Image for Upper Colorado River User Survey

Upper Colorado River User Survey

Upper Colorado River Paddlers, we need your feedback! We’re asking you to participate in a short survey on behalf of the Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Group. The Stakeholder Group formed in 2007 as an independent, collaborative group with the goal of protecting and enhancing the remarkable values of the stretch of the Colorado River from Kremmling to Glenwood Springs. This survey is being distributed to a variety of recreation user groups and you are being invited to

Read More