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Image for Join American Whitewater On The Wild And Scenic Rogue River (OR) In 2019

Join American Whitewater On The Wild And Scenic Rogue River (OR) In 2019

Enjoy one of our country’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers with American Whitewater staff and similar likeminded river lovers. For the past few years, the staff of America Whitewater has joined with a number of our members to participate in a four-day float trip on the Rogue River in southern Oregon. This trip has been a great opportunity to connect with members in ways that build a lasting understanding of the role of recreation in fostering a stewardship ethic. As

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Image for AW Joins Recreation Groups In Support of Emery County Public Lands Act

AW Joins Recreation Groups In Support of Emery County Public Lands Act

American Whitewater joins the Outdoor Alliance, Access Fund, The Conservation Alliance, and Outdoor Industry Association in support of the proposed Emery County Public Land Management Act of 2018. Legislators actively engaged the recreation community and AW has been working for several years to make sure the Act does as much as it can to protect whitewater recreation and rivers in Utah, including designating a section of the Green River as Wild and Scenic. We are happy to report that the bill is moving forward

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Support Colorado River Access on Colorado Gives Day!

Colorado Gives Day is on December 4 this year and is fast approaching! Go here to schedule your online donation to support American Whitewater's Colorado River Access Program.  What is Colorado Gives?  "Each December Coloradans come together with the common goal to strengthen the community by helping to power nonprofits. Community First Foundation and FirstBank partner to make this day rewarding for givers, nonprofits and the community as a whole… Colorado Gives Day has grown to be the state's largest

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Image for Breaking News: PUD votes against Enloe electrification

Breaking News: PUD votes against Enloe electrification

At its November 19 meeting, the Okanogan PUD Commissioners voted unanimously on a staff recommendation to stop pursuing electrification of Enloe Dam.    The recommendation was shared by General Manager Steve Taylor after a staff presentation showed the total cost of energizing the 100-year-old facility at $87.4 million, nearly three times the PUD's original estimate. Enloe dam is located on the Similkameen River near Oroville.   The new costs for the dam project add significantly to a price tag that

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Image for Charity Navigator Awards American Whitewater Ninth Consecutive 4-Star Rating

Charity Navigator Awards American Whitewater Ninth Consecutive 4-Star Rating

November 2018, Charity Navigator, America's largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, announced that American Whitewater has earned its ninth consecutive 4-star 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 ninth 4-star rating from Charity Navigator is

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Image for  2018 Board Of Directors Election - Current Members Vote Now!

2018 Board Of Directors Election – Current Members Vote Now!

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. Currently, American Whitewater has four Director Nominees to fill four open seats for election, 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

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Image for #OptOutside With American Whitewater This Holiday Season

#OptOutside With American Whitewater This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, certain locales whitewater seasons are heating up, while in other regions, the season may be cooling off and the temptation to cozy up inside and sip some warm cocoa might be starting to become a real threat. At American Whitewater we encourage you to sip that cocoa after you play outside. It just tastes so much better. That’s why day-in and day-out we’re working to provide more whitewater opportunities close to home, and why we

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Image for Support Sustainable Upper Yough (MD) Access Parking!

Support Sustainable Upper Yough (MD) Access Parking!

American Whitewater has worked closely with the State of Maryland and the Town of Friendsville to maintain and improve access to the Upper Youghiogheny River since we started maintaining the Sang Run Access in 2001. We raised $25,000 in 2012 as a down payment on the parking lot in Friendsville that paddlers use today. Buoyed by this gift, the Town successfully raised $160,000 more to complete the project. The result – hundreds of paddlers whose cars used to line the

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Image for Voluntary River Closure Proposed On the Slate River (CO)

Voluntary River Closure Proposed On the Slate River (CO)

Crested Butte, CO – Alleged disruption to a Heron Rookery and concerned private landowners have led to a "Voluntary Closure" of the Slate River from the Gunsight Bridge to the Town of Crested Butte between March 15 and June 21 for the 2019 season.  The Slate River between Oh Be Joyful Campground and Skyland Bridge, a 10.5 mile stretch, provides an incredibly scenic and unique flatwater paddling experience in the Gunnison Valley. The majority of the paddling experiences in the

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Image for Bonus Flows and American Whitewater Requests Remediation On NF Feather (CA)

Bonus Flows and American Whitewater Requests Remediation On NF Feather (CA)

Tobin Section of the NF Feather River's Dangerous Retaining Wall American Whitewater, along with our partners at California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Trout Unlimited, are requesting remediation by Union Pacific Railroad of the ongoing and increasingly serious threat to public safety caused by the instability of the Railroad’s retaining wall and adjacent hill slope on the North Fork of the Feather River near Tobin, California. For the past two years we have observed continuing erosion of the embankment behind the

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Image for Take Russell Fork Survey on Additional Releases (VA/KY)

Take Russell Fork Survey on Additional Releases (VA/KY)

A diverse range of agencies and organizations are interested in enhancing the dam releases on the Russell Fork River, located on the border of Kentucky and Virginia. This year, the Army Corps of Engineers has added releases on the first two weekends of November as a pilot program, in addition to the standard four October weekends. You can read about the exciting shift in a recent newspaper article.  American Whitewater has worked with local partners to craft a survey to

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Image for Remembering Dangerous Dave Eckardt

Remembering Dangerous Dave Eckardt

              Aspen, Colorado – Dave Eckardt, otherwise known as “Dangerous Dave” of Aspen, Colorado; co-author of the first kayak Bible: Colorado Rivers and Creeks, passed away earlier this month. He was mountain biking on Snowmass Mountain near his home, a double black diamond single track named “Valhalla”.  He died of  head and spine trauma. He was two days short of his 63rd birthday.                  Dave will be remembered for his heroic contributions to the world

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Image for AW Weighs In On Teton River Dam Relicensing (ID)

AW Weighs In On Teton River Dam Relicensing (ID)

This week American Whitewater kicked off our involvement with the relicensing of Felt Dam on the Teton River, near Tetonia, Idaho. The process will take several years and will result in a new 30-50 year license for this hydropower project, which bisects a Class V reach and a Class III(IV) reach of the Teton River.  Based on our conversations with local paddlers, there is an opportunity and need to improve river access and egress near the project, which is located

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Image for Opportunity for Input on Saint Vrain (CO) Stream Management Plan

Opportunity for Input on Saint Vrain (CO) Stream Management Plan

There are two upcoming opportunities to have your voice heard on the future of the Saint Vrain Watershed. These are the first of many opportunities for the community to engage in the St. Vrain Left Hand Stream Management Plan (SMP) process. Join us for either or both events to learn more about the plan, provide input on your vision and values for the watershed, and identify opportunity areas. It's important for paddlers to show up and represent our interests in terms of

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Image for Help Protect Whitewater Resources In The Bear And Yuba River Watersheds (CA)

Help Protect Whitewater Resources In The Bear And Yuba River Watersheds (CA)

Our partners at the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) Need Your Help To Stop Centennial Dam by attending a rally and meeting next Tuesday, October 9th (details below). Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will vote at a special meeting to cease spending on the dam proposal and focus on their Raw Water Master Plan (RWMP). Plans for the proposed Centennial Dam threaten 91 miles of whitewater resources on the Yuba River watershed and would permanently flood whitewater sections on the Bear

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Image for Wild and Scenic 50th Anniversary AW Gear Available This Week Only!

Wild and Scenic 50th Anniversary AW Gear Available This Week Only!

New limited edition American Whitewater 50th Anniversary Wild & Scenic Rivers Act gear available this week only! Shirts, tanks and hoodies for both ladies and men! Support wild rivers and earn style points at the same time. We're extremely excited to partner with FLOAT to bring this river stewardship supporting gear. For every item sold FLOAT donates $8+ to American Whitewater to help fund our stewardship programs. Head on over to FLOAT and shop today!

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Image for Gauley Fest AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat

Gauley Fest AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat

Glen Tsaparas of Falls Church, Virginia is the recipient of our Volunteer of the Month award after another year of generously sharing countless hours at American Whitewater’s biggest event of the year, Gauley Fest. Glen has been leading the Silent Auction team for over 15 years with his trusted paddling crew Jimmy, Shane and Liz. Glen has only missed two Gauley Fest’s in thirty years, has always been willing to go above and beyond, and is a lifetime member of

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Image for Feather Festival AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat

Feather Festival AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat

Jeff Venturino is recognized as Volunteer of the Month for his outstanding work as the Volunteer Coordinator for American Whitewater's Feather River Festival! Recruiting and coordinating over 90 volunteers, Jeff also roped his Mom, Laura Montagna, into manning the ever important AW Membership Booth. Jeff is a Davis-based paddler, biologist, and seasonal kayak instructor for California Canoe and Kayak. He learned to paddle in the far Northwest corner of California paddling on rivers like the beautiful Trinity watershed.  He is

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Image for New Film Celebrates 50 Years of Wild and Scenic Rivers

New Film Celebrates 50 Years of Wild and Scenic Rivers

Pacific Rivers, American Rivers and American Whitewater release Run Wild, Run Free to celebrate anniversary and inspire protection for more rivers.   The film will be available online October 2 for three days.  Watch it here: https://vimeo.com/292826814   To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, filmmaker Shane Anderson and Pacific Rivers, American Rivers and American Whitewater released the new film Run Wild, Run Free. The film tells the story of the origins of the Wild

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Image for Take Action To Protect Lochsa Area Wild Rivers (ID)

Take Action To Protect Lochsa Area Wild Rivers (ID)

Paddlers now have an important opportunity to oppose Forest Service plans to strip proposed protections from 89 rivers in central Idaho. The Forest Service really needs to hear from paddlers from across the country and it takes just a few minutes to send them a letter. These whitewater streams in the Lochsa, Selway, and Clearwater watersheds were proposed for protection through a Forest Planning process. But local officials and organizations have applied political pressure and demanded that the Forest Service

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Image for Opportunity for Input on Middle Fork Snoqualmie Planning Effort (WA)

Opportunity for Input on Middle Fork Snoqualmie Planning Effort (WA)

Middle Fork Snoqualmie & Pratt Wild and Scenic Rivers Public Meetings and Online Mapping.   The U.S. Forest Service has recently initiated a process to develop a Comprehensive River Management Plan for the 27 miles of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and the entirety of the Pratt River that were designated Wild and Scenic in 2014. For boaters this includes the reach known as the “Upper Middle” and sections upstream that are largely on the Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National

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Image for AW Wins Court Battle Protecting Green River (VT) Boating

AW Wins Court Battle Protecting Green River (VT) Boating

The Vermont Superior Court sided with American Whitewater in a long-running dispute with the state over whitewater boating on the Green River in Morrisville. The Court overturned state restrictions that would have eliminated any meaningful opportunity for boaters to enjoy this extraordinary river and required scheduled releases in a ground breaking decision.   AW and the Vermont Paddlers Club have be working to secure scheduled releases through the hydropower relicensing of the Green River Dam. Despite support from FERC and

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Image for Prevent a New Dam on the San Joaquin (CA)

Prevent a New Dam on the San Joaquin (CA)

We need your help to protect the San Joaquin River! The proposed Temperance Flat Dam would drown an incredible river canyon that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has already recommended for Wild and Scenic River designation. Despite the enormous price tag of at least $2.6 billion, according to the Bureau of Reclamation's preferred alternative for the project, the dam would only yield 70,000 acre-feet of water per year on average. That's less than .2% of California's annual water use. The

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Image for  AW Journal - September/October Issue Online Now!

AW Journal – September/October Issue Online Now!

The September/October issue of the AW Journal is available in the "Library". This issue includes 'Celebrating 50 Years of Wild and Scenic Rivers’.   East Rosebud (MT) Designated Wild and Scenic Mokelumne (CA) Welcomed to Wild and Scenic System Nolichucky Wild and Scenic Update An Adventure on The Middle Fork of the Salmon River Ridley Scott’s Lost Whitewater Commercial A Lesson from the Past: Advice from 1968 and much more. . .   Current members – Read the issue now! Not a

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Image for Paddlers Applaud Expanded Daddy’s Creek Access! (TN)

Paddlers Applaud Expanded Daddy’s Creek Access! (TN)

For well over 20 years paddlers have sought improved access to a beautiful section of Daddy’s Creek flowing through Catoosa Wildlife Management Area near Crossville, TN. Daddy’s Creek only has enough water to float after significant rain, which typically happens in the fall, winter and spring. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) road and area closures related to hunting during this timeframe have severely limited paddling use. Earlier today TWRA notified American Whitewater of a recent decision to expand public access.

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