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Image for Action Alert! Support Protection of Access to Public Waterways in Oregon

Action Alert! Support Protection of Access to Public Waterways in Oregon

Oregon is a state renowned for its plentiful water supplies and outstanding recreation opportunities on its public waterways. The abundance of outstanding river resources is a reason why people continue to live, work, recreate, and travel to the state.  Protecting rivers and access to them is important to conservation and recreation, as it ties to strong local economies and community health. Right now there is a bill in the Oregon House that will improve and protect our access to rivers

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Image for Devils Postpile Will Be Included in Wild and Scenic Inventory!

Devils Postpile Will Be Included in Wild and Scenic Inventory!

Good news from California! After the Inyo National Forest Plan Revision Objection Resolution meeting yesterday in Bishop California, the Deputy Regional Forester and the Inyo Forest Supervisor announced that they will add the segments of the Middle Fork San Joaquin that are on Inyo Forest land (11.5 miles) to the inventory of eligible wild and scenic rivers for the revised Inyo Forest Plan.  They will also add whitewater boating as an outstandingly remarkable value (ORV).  Specifically, the sections of the

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Image for Southern Rockies Stewardship Director Job Opening

Southern Rockies Stewardship Director Job Opening

American Whitewater is hiring a new Southern Rockies Stewardship Director, following the announcement of the previous Director moving on to a new role with the State of Colorado. The Southern Rockies Stewardship Director role is a full-time position. The location of the position may vary within the state of Colorado, and the Director works from a home office. The Director reports to American Whitewater’s National Stewardship Director, and benefits from significant support and collaboration with AW staff, board members, and

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Image for Nathan Fey Departs as Colorado Stewardship Director

Nathan Fey Departs as Colorado Stewardship Director

It is with great appreciation that we announce that Nathan Fey will be leaving his role as the Colorado and Southern Rockies Stewardship Director of American Whitewater at the end of the month. Nathan served in this role for the past 12 years, growing our work in the region from an ambitious new idea to a thriving and effective program that has reshaped how rivers are protected and restored in the Southern Rockies. We will greatly miss working so closely

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Image for Action Alert! Devil's Postpile of the San Joaquin River

Action Alert! Devil’s Postpile of the San Joaquin River

Calling all paddlers who've paddled or aspire to paddle the Devil's Postpile, and who could provide comments for the incredible nature of this section of the Middle Fork San Joaquin River. Comments are needed ASAP and are due on February 15th. Currently, American Whitewater is working with the Forest Service on the Inyo Forest Management Plan Revision. We are working both to ensure the Devil’s Postpile remains included in the inventory of Wild & Scenic eligible rivers and that whitewater

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Image for Green River Appeal Heads to the VT Supreme Court

Green River Appeal Heads to the VT Supreme Court

American Whitewater is heading to the Vermont Supreme Court next month in its ongoing work to protect whitewater boating on the Green River. Following our big win in the Superior Court, Environmental Division in which the court overturned the state prohibition of scheduled releases on the Green, the state appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court. We filed our Supreme Court brief and oral argument is scheduled for March 12th at the Vermont Law School in South Royalton. American Whitewater has

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Image for A Wild and Scenic Coalition is Born

A Wild and Scenic Coalition is Born

In 2018, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Wild and Scenic River System. In the wake of the impressive anniversary successes, however, one might ask, “So, now what?” Luckily, the rivers community asked that question some time ago. As with conservation innovations of the past, a group of river advocates and concerned citizens united to ensure that the rivers anniversary wasn’t simply a one-time party. And so, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Coalition was born at

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Image for New American Whitewater Website Update

New American Whitewater Website Update

Here at American Whitewater we are rapidly fixing bugs and enhancing the user experience on our newly redesigned website, which we launched late last week. Due to the complexity of the database that backs our National Whitewater Inventory and other aspects of our site, some bugs were expected. We launched our site under a hard deadline based on the outstanding financial support we received for this project from the US Coast Guard, and we appreciate our community’s patience and constructive

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Image for Welcome to the New National Whitewater Inventory!

Welcome to the New National Whitewater Inventory!

American Whitewater has worked with an outstanding team of website designers and programmers over the past two years to redesign our National Whitewater Inventory (NWI). The NWI provides high quality information for a growing list of 5,760 whitewater river reaches across the United States. Each year this online guide helps almost 1,000,000 paddlers avoid hazards and match their skill level to the right rivers at the right flows. Like a Wikipedia of whitewater rivers, the Inventory is a dynamic crowd-sourced

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Image for Comments Needed on DOI Changes to Freedom of Information Act Requests!

Comments Needed on DOI Changes to Freedom of Information Act Requests!

On December 28, 2018 the Department of the Interior (DOI) proposed a rule that would change the way Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records requests are handled by the DOI. The FOIA allows the public to access information the national government has in its possession. It provides a legal requirement for government transparency and accountability, allowing for public debate, and also provides an avenue for legal discovery in judicial challenges against the policies of public agencies, which are otherwise hidden

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Image for Clackamas River flow information survey

Clackamas River Flow Information Survey

As a part of Portland General Electric’s (PGE) license for its hydroelectric project along the Clackamas River, PGE follows a Recreation Resource Management Plan that directs the Company towards recreation projects along the Clackamas. PGE meets bi-annually with a local whitewater stakeholder group, the Boater Logistics User Body (BLUB), to plan, conduct and complete the whitewater boating-related activities along the Upper Clackamas River. Such activities include sponsorship of the Annual Upper Clackamas River Whitewater Festival, the development of three river

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Image for Dates Scheduled for First New River Dries Releases (WV)

Dates Scheduled for First New River Dries Releases (WV)

Last week, the first ever pulse flow releases were scheduled on the New River Dries, located near Gauley Bridge, WV. These releases were designed to support intermediate level whitewater paddling and to restore natural flow variability to a river reach that has been largely dewatered by the Hawks Nest Hydropower Project for generations. The releases are a requirement of the new 47-year federal dam license issued in late 2017. The releases will occur in March, June, July, and possibly August

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Image for National Paddling Film Festival accepting submissions

National Paddling Film Festival accepting submissions

The National Paddling Film Festival is rapidly approaching! The fine folks who run NPFF are currently accepting films and still images. Entries are free and categories include amateur, accomplished, and professional. You still have time to enter today! NPFF has a long history of supporting American Whitewater, as well as other organizations dedicated to river conservation and access. This grassroot festival, located at a bourbon distillery Frankfort, Kentucky is on February 15th and 16th. Check out their Facebook Event Page

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Image for Weber River Agreement Calls For New Flows & Access (UT)

Weber River Agreement Calls For New Flows & Access (UT)

American Whitewater has spent the past three years participating in the relicensing of a hydropower dam on Utah's Weber River that dewaters a stretch of whitewater known as the Scrambled Eggs run. Last year, we reached an agreement with all parties calling for improved take-out access, as well as four pulse flow releases each year that will support whitewater paddling and the river's ecology. This agreement is core to the dam owner's 2018 federal dam license application, which we recently

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Image for AW Russell Fork Survey Results Shared (KY/VA)

AW Russell Fork Survey Results Shared (KY/VA)

Last fall a diverse range of agencies and organizations expressed interest in enhancing the dam releases on the Russell Fork River, located on the border of Kentucky and Virginia. The Army Corps of Engineers added releases on the first two weekends of November as a pilot program, in addition to the standard four October weekends.  American Whitewater worked with local partners to craft a survey to inform the decision-making process and support releases that maximize benefits for paddlers and local

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Flathead River Tributaries Get Protection for Christmas (MT)

Wild rivers and their enthusiasts got some good news with the release of the new 15-20 year Forest plan for the Flathead National Forest. The decision newly protects 22 streams as eligible for Wild and Scenic designation (284 river miles). based in large part on the advocacy of American Whitewater and our awesome partners and members in Montana. These protections will serve as a vital steppingstone to the designation of some of our Nation’s most outstanding headwater streams.  In 2004 the

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Image for  AW Journal - The January/February Issue Online Now!

AW Journal – The January/February Issue Online Now!

    The January/February issue of the AW Journal is available in the "Library". This issue includes 'The Top Ten River Stewardship Issues of 2019’, along with:    Revisiting the Top Ten River Stewardship Issues in 2018 Articles on the history of the Gauley River in West Virginia A highlight of the Nile River and impact of the Isimba Dam Some much needed cold-weather paddling tips Two touching remembrances and much more. . .             Current members – Read the

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Image for Upper Yough Access Fundraiser a Big Success

Upper Yough Access Fundraiser a Big Success

Earlier this week, American Whitewater presented the Town of Friendsville, Maryland with a $5000 check towards the extension of the popular Upper Yough Access. This, combined with a $1000 donation from Keelhaulers Canoe Club, made a strong statement of how much paddlers value the river and the town! Under the leadership of Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle and long time paddler and Friendsville resident Jess Whittemore the town raised $7 in additional funding for every dollar paddlers donated – just like they

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Image for AW is Hiring a Contract GIS + Web Programmer

AW is Hiring a Contract GIS + Web Programmer

American Whitewater is seeking to hire a contract-based professional web programmer with significant experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The project will include: The creation and modification of point and vector GIS data layers, Designing and programming a web-based platform for adding new point and vector data to an web-based database, Designing and programming the efficient display of GIS data on the American Whitewater website. Sharing / serving the data layers across other public platforms.     Please send inquiries and resumes

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Flow Survey Announced For Rio Grande And Conejos Rivers (CO)

Alamosa, Colorado – American Whitewater needs your help to define streamflows that support the full range of recreational boating opportunities on the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers in Southern Colorado. Information collected by this study will be used to assess river-dependent recreation as part of a joint stream management planning effort between American Whitewater and the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project.    Once completed, the Stream Management Plan for the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers will be used to inform

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Image for Flow Survey Announced For Rio Grande And Conejos Rivers (CO)

Flow Survey Announced for Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers (CO)

Alamosa, Colorado – American Whitewater needs your help to define streamflows that support the full range of recreational boating opportunities on the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers in Southern Colorado. Information collected by this study will be used to assess river-dependent recreation as part of a joint stream management planning effort between American Whitewater and the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project.  Once completed, the Stream Management Plan for the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers will be used to inform projects

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Image for Check Out the New Draft National Whitewater Inventory

Check Out the New Draft National Whitewater Inventory

Earlier this month we announced that American Whitewater is close to releasing the new design for our National Whitewater Inventory (NWI). We'll be going live with the final new design of the NWI in January, but we are stoked to share the draft beta version of the site now, so our members can get a taste of the look and feel for the new site. We hope you enjoy taking a peak at the site, and enjoy the new river pages, but

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Image for New Graphics Summarize 20 Years of Accident Data

New Graphics Summarize 20 Years of Accident Data

Charlie Duffy has created a series of graphs summarizing the contents of the Accident Database over the last 20 years. Along the way, he searched our files for any errors and duplicates and corrected them. Click through to scroll through these fascinating charts or to download them for your use. To Browse On Facebook click here.   To Download the PDF’s click here.

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Image for Long Time Coming: Whitewater Releases on the Poe Section of the NF Feather (CA)!

Long Time Coming: Whitewater Releases on the Poe Section of the NF Feather (CA)!

On December 17th 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new license for the Poe hydroelectric project on the North Fork Feather River (CA).  This event has been long awaited by American Whitewater. AW first started working on this relicensing back in 2000. The license has been  stalled out at the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for the past decade. The SWRCB holds the keys to what is typically the last step in the FERC relicensing

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