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Colorado – Montrose County has acquired conditional water rights to the San Miguel River in southwest Colorado and is currently engaged in a water storage feasibility study aimed at pulling more water from the river and building multiple new reservoirs on BLM land. The County received a $300,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and hired a water rights development coordinator to help push these projects forward. The sections which will potentially be impacted by these proposals would

Gauley Fest is just around the corner. . .have you reserved your Vendor space? Gauley Fest's Marketplace gets bigger and better every year. Take advantage of the 15% discount on Vendor booths through August 31st. Reserve your booth today and lock in your discounted price!  Started in 1983 to celebrate the derailment of a hydro-electric project that would have disrupted the flows on the Gauley River, Gauley Fest has grown to become the largest river festival in the world. It's a showcase for American

As summer winds down and as botable flows fade along with it, you may find yourself looking for one last hurrah. One more chance to gather with the tribe, paddle an exciting stretch of whitewater and dance into the wee hours of the night with the reckless abandon only a gypsy boater can. Look no further! American Whitewater provides the flows and the party, with the three best paddling festivals of the summer right around the corner.  Gore Festival (CO)

Dolores, Colorado – Last week, representatives from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Dolores Water Conservancy District, and the local boating community hosted a public meeting to discuss this year’s boating releases into the lower Dolores River.  This is the first year since 2011 that water managers released boating flows from McPhee Dam. For some, the recreational releases were something to celebrate.  For others, they were confounding and underscored the frustration boaters have felt since the Project came online 30 years

The El Dorado County Transportation Division has issued a feasibility study proposing to remove access at the river once construction for a new Mosquito Road Bridge is started on the South Fork American River. American Whitewater pushed for this study as required under the California Highway Code. Unfortunately, this study outlined a litany of reasons why they believe access at this location is not feasible, rather than studying how river access could be maintained or improved, as the law requires.

As river flows start to drop, many boaters in the West turn their attention to the Upper Colorado River, and the iconic Gore Canyon. American Whitewater is excited to host this year’s Gore Canyon Festival – building on the 30+ year legacy of the Gore Canyon race, with a freestyle rodeo, SUP races and demos, and family floats this year. American Whitewater is deeply invested in creating opportunities to protect, restore, and enjoy whitewater paddling on the Colorado River. Join

American Whitewater released our 2015 Annual Report, it can be downloaded by clicking here. A couple interesting points from that report. Looking back at our success in 2015, American Whitewater achieved these important stewardship milestones: – New “eligible” Wild and Scenic river reaches secured: 9 – New and/or improved river access areas secured: 14 – Number of rivers with hydropower dams with improved downstream flows and river access: 30 – Collaboratively managed river access: 16 – Opened banned rivers in

American Whitewater is proud to announce the two affiliate club recipients of the 2016 Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Campaign: Merrimack Valley Paddlers and The Blue River Watershed Group! Each group will receive a $1,250 grant to go towards their respective stewardship projects.     Contoocook River Access (NH) – Merrimack Valley Paddlers Merrimack Valley Paddlers (MVP) has been working to secure permanent access to the upper section of the Contoocook River from Hillsboro to Henniker in central New Hampshire. The

Denver, CO – American Whitewater is thrilled to announce Good River Beer as its newest Industry Partner. The partnership was born out of a shared love for river recreation and a shared vision for river conservation, and is made possible by Good River Beer’s unique business model. Good River Beer has committed to donating two percent of their revenue to river stewardship and conservation, and half of that will benefit American Whitewater’s Colorado River Stewardship Program. “Our partnership with Good

As our volunteers of the month, we wish to recognize Luke Spencer and Pete Giordano who spent countless hours in meetings and site visits to make new improved access to the Clackamas River a reality.    Those who paddle the Clackamas River, Portland's backyard run, may have noticed something new this spring: enhanced access points with parking, signage, toilet, and convenient launch facilities. These projects would not have happened without Luke and Pete stepping up to volunteer their expertise and

You have to register your vehicle and trailer, so show your support for Colorado’s rivers with the Protect Our Rivers license plate! 100% of the money raised goes toward the conservation, protection and restoration of rivers and streams in Colorado. For every License Plate ordered with AW's Partner Code, a portion of your donation goes directly to support our stewardship efforts! The Protect Our Rivers Program is a program of Colorado Trout Unlimited, one of AW's conservation partners on many

The Tuolumne River Trust's annual paddle-a-thon to protect the Tuolumne River and raise funds and awareness for river stewardship, the Paddle to the Sea, is now a new "bigger and better" event series called By Land & By River. This  "adventure-a-thon" fundraising event series offers exciting opportunities to explore nature, protect the Tuolumne River, and raise awareness for river stewardship. After seven successful years of the Paddle to the Sea event, this year there’s even more ways to explore the

Submit your best photos for American Whitewater's annual calendar! When The deadline is August 1st, 2016. Who Any and all photographers, from professionals to complete novices. Have you taken a photo before? Then you're ready. Why First, you'll get a free copy of the calendar if your photo is chosen. Secondly, you'll know you helped support AW's river stewardship projects as we sell these calendars as a fundraiser. Third, fame.  What High resolution photos (>1MB) featuring rivers from within the

The July/August issue of the AW Journal is available online now. This issue features the American Whitewater Annual Report. Our Annual Report focuses on 2015 financial performance and stewardship highlights. Looking back at our success in 2015, American Whitewater achieved the following important stewardship milestones:  * New “eligible” Wild and Scenic River reaches secured: 9 “¨ * New and/or improved river access areas secured: 14 “¨ * Number of rivers with hydropower dams with improved downstream flows and river access: 30 “¨ *

In the settlement negotiations that preceded the 2001 license order for the FERC Mokelumne River Project #137, American Whitewater was satisfied with the recreational flows required for the Electra to Middle Bar reach. This was mainly due to the flows that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) already released regularly during the day to generate energy for the power grid operated by the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO). Boaters could take advantage of this dependable flow without the need to

American Whitewater works to protect and restore whitewater rivers across the country, and we rely on your ongoing support to keep us going strong. Your membership dollars and donations support our river conservation, access and safety work on the rivers that you love. Each membership dollar that AW receives is leveraged to generate $4 in total funding directed at supporting river stewardship.   Twice each year, we reach out to you to ask that you become a member or renew your

Many of you weighed in earlier this year on the Energy Bill and specifically some very troubling provisions concerning hydropower. Your actions made a difference but now that the House and Senate have both passed an Energy Bill, negotiations will soon get underway to determine what the final language will be. The fate of our rivers, and our ability to effectively advocate for the interests of whitewater paddlers, hangs in the balance.   Under the guise of "modernizing" hydropower and

Citizens ask Gov. to reopen agency decision that ignored jobs, tourism, boaters, scenery   Spokane – Advocates for the Spokane River are asking Gov. Jay Inslee to grant their petition for protecting all instream values of the Spokane River, including recreational boating opportunities. This is the next step in the citizens’ quest to protect Spokane River flows. A petition was filed in February with the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), and rejected by the agency in April.   “Excluding rafters,

The Flathead National Forest is a treasure trove of whitewater paddling thanks to the three forks of the Wild and Scenic Flathead River, the Swan River, and many robust tributaries. Today, the Forest released their new inventory of streams they intend to protect as eligible for future Wild and Scenic designation.  The inventory includes 22 outstanding streams, 10 of which are new eligible streams totalling 125 river miles. American Whitewater has worked closely with our partners in Montanans for Healthy