Articles

Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been a critical source of funding for important river access projects and other recreational pursuits across the country. In addition to ensuring access to paddling, the Fund supports creating and maintaining the places where we reconnect with nature and our families and friends–from local soccer fields and playgrounds all the way up to State and National Parks. The Fund also goes towards projects that protect water quality, preserve open space

Over the past couple months we’ve shared news of the hydropower industry asking Congress to give them huge advantages in damming and diverting rivers.  Paddlers and other river enthusiasts responded loudly with emails and calls to political leaders, and with editorials in newspapers. In addition, many AW affiliate clubs signed onto a powerful letter to Congress. Thanks to your efforts, some of the worst parts of the industry’s wish list were cut away as the Senate crafted an energy bill.

Things have been dry in California but the water will be flowing for the 2015 Feather Fest.  American Whitewater will be hosting the 25th annual event near Tobin (CA) during  the scheduled releases on the Rock Creek reach of the Feather River.  American Whitewater negotiated these releases 15 years ago, during that time, the Feather Fest has become the biggest river festival in California.  The September 25-27 benefit event will be held at "Indian Jim School" campground located two miles upstream

Join us in Summersville, WV September 18th and 19th for the biggest and best Gauley Fest ever. Reserve your Vendor booth now! 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 Whitewater and the top whitewater vendors in the boating community. Take advantage of the 15% discount on Vendor booths

Please consider signing up to volunteer for two hours (or more) and become a part of the Gauley Fest Volunteer Team! It's a fun and easy way for you to be a critical part of an amazing festival that's also AW's biggest fundraiser. For your time you'll be given an exclusive "volunteers only" Gauley Fest t-shirt, tickets for a "volunteer only" raffle, plus the feeling of knowing that you help make Gauley Fest happen! We even have a few more

American Whitewater firmly believes that you can’t protect what you don’t know. Colorado’s Yampa River is a prime example of this belief, and after exploring this river with our members in May, and participating in the Yampa River Awareness Project with decision makers from across the water world, we are hard at work protecting one of the Most Endangered Whitewater Resources in the country. We’ve had some wonderful experiences on the Yampa and AW continues to be in the forefront

Hydropower legislation is on the move in Congress and paddler’s voices are needed to protect our rivers. This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced a comprehensive energy package (the "Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015”), and the hydropower provisions hold many of the same dangerous outcomes for our rivers as the legislation we’ve been tracking in recent months.   If passed, the Act will severely compromise the ability of local communities, federal agencies and tribes to protect and revive

Volunteers are needed to paddle the Pee Dee River between Tillery Dam and the Highway 109 Access Area (12 miles) in support of a recreational flow releases study hosted by Duke Energy.  The river is flatwater and flows through the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, and is located east of Charlotte, NC.   A new Federal license requires Duke Energy to release flows from the dam for recreation use, but optimal and acceptable flows for releases are not yet known.

As many of you know, the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) is a major transbasin diversion and reservoir project planned for the Fort Collins area. It will siphon water from the Upper Colorado river system, and have significant impacts on the health of the Poudre River as it runs through LaPorte and Fort Collins. This week is the time to make your voice heard at two listening sessions sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday and Thursday,

If passed, both the “Hydropower Regulatory Modernization Act” in the House and “Hydropower Improvement Act” in the Senate (S. 1236) would limit the ability of local communities and state and federal agencies to revive rivers impacted by hydropower. The hydropower industry claims that these bills are about improving regulatory efficiency and promoting “clean, green” energy. In reality they are seeking an industry-wide exemption from the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other basic requirements for providing fish passage

What a week for the Colorado River! On Monday, over 90 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Gore Canyon Whitewater Park on the Upper Colorado River. The park’s official opening celebrates the first applied water rights for recreation on the entire Colorado River – a major victory for paddlers and advocates for the state’s booming river-recreation economy. AW has been a leader in this project for 7 years, and Monday was a great opportunity to recognize all

Please join U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Governor John Hickenlooper, Former U.S. Senator Mark Udall, State and Local Officials, and other community leaders on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. to celebrate the designation of Browns Canyon National Monument. Browns Canyon is Colorado's newest National Monument, and conserves the cultural, historical, adn recreational resources within 22000 acres on teh Arkansas

Earlier today the designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was announced. The new 330,780 acre National Monument is in Northern California and contains two whitewater sections of Cache Creek and two sections of the Eel River that offer some great paddling relatively close to San Francisco. The area also offers outstanding hiking and other recreational opportunities. This designation should ensure that the paddling opportunities and the landscape that supports them remain special for generations to come.     

Last fall the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (ORPD) solicited input on the designation of a segment of the Molalla River that includes the Three Bears Run as a State Scenic Waterway. American Whitewater is actively supporting this designation. Based on the feedback received, ORPD has developed a draft management plan and they are soliciting public feedback through an upcoming meeting and opportunity to provide comment. We encourage whitewater paddlers to weigh in highlighting the recreation value of the river

Excellent news on the Upper Colorado River today. The Records of Decision from both the Forest Service and the BLM supporting, and approving our 8 year effort to create a Wild and Scenic Rivers Alternative stakeholder plan. Since 2007, the Upper Colorado Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group has been working on a plan to protect and enhance paddling and fishing along nearly 80 remarkable miles of the Upper Colorado River’s mainstem between Kremmling and Glenwood Springs. It’s a truly important

The second draft of the Colorado state water plan was released yesterday, and it's already generating a lot of ink. We're digging deep into the plan, analysing it for what all paddlers need to know about how the State Plan impacts our rivers and recreation, and what issues we should make our voices heard on. Whether you are a resident of Colorado, or a visitor during the summer event circuit, your comments on the State's first Water Plan are needed

American Whitewater released our 2014 Annual Report, it can be downloaded by clicking here. A couple interesting points from that report. First, we are very fortunate to have a highly diversified revenue stream. What this means for a nonprofit is that if one stream were to dry up, other sources of revenue can carry the organization. This is critical for long-term organizational sustainability. Second, our lean administrative model means that .85 cents on every dollar passes through directly to support

American Whitewater recognizes Don Millard as our July 2015 Volunteer of the Month!    A vital aspect of river stewardship is maintaining good relationships with small towns that are used for river access. This is especially true when a river becomes popular.   With a population of 500, Friendsville, Maryland is the takeout for the popular Upper Yough. The town can see over 300 paddlers on a busy release weekend. American Whitewater has partnered with the town for many years,