Articles

Search Articles:

Join AW for California Rivers Day May 11th!

California boaters! Join American Whitewater on Monday, May 11th at the State Capitol in Sacramento for California Rivers Day–an education, outreach, and activism event focusing on rivers.    Our rivers need your voices more than ever, as the severe and persistent drought has unleashed an intense push to take us back to the era of big dam building and weaken protections for our waterways. We hope you'll come out to celebrate and advocate for our rivers!     California Rivers Day will

Read More

River Stewardship T Shirts Available From FLOAT For a Limited Time

THIS WEEK ONLY! American Whitewater is thrilled to announce that we have partnered with FLOAT to bring you limited edition river stewardship T shirts available this week only! For every shirt sold FLOAT will donate $8 to American Whitewater to help us restore rivers. Head on over to www.float.org and SHOP today – lots of fun colors to choose from!

Read More
Image for Nooksack Recreation Plan Completed (WA)

Nooksack Recreation Plan Completed (WA)

Following a two and a half year process, the  Upper Nooksack River Recreation Plan, has been finalized. This new, comprehensive plan will help guide the management of recreation and natural resources along the upper Nooksack River system in Washington state. The plan recognizes and supports the economic and health benefits of recreation, along with protection and restoration of the natural and cultural values of the upper river basin. The recreation plan was developed through a collaborative planning process led by

Read More
Image for Final Decision released for Green River Diversion Project

Final Decision released for Green River Diversion Project

Green River, Utah – The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released its Final Decision for the proposed rehabilitation of the Green River/Tusher Diversion in Green River, Utah. “¨The final agency decision for rebuilding the Green River Diversion, includes boat passage and upstream signage warning boaters of the Diversion. Boat passage and public safety are design elements that American Whitewater has worked to include, and we are pleased that the NRCS and the State of Utah has incorporated these elements into

Read More
Image for Gauley Fest 2015 - Vendor Registration Open Now!

Gauley Fest 2015 – Vendor Registration Open Now!

Vendor registration for the largest whitewater festival in the world, Gauley Fest, is now open! Make sure to register before prices automatically increase 15% on September 1st. If you have any questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. If you don’t see your question answered there, please contact us at bookkeeper@americanwhitewater.org or 828-586-1930. See you there!

Read More
Image for Participate in Our Survey of Oregon Whitewater

Participate in Our Survey of Oregon Whitewater

If you boat whitewater rivers in Oregon, American Whitewater wants to hear from you! We're doing a survey to better understand the importance of some of the state's best whitewater runs. The information you provide will be used to support our work to protect, restore and improve access to your favorite rivers in the state.  Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G9VWTVR   Your feedback is important to us, and could lead to new Wild and Scenic River designations or to fight

Read More
Image for Gauley Fest 2015 - Vendor Registration Open Now!

Gauley Fest 2015 – Vendor Registration Open Now!

Vendor registration for the largest whitewater festival in the world, Gauley Fest, is now open! Make sure to register before prices automatically increase 15% on September 1st. If you have any questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. If you don’t see your question answered there, please contact us at bookkeeper@americanwhitewater.org or 828-586-1930. See you there!

Read More

Participate in Our Survey of Oregon Whitewater

If you boat whitewater rivers in Oregon, American Whitewater wants to hear from you! We're doing a survey to better understand the importance of some of the state's best whitewater runs. The information you provide will be used to support our work to protect, restore and improve access to your favorite rivers in the state.  Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G9VWTVR   Your feedback is important to us, and could lead to new Wild and Scenic River designations or to fight

Read More
Image for Show Your Support for Protection of Mountains to Sound Greenway (WA)

Show Your Support for Protection of Mountains to Sound Greenway (WA)

Extending from the Seattle waterfront to Ellensburg Washington, the Mountains to Sound Greenway is 1.5 million acre outdoor recreation paradise. It includes great whitewater runs like the Middle-Middle, Club Stretch, Ernie's Gorge, Fall in the Wall in the Snoqualmie River drainage; Cooper and Cle Elum in the Yakima River drainage; Cedar River Slalom Course; and many more great paddling destinations. The Greenway also has 1,600 miles of trails, the stunning Cascade Crest, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, rock climbing routes and

Read More
Image for May 5th is a Great Day to GiveBIG to AW!

May 5th is a Great Day to GiveBIG to AW!

As paddling season kicks into high gear, we hope that you'll consider making a contribution to American Whitewater on GiveBig Day–Tuesday, May 5th! GiveBIG is a one day event through the Seattle Foundation that makes your donation to American Whitewater go further! It's a great way to support our efforts to halt new dams proposed for the North Fork Snoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish Rivers, secure protections for iconic and pristine rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, and ensure that the public can

Read More

May 5th is a Great Day to GiveBIG to AW!

As paddling season kicks into high gear, we hope that you'll consider making a contribution to American Whitewater on GiveBig Day–Tuesday, May 5th! GiveBIG is a one day event through the Seattle Foundation that makes your donation to American Whitewater go further! It's a great way to support our efforts to halt new dams proposed for the North Fork Snoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish Rivers, secure protections for iconic and pristine rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, and ensure that the public can

Read More
Image for New Parking Area Greets Upper Yough Paddlers

New Parking Area Greets Upper Yough Paddlers

May 2nd will be the first Saturday Upper Yough release of the year, and hundreds of white water paddlers will converge on the small town of Friendsville, MD. After $25,000 in paddler-donated seed money and $160,000 in grants raised by the Town the new parking area is complete and awaiting final approval. We hope the parking will be open, but please park on the side of the road if it isn't. Other work to protect river access continues. Don Millard, a local

Read More

New Parking Area Greets Upper Yough Paddlers

May 2nd will be the first Saturday Upper Yough release of the year, and hundreds of white water paddlers will converge on the small town of Friendsville, MD. After $25,000 in paddler-donated seed money and $160,000 in grants raised by the Town the new parking area is complete and awaiting final approval. We hope the parking will be open, but please park on the side of the road if it isn't. Other work to protect river access continues. Don Millard, a local

Read More
Image for Merced in Yosemite–Officially Open at Last!!

Merced in Yosemite–Officially Open at Last!!

Late last week, the Merced River in Yosemite National Park was officially reopened to paddlers! Even though the new Wild and Scenic River Plan was finalized a year ago, the actual rules and regulations for the Park (the Superintendent’s Compendium) still needed to be updated. This finally happened on Friday, April 24, 2015, and is the culmination of seven years of sustained engagement by American Whitewater with the National Park Service and other stakeholders in this process.  Allowing paddling was

Read More
Image for Ocoee River (TN) Needs Your Help

Ocoee River (TN) Needs Your Help

The current agreement for water in the Ocoee River with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expires in 2018. A new agreement is needed. For the next agreement, TVA is asking for $9 million from outfitters to recover the lost costs of hydro generation for the first 5 years of releases. These fees represent an eye-popping 800% increase for the Middle Ocoee and a 180% increase for the Upper Ocoee. If the outfitters are unable to pay, then private boaters will lose

Read More
Image for 2015 California Recreational Releases

2015 California Recreational Releases

During dry years like the persistent drought here in California, American Whitewater believes water should be put to good multi-use down our flowing rivers. Thus, most of the agreements that have been negotiated on hydroelectric projects over the past 15 years have conditions that provide for recreational flows even in critically dry years. American Whitewater has been able to negotiate flows in dry years due to the fact that none of these flows have any impact on downstream consumptive water

Read More

Ocoee River (TN) Needs Your Help

The current agreement for water in the Ocoee River with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expires in 2018. A new agreement is needed. For the next agreement, TVA is asking for $9 million from outfitters to recover the lost costs of hydro generation for the first 5 years of releases. These fees represent an eye-popping 800% increase for the Middle Ocoee and a 180% increase for the Upper Ocoee. If the outfitters are unable to pay, then private boaters will lose

Read More

2015 California Recreational Releases

During dry years like the persistent drought here in California, American Whitewater believes water should be put to good multi-use down our flowing rivers. Thus, most of the agreements that have been negotiated on hydroelectric projects over the past 15 years have conditions that provide for recreational flows even in critically dry years. American Whitewater has been able to negotiate flows in dry years due to the fact that none of these flows have any impact on downstream consumptive water

Read More
Image for 10th Annual South Platte Clean-up - This Saturday!

10th Annual South Platte Clean-up – This Saturday!

We are excited to announce that AW and Colorado Whitewater are hosting the 10th annual South Platte River Cleanup on Saturday, April 25th in celebration of Earth Day in Denver, Colorado. This is an all-volunteer event to pick up trash along Denver's South Platte River. In past years, we have seen over 200 rafters, kayakers, and other participants successfully remove over 2 TONS of garbage from the river corridor. The event has garnered local and regional attention as the best

Read More
Image for Kayaker Pinned on White Salmon Strainer: April 12, 2015

Kayaker Pinned on White Salmon Strainer: April 12, 2015

On April 12, 2015 a Canadian paddler visiting the US was killed on the Farmlands section of Washington's White Salmon River. Denis Brown, 63, flipped in "triple Drop" rapid, did not roll, and washed iunto a strainer on the river right bank. Mr. Brown came our of his kayak and pinned against the strainer, and his boat washed down and lodged against him. There is an excellent report of this and the vigorous rescue attempt available now in the AW

Read More

Kayaker Pinned on White Salmon Strainer: April 12, 2015

On April 12, 2015 a Canadian paddler visiting the US was killed on the Farmlands section of Washington's White Salmon River. Denis Brown, 63, flipped in "triple Drop" rapid, did not roll, and washed iunto a strainer on the river right bank. Mr. Brown came our of his kayak and pinned against the strainer, and his boat washed down and lodged against him. There is an excellent report of this and the vigorous rescue attempt available now in the AW

Read More
Image for Cheat Festival (WV) Coming May 2nd

Cheat Festival (WV) Coming May 2nd

Friends of the Cheat, a long time partner of American Whitewater, will put on the 21st Annual CheatFest on Saturday May 2nd. It's an all day event with races, kid's events, great music, and of course, whitewater! FOC works tirelessly to improve water quality in the Cheat River Watershed and was a key player in the recent protection of the Cheat Canyon. They currently maintain three river access areas on the Cheat and Big Sandy Rivers which they built with

Read More

Cheat Festival (WV) Coming May 2nd

Friends of the Cheat, a long time partner of American Whitewater, will put on the 21st Annual CheatFest on Saturday May 2nd. It's an all day event with races, kid's events, great music, and of course, whitewater! FOC works tirelessly to improve water quality in the Cheat River Watershed and was a key player in the recent protection of the Cheat Canyon. They currently maintain three river access areas on the Cheat and Big Sandy Rivers which they built with

Read More
Image for Department of Energy - Still Aiming to Dam Every River?

Department of Energy – Still Aiming to Dam Every River?

Last month Politico reported that top Department of Energy officials continue to push their ambitious goal to double hydropower production in the U.S. by 2030. Hydropower companies have taken note since the DOE first announced its goal last year, and they continue to gear up to help. With less than 2% of our rivers in the lower 48 left relatively undeveloped, the Department of Energy’s vision to dam every possible river to double hydropower production is not one that we

Read More
Image for Sultan River Whitewater Opportunities to Begin (WA)

Sultan River Whitewater Opportunities to Begin (WA)

On Saturday April 25th, Snohomish PUD will be providing a whitewater recreational opportunity on the Upper Sultan River. This class IV gorge is a great piece of whitewater in a spectacular setting. Water will be released from Culmback Dam as it has been in recent years as a condition of the hydropower license for the project requiring process flows. These periodic high flows were designed to benefit the overall health of the river. What is different this year, is that

Read More