Articles

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

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

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

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

American Whitewater recognizes John Simpkin as our April 2015 Volunteer of the Month!   John became a California Regional Coordinator for American Whitewater in 2013, and is a steady and familiar face with many American Whitewater Affiliate Clubs like the Loma Prieta Paddlers and Gold Country Paddlers.   John helps represent American Whitewater at PG&E's Mokelumne Hydroelectric Project by attending monthly Ecological Resource Committee meetings and advocating for our mission. John has a degree from U.C. Davis in zoology and

On May 21, 2015, American Whitewater members will have an opportunity to join American Whitewater staff and board members for an exclusive trip on Colorado’s Yampa River. We invite you to come learn more about our Colorado River stewardship program while having a great time enjoying a trip down the Yampa River through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. The Yampa River is the last relatively undammed tributary of the Colorado River system, and AW is working to keep it

March was a busy month for AW as we worked to derail two very troubling bills in the New Mexico legislature, while continuing to stop a devastating Gila River diversion. First, the legislation: The bills were a reaction to a recent NM Attorney General opinion that suggested most riverbed and riverbanks between low and high water marks are open to public use. But the bills went way overboard, so to speak, in trying to keep anglers off private land, and

American Whitewater is excited to attend the 18th Annual French Broad River Fest in Hot Springs, NC this May 1 – 3, 2015. Pick up your tickets today and come join us!   French Broad River Fest (FBRF) is a fun, family friendly outdoor festival that has been a supporter of American Whitewater for nearly two decades! Each year the festival features a host of awesome musical acts, art, food, vendors – even a raft race(!) – right alongside the

The first two weekends in April mark classic boating in the southeast with releases on the Tallulah River. On Saturday 500 cfs is released and on Sunday 700 cfs. Boaters are allowed on the water once the level stabilizes, which is about 9:30 am; the water is turned off at 4 pm. All boaters must start down the stairs by 2:45 pm (first timers should try put on the river before 1.30pm) to beat the flow down to the lake. You