Articles

American Whitewater is pleased to recognize Matt Booth as our February 2015 Volunteer of the Month!   Matt is one of the original organizers of the Lyons Outdoor Games in Lyons, Colorado and has worked passionately to grow the event into a world-class showcase of human-powered recreation – including slalom, boatercross, freestyle and creek events on the Saint Vrain River. After the destructive floods that hit the river and local communities in September 2013, Matt worked to give recreation a

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the availability of our 2015 Member Rewards. These are the items that we give as a thank you to our $100 and above members in recognition of their substantial support for AW. Also, as in years past, all $100 – $2,500 memberships include a complimentary copy of the next American Whitewater Calendar. The river stewardship program of American Whitewater is supported by membership and donations. These incentives are a small way of saying thank

We are pleased to share the 2015 schedule of Class IV and V scheduled dam releases for Western North Carolina and North Georgia.  American Whitewater and our partners negotiated these releases over the past two decades, and the result is 34 days of outstanding paddling opportunities for advanced paddlers on the Cheoah, Tallulah, Upper Nantahala, and West Fork of the Tuckasegee. This year a few things will be a bit different. The 2015 summer Upper Nantahala releases will mostly be

The proposed Clean Water Protection Rule is under attack, and your voices are needed today to protect clean water!   The Clean Water Protection Rule was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers in 2014 to bring clarity to which rivers, streams and wetlands are and are not protected by the Clean Water Act. The rule comes in response to two Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 that created uncertainty about the Act, leaving

Earlier this month the Kootenai National Forest found two incredible Montana streams to be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation as a result of an appeal filed by American Whitewater and American Rivers.  13 miles of Callahan Creek and 7.4 miles of Ross Creek will now be protected from dam building for the benefit of Montanans and visitors alike. The Forest dismissed requests for additional eligible streams.  Under a similar appeal, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest denied all requests for

2000 comments support protecting river flows Spokane – Today river advocates criticized the Washington Department of Ecology ("Ecology") for adopting a flow rule for the Spokane River that allows further dewatering of the popular urban river. The Spokane River flows from Lake Coeur d'Alene through eastern Washington to its confluence with the Columbia River. The River supports important fisheries and wildlife, and a vibrant boating and recreation industry. Two thousand people sent comments to the agency opposing the draft rule

The legislative session is underway in Washington State and earlier this week we were shocked to learn of a bill that would severely limit access to the state's rivers and shorelines. Specifically the bill would prohibit water access on small parcels of public land unless the managing agency provides a formal river access site and parking lot. While we support the development of river access sites and designated parking at sites where use levels justify the investment, many of the

As many paddlers know, the future of the Colorado River is fraught with competing demands to pump and pipe water to faraway cities, against efforts to protect what little water is left in the river. It’s rare to see unvarnished assessments of both the scale of the problem, and the most promising solutions, that face all seven Colorado River basin states as the climate warms and dries, and populations grow. That’s why we are especially happy to see that a

Punch Bowl Falls is one of Oregon’s iconic scenic and recreational sites, and the Hood is the go-to river for boaters in the Columbia River Gorge. Above the Falls, the West Fork of the Hood flows through two beautiful gorges. It provides an opportunity for boaters to test and strengthen their Class IV skills with consistently fun rapids at a variety of flows. Below the falls, the West Fork joins the East Fork to form the Hood River, where boaters

This week marked the release of another major economic impacts report from Protect the Flows, this time focusing on the basin-wide implications of shortages on the Colorado River. Featured in a big Wall Street Journal spread today, the study’s authors point it out pretty succinctly: “We are getting to the crunch now,” said Timothy James, an Arizona State economics professor who led the study. “The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the entire region.” The study calculates the billions of

The Winter Issue of the AW Journal features "The Top Ten River Stewardship Issues of 2015". This issue also includes. . . * Suffering on the Upper Raven Fork * Remembering Kayaking Legend Bart Hauthaway * An Exploration of Dinosaur National Monument by Boat – in 1952 * Growing Up on the Gauley . . .and much more.   Current members – Read the issue now! Not a Current member – Join or Renew!  

A new study, Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State, by Earth Economics demonstrates the importance of outdoor recreation for the Washington State economy. Washington State residents recreate an average of 56 days a year outside and spend money when they do it. Residents and visitors collectively spend $21.6 billion annually on trips and equipment purchases supporting nearly 200,000 jobs. This spending reaches all corners of the state as destinations for recreation include the coastlines, wild rivers, mountains, forests,

As an organization, American Whitewater is fortunate to have a committed group of volunteer Board of Directors that provides the organization with high-level oversight and strategic direction. To sustain this healthy and vibrant Board, an effective election process is in place to insure an appropriate transition of Directors over time. This transition process balances the need for fresh ideas with appropriate leadership continuity. Our recent elections concluded on December 15, 2014.   New Directors starting their terms in January 2015

Over the last 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund ("LWCF") has been one of the most effective ways to expand and improve opportunities across the country for the outdoor recreation community, including whitewater paddlers. Chances are good that some of your experiences out on the water have been possible because of the LWCF.     The LWCF was established in 1965 to meet a growing demand for preserving natural spaces, and it has funded thousand of river access