Articles - American Whitewater

Stewarding Our Public Lands and Waters Requires a Workforce

February 24, 2025

During his first term, President Trump signed two major conservation laws. In 2019, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act protected 1.3 million acres as Wilderness, designated ten new Wild and Scenic River segments, and expanded three national parks. The following year, he supported the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, which directed $9.5 billion to address the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog and ensured a permanent annual allocation of $900 million to the Land and

Grant Funding Freeze Creates Uncertainty for River Projects

February 12, 2025

Federal grants play an important role in amplifying the membership contributions and donations that sustain American Whitewater’s mission. These grants account for a significant portion of our budget, supporting important projects that protect and enhance river access and recreation opportunities across the country. An example of recent success is the creation of our revised river safety code, open source river signage toolbox, and river safety video series, all produced under grant funding from the United States Coast Guard. We have

Protect America’s Outdoor Heritage

February 12, 2025

The American system for preserving public lands and supporting its citizens’ access to them has been the envy of the world, but it’s currently under attack. Use our easy-action form to ask your lawmakers to support a new bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Zinke (MT-1) and Congressman Vasquez (NM-2) that helps keep public lands and waters in public hands by requiring congressional approval for the large-scale transfer or disposal of public lands and waters. Reaching out your representatives will also

Support Colorado River Access with a Night of Films

February 10, 2025

Join American Whitewater and the Roaring Fork Kayak Club for a night of river films, including, River of Sorrows, on February 20th in Glenwood Springs at the Vaudeville Theater. Doors will open at 5:30 and films begin at 6. We are fundraising for incredibly important work to defend and expand legal access to rivers in Colorado. Access is foundational in our ability to enjoy, restore and protect our rivers. Rig to Flip is creating a new and exciting film to

Comment Period Extended – Weigh in on Grand Canyon Fees and Management Today!

January 28, 2025

Update! In response to efforts from American Whitewater and our partners, Grand Canyon National Park has extended the public comment period until February 15th. We appreciate the extension and we encourage you to submit your comments to the Park on this issue before the deadline. American Whitewater is formally commenting on the drastic proposed fee increases for the Grand Canyon and you should too. At the start of the year, the National Park Service proposed a 244% increase for non-commercial

West Rosebud Creek Releases Now Scheduled and More Reliable (MT)

January 28, 2025

American Whitewater and our affiliate club, Beartooth Paddlers have worked with the power company and other stakeholders to simplify and schedule the summer recreational pulse flows on West Rosebud Creek, located southeast of Livingston, MT. For the past decade these dam releases have mitigated some of the hydropower project’s impacts on recreation, but their unpredictability caused challenges for visitors as well as dam operators. The new approach will remedy those issues, and now the public can plan their boating trips

Speak Up for Strong Permits for Nolichucky River Work

January 16, 2025

State and federal agencies in both North Carolina and Tennessee are in the process of issuing permits that will allow CSX to continue rebuilding their railroad through the Nolichucky River Gorge. CSX has already mined massive amounts of rock from the riverbed of the Nolichucky in Tennessee to save money on the reconstruction of their rail line, and is working their way into the heart of the Gorge in North Carolina. Current approaches to issuing permits for the work appear

Comment on Proposed Management Plan for Flathead River Forks (MT)

January 15, 2025

The Flathead National Forest is looking to create a new river management plan for the Wild and Scenic forks of the Flathead River. They’ve shared a “proposed action” that is a draft sketch of what they intend to include in the plan, and are accepting public comment by February 7, 2025. The forks of the Flathead River offers boaters the chance to fly, hike, ride a horse or drive into various sections to experience clear emerald water, excellent scenery, and

Forest Service Abandons Idaho River Protections

January 14, 2025

On January 10th, the U.S. Forest Service released the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the updated Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Management Plan. The decision protects only 12 rivers as potential Wild and Scenic Rivers, down from 29 rivers that had been protected for decades, and the 88 that the agency found eligible for protection under the new plan. The decision will allow the agency to carry out other management actions called for in the plan without safeguarding the unprotected streams’

2025 Southeast Advanced Release Schedule

December 18, 2024

American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers like the lower Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Hiwassee, and Catawba, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies,

2024 Board Of Directors Election – Current Members Please Vote Now!

December 17, 2024

Each year American Whitewater’s membership ratifies Board of Director members to serve three-year terms. These candidates volunteer to serve on the American Whitewater Board. Current American Whitewater members can cast their votes through Midnight Pacific Time, December 27th. American Whitewater has two Director Nominees to fill two open seats in this election, and you may vote for up to two candidates on the slate. The ballot for our Board of Directors election is placed online here. You must be a

Help Determine the Future for a Free Flowing Lower Snake River

December 11, 2024

Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is requesting public input on a survey to determine recreational interests and opportunities in and along the Lower Snake River, should it return to a free-flowing state. The survey, which takes only 10 to 15 minutes to complete, is intended to capture insights on current and potential future recreation activities, preferences, and accessibility needs. English Survey Spanish Survey Context: The benefits of a restored lower Snake River will be enormous–including opportunities for people

2024 American Whitewater Calendar Now Available!

December 10, 2024

Each year, we collect the best photos from our gracious (and incredibly talented) community and pick out our favorites for our annual calendar. Proceeds from calendar sales support our river stewardship work. It’s an awesome fundraiser and a product that we know you’ll love! Keep AW close all year long. Purchase a calendar from our webstore for $25. These make the perfect gift for all the whitewater enthusiasts in your life! Calendars for those of you who receive them as

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directs CSX to stop mining Nolichucky River

December 10, 2024

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to CSX Transportation, ordering the rail company to stop mining the Nolichucky River for rock and fill. The letter comes after the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of American Rivers and American Whitewater, sued the Army Corps and two other federal agencies for approving CSX’s harmful mining practices in the Nolichucky River Gorge. In the letter, the Army Corps states that the company is prohibited from performing “any

Last Chance to Support River Access in Colorado TODAY!

December 10, 2024

It’s that time of year again! Colorado Gives Day and early giving is happening now through December 10 – midnight TODAY! Donate today to have your dollars go even further in supporting American Whitewater’s river access work in Colorado. We use this opportunity every year to raise awareness and financial support for our Colorado River Access Program. Now more than ever we are working to improve river access sites in Colorado and to secure better policies for the right to float

Low-Head Dam Inventory Included in 2024 Water Resources Development Act

December 10, 2024

American Whitewater was successful in getting a national low-head dam inventory into the final Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024) for Congress to vote on before the end of this year. Over the past 50 years, low-head dams have claimed more than 1,400 lives. American Whitewater’s database of whitewater accidents and fatalities, maintained since 1972, documents that 10% of fatalities nationwide are a result of individuals getting caught in a low-head dam hydraulic. There has been no reliable

Southern Rockies End of Year Recap!

December 10, 2024

We have a lot to celebrate for our Southern Rockies rivers this year! We could not have accomplished these milestones without the support from our members and our passionate river community! If you are able, please consider donating to American Whitewater for Colorado Gives Day. Any donations made through December 10th will help us leverage additional funds from the Colorado Gives Day Program and support our Colorado River Access Program. Our work on river access is only funded by your

Southern Rockies End of Year Recap

December 10, 2024

Holiday Offer Available Now!

December 10, 2024

Looking for that special gift for someone or just feeling the need to treat yourself? Our American Whitewater Holiday Offer just went live! You can get a Standard Membership ($35), your choice of a green or camel colored AW beanie, and a 2024 calendar (plus shipping) all for $75. Head to our membership form and snag a Holiday Offer today. This is a splendid way to support our Stewardship work at American Whitewater. The beanies, made by Richardson, are waffle-cuffed and

Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, Boaters at the Table

December 10, 2024

Last week, the Southern Rockies Team traveled to the annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. We met directly with the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and our non-profit partners about the future of the Colorado River and how changes in reservoir operations at Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams will impact the Grand Canyon and Cataract Canyon. We also listened in on discussions between the Colorado River Basin states and federal agencies,

Georgia Right to Float Committee Wraps Up

December 10, 2024

A legislative committee that spent much of 2024 exploring Georgia’s stream access laws has wrapped up its work with a final report. The report discusses the various perspectives the committee heard during their outreach, and issued a list of recommendations that support keeping stream access laws as they are. River enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief that the committee recommended against legislating a list of rivers where the public has–and does not have–the right to paddle. American Whitewater would

Take a Look at Our Goals to Expand and Improve River Access in 2025

December 10, 2024

What does having safe river access mean to you and your family? For most of you reading this, we’d be willing to wager it’s incredibly important for your quality of life and something you cherish. Take a look at some of our ambitious goals to improve and expand river access across the country in our 2024 Winter Stewardship Update! You should know, we have big plans for 2025. From dam removals, new instream flows in dewatered rivers, and securing new

Deadbeat Dam Argument in Appeals Court

December 3, 2024

American Whitewater’s challenge to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision allowing the abandonment of two deadbeat hydropower dams on the Salmon Falls River on the Maine/New Hampshire border was heard in the Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, on November 20th. The three judge panel considered whether FERC properly considered the dam removal alternative to the proposed abandonment and whether dam removal was in the public interest. The abandoned dams will continue to block fish passage, disrupt river connectivity, and

American Whitewater Sues Agencies for Allowing Mining in Nolichucky River

November 18, 2024

ERWIN, Tenn. — The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of American Rivers and American Whitewater, sued several federal agencies on Monday, saying the agencies violated federal law by allowing a rail company to mine the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee. Recently CSX Transportation, a major railroad company, began mining the Nolichucky’s riverbed for rock while repairing a rail line that was washed away during Hurricane Helene. Trucking in rock from upland quarries is standard practice and much less destructive.

Comment in Support of Whitewater Recreation on the Montreal River (WI/MI)

November 13, 2024

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has provided public notice that they will be reviewing license applications for the Gile Flowage, Saxon Falls, and Superior Falls hydroelectric projects. Their review will impact the future of whitewater opportunities on the West Branch Montreal and Montreal Canyon, including flow management, flow data, and public access. The good news is Northern States Power Company has filed license applications that include accommodations for whitewater recreation. If you are interested you can read the full