Articles

Another dry year in California has left us with extreme drought conditions and an almost nonexistent paddling season this winter and spring.  Fortunately, paddling opportunities that have been negotiated by American Whitewater were based on information drawn from years of previous hydrographs and water years like the last drought of 1976-1977.  After working with the licensee to insure enough water for downstream consumptive requirements and protection of ecological resources, California will have 27 days of recreational releases on the Pit,

Last week Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced that the U.S. has the potential to add more than 65.5 GW of new hydropower to the nation's energy portfolio by 2030. Meeting this goal would require damming over 3 million river and stream reaches across the country, including treasured rivers like the Penobscot River in Maine, the Tuckaseegee River in North Carolina, and the Smith River in California. Moniz's comments came as the Energy Department released a report entitled New Stream-reach Development: A Comprehensive Assessment

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 Sept. 1st. If you have any questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't see your question answered there, feel free to contact us at bookkeeper@americanwhitewater.org or 828-586-1930. See you there!

As paddling season kicks into high gear, we hope that you'll consider making a contribution to American Whitewater on Tuesday May 6th–The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG day.     When you donate to American Whitewater through GiveBIG on May 6th your donation will go further! It's a great way for everyone to strengthen their support. Several lucky donors will win a "Golden Ticket," which will automatically increase their donation by $1,000, no matter the size of the donation!    The goal of The Seattle

Join the American Whitewater Board of Directors and staff for a boater happy hour on Saturday, May 17th from 5:00-7:00 pm. That evening, American Whitewater's Directors and our North Carolina based staff will be gathering at Nantahala Outdoor Center's Kleinrath Hall to meet our friends and supporters from around the area to discuss American Whitewater's river stewardship program supported by your favorite beverage.   “¨Learn what's on tap for river stewardship projects in your backyard and celebrate releases on the

On April 14, 2014 the Forest Supervisor for Stanislaus National Forest issued Rim Fire Closure Order 2014-01 that reopens boating access to the following sections of the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River as outlined below: Cherry Creek to Meral's Pool – Access to the Upper Tuolumne/Cherry Creek launch at Holm Powerhouse off Cherry Lake Road by permitted shuttle service only (see shuttle information below). Meral's Pool to Wards Ferry Bridge – Access to Meral's Pool Boat Launch via Lumsden Road (1N10)

The first Saturday release on Maryland's busy Upper Youghiogheny River is on May 3, the same weekend as the nearby Cheat River Festival. Depending on water levels this could be a very busy day on the river. Since the takeout town of Friendsville, Maryland doubles its population on busy release weekends paddlers need to do all they can to minimize their impact. Please park respectfully on Maple Avenue and don't block traffic. Don't park along the riverfront (Morris Avenue or

Dates for the New River Dries Paddling Flow Study have been confirmed for May 6 and 7, 2014.   Volunteer paddlers with suitable (Class IV) skills are encouraged to participate in the study, and to RSVP.  The best way to be notified if the study dates are delayed is to RSVP, and we will also update this article.  The recreational flow study is one of several studies being conducted to inform the re-licensing of the Hawks Nest Dam, which largely

American Whitewater congratulates Friends of the Cheat as it celebrates its 20th anniversary at the annual Cheat River Festival on May 3rd. The organization, founded by a group of whitewater paddlers and local residents, has been a driving force in the river’s rapidly improving water quality. The river, which was badly polluted when the group was founded, recently passed a significant milestone: the lower 26 miles of the Cheat River main were removed from the state’s list of acid-impaired waters in 2012! In addition, FOC maintains four

Does it make sense to develop oil and gas fields along Desolation Canyon of the Green River, or is there somewhere that it makes better sense?  If a project goes forward how can impacts best be minimized and offset by conservation measures elsewhere?  You would think that the government would have had good answers for these questions for decades but you would be wrong.  Until now.  Earlier today Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell released a new strategy for striking

American Whitewater is excited to attend the 2nd Annual Long Creek Music Festival in Long Creek, SC this May 23rd -25th, 2014. Tickets are available for now for one to three days.    This is the second year with an expanded band lineup.  Camping, food, vendors, music and fun await.  The site is at the Chattooga River Resort and Campground located on the Section IV shuttle on Orchard Road.    AW will have the tent set up to talk with

In March, the Western Federal Lands Highway Division awarded a construction contract to Active Construction Inc. of Tacoma, WA to pave 9.7 miles of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road beginning at the eastern intersection with Lake Dorothy Road and extending to the Middle Fork Campground. Construction will begin later this spring and continue through August 2016. Discussions about this project have been underway for many years, and it's finally getting started. The contractor will be able to close the

6th Annual Paddle to the Sea: From Yosemite to San Francisco this May and June! The Tuolumne River Trust’s annual Paddle to the Sea is a six-week long paddle-a-thon on the Tuolumne River from Yosemite, through the Central Valley, to San Francisco Bay. This year’s event will start on Friday, May 2nd with two days of whitewater rafting run by ARTA River Trips, where paddlers are invited to raft through the area hit hardest by the 2013 Rim Fire, as

American Whitewater is proud to announce our April 2014 Volunteer of the Month: Jess Whittemore! Jess Whittemore is a known face in the Upper Yough (MD) paddling community. First chiseling a name and reputation as a squirt boat innovator in the early 80’s and more recently as member of the Friendsville, MD Town Council where he has been representing the interests of the paddling community to local leaders while forging a sense of unity between local residents and boating community.

A healthy, vibrant, participatory and functional Board of Directors is critical to the long term stability and effective governance of American Whitewater. This requires Directors with a passion for our mission and a mix of appropriate skills to help guide AW and meet the challenges we face, both now and in the future.   While we will consider all qualified candidates, we are specifically searching for candidates that represent all parts of the country, have the ability to show up for meetings

Scheduled releases occur the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November. 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 (we are requesting that first timers try put on the river before 1.30pm) to beat the flow down to the lake.

  Scheduled releases occur the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November. 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 to beat the flow down to the lake. You will need to sign a waiver at the top of

The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corp of Engineers released a proposed rule today that will clarify protections under the Clean Water Act for headwater streams and wetlands. Many of the rivers and streams we recreate on are safe to paddle today because of the Clean Water Act, which regulates pollution discharges. The Clean Water Act protects recreation, the stream environment, riparian property owners, drinking water sources, and significant economic activity from the impacts of unregulated pollution.  Over a decade