Articles

On January 29th, 2014, California House Republican David Valadao introduced the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act (HR 3964). Supported by California's entire GOP delegation, the Act is a package of actions that not only revive efforts to de-designate a portion of the Wild and Scenic Merced River, but also undo years of effort and negotiations for a number of major river restoration projects in the state. Similar to HR 1837, which stalled in Congress in 2012, this includes:

A new version of the River Paddling Protection Act, HR 3492, was sent to the full House of Representatives yesterday when it passed in the House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent.  The bill was amended to address concerns voiced by American Whitewater, the National Park Service and others, and is now a much stronger piece of legislation.  The bill now clearly requires the Park Service to take a hard look at paddling without limiting their management discretion or legislating

Great News!  Yesterday, Virginia's "Freedom to Float" bill passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources.  The bill could now move to the full VA Senate for a vote as early as Tuesday of next week (1/28/14).  It is more important than ever that every paddler that enjoys Virginia rivers contact state Senators. The voting record from the Committee hearing is as follows: Yeas (supported SB 629): Watkins, McEachin, Petersen, Marsden, Black, Miller, Ebbin. Nays (opposed SB 629): Hanger,

On January 15th, 2014, the California Energy Commission adopted a final report that reaffirms the integrity of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) regarding imported hydropower. After 5 years of hard work, American Whitewater and our partners in the California Hydropower Reform Coalition (CHRC) and river advocates in British Columbia are celebrating this important victory, which will have a reaching impact on rivers across the border. What do rivers in B.C. have to do with California's RPS? In 2011, the

Attention Virginia Paddler! If you want to help improve the stream access situation in Virginia, here is your chance!  Virginia Senator David W. Marsden (D) has introduced a stream access bill, SB 629, with broad support from the paddling community.  This bill marks an improvement upon last year’s SB737, and better meets the public interest in river enjoyment while addressing concerns of other interests.    Call or email your Senator if you are a VA resident, and no matter where you

American Whitewater Joins a Diverse Coalition of Local Business Leaders, Sportsmen, Elected Officials, Conservationists & Recreationists Praising Introduction of Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. QUILCENE, Wash. (Jan. 17) A broad and diverse coalition of Olympic Peninsula community members cheered the introduction today of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2014 (S. 1949 and H.R. 3922) by Representative Derek Kilmer and Senator Patty Murray.  The measure, similar to that introduced in the

We are pleased to announce the 2014 scheduled pulse flows on the Bear River's Black Canyon located in southeastern Idaho.  Releases will vary from 900 to 1500 cfs based on inflows to the hydropower project, and will occur on the following days:  April 5 & 6 April 12 & 13 April 25, 26, & 27 May 10 &11 These releases serve both ecological and recreational purposes, and offer paddlers a high quality Class IV and V paddling opportunity early in

This summer, American Whitewater members will have an opportunity to join American Whitewater staff and board members for an exclusive trip on Oregon’s Rogue River. We invite you to come learn more about what we're up to while having a great time enjoying one of our nation’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers. The trip, which will take place June 5-8, will be fully outfitted by Northwest Rafting Company with professional guides, exceptional food, transportation to and from Galice, and all

American Whitewater recently filed formal objections to proposed Forest Plans for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, and the Kootenai National Forest in Montana.  The objections assert that the Forest Service ignored their own policies and the facts before them when they determined many spectacular whitewater rivers are not eligible for Wild and Scenic designation.  The Forest Service has until late February to respond to our objections.   Eligibility for Wild and Scenic designation requires that rivers be protected from dams

Come see American Whitewater and the year's best photos and videos at the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF)! This year's NPFF will be held on February 21-22 in Frankfort, KY at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. You can buy a ticket to the magic via this easy online order form. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. Ticket sales are processed by American Whitewater. You can be confident in the security of your information and that your dollars are

American Whitewater has played a leading role in negotiating dam releases across the southeast.  While the vast majority of opportunities we've helped restore are suitable for beginner and intermediate paddlers on rivers like the Tuckasegee, Nantahala, and Catawba, we've also worked on advanced Class IV and V opportunities.  We have built up this 9-month series of advanced releases starting with Tallulah in 1997, the Cheoah in 2005, the Upper and Cascades of the Nantahala in 2012, and the West Fork

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, 2013. Over 500 current members cast their votes for new

American Whtiewater is proud to announce our January 2014 Volunteer of the Month: Ian Buckley! In the cold waters of his birth home, the United Kingdom, Ian Buckley was taught to kayak in the 1970’s by his father, an instructor in early Outward Bounds programs. Although he progressed to the kayak slalom team during his high school years, whitewater kayaking took a back seat to other interests like climbing, alpinism and skiing. Finally during a trip to New Zealand in

The January/February issue of the AW Journal features American Whitewater’s “Top Ten River Stewardship Issues of 2014”. This issue includes. . . Going Big in Vermont Ask What You Can Do To Your Country Passing it On, With a Twist Finding Adventure on South Boulder Creek The Memoirs of Hendri Coetzee much more… Want to read the AW Journal online: You need a current membership and you must be registered with the AW website and have your membership associated with

Throughout 2014 American Whitewater will be celebrating its 60th year of existence in the AW Journal. In each issue we will reprint old stories from previous issues, highlight some critical period in the organization's past, and generally stand back and try to appreciate everything that AW has offered whitewater paddlers over the past six decades. Of course, AW means a little something different to each person who has been involved in the organization over the years. While we will be

The Stanislaus National Forest in California issued a closure order and map for the areas impacted by the Rim Fire and has already opened some areas within the perimeter of the closure. The closure was put in place to protect cultural and and natural resources in the Stanislaus National Forest following the devastating Rim Fire. There has been some confusion regarding the closure and what it means for the 2014 Tuolumne River paddling season. American Whitewater has received assurances from

Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 9th for Wild Rivers Night in Portland, OR. American Whitewater joins Northwest Rafting Company and our river conservation partners to bring you a fun evening of films, photos and presentations celebrating the wild rivers of Oregon! Renowned author and photographer Tim Palmer will be the emcee for the event, and there will also be plenty of time to socialize with your river friends and an have an opportunity to score some river related goods

In the last few years, American Whitewater has brought our expertise to bear on the US Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River Basin Supply and Demand Study (CRBSS).  The Study was to determine if the Colorado River can sustain healthy flows and a robust recreation economy into the future. Working with conservation groups and the CRBSS Project Team, American Whitewater launched a targeted assessment of flows needed to provide whitewater recreation, and to demonstrate that a quantitative metric can be developed

The 2014 American Whitewater calendar is now available for puchase! Each year, we collect the best photos from our gracious  fans and pick out our favorites for our annual calendar. We then sell this calendar and use the funds to support our river stewardship work. It's an awesome fundraiser and a product that we know you'll love. Please consider picking up one today. Thanks!

The Bureau of Land Management manages more than 2.5 million acres in western Oregon. These lands provide forest products, fish and wildlife habitat, and countless recreation opportunities including whitewater recreation. Unlike national forests, BLM western Oregon public lands are generally not large contiguous blocks. A "checkerboard" of lands make up these federal lands. Currently the BLM is updating their management plan for these lands and the associated rivers and as part of this process they are evaluating rivers for their eligibility