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Image for 2013 Whitewater Symposium - Bend OR, Sept 27-29

2013 Whitewater Symposium – Bend OR, Sept 27-29

The American Canoe Association and the Steering Committee of the Whitewater Symposium will be co-hosting the Whitewater Symposium this year in Bend, Oregon. The event will take place September 27 through 29th at the Mt. Bachelor Village Resort and Tumalo Creek Outfitters. For more information, visit www.americancanoe.org/wwsymposium or www.wwsymposium.com. The Whitewater Symposium is a three-day annual event promoting whitewater paddlesports by bringing together a diverse cross section of industry and program advocates. The event affords a unique meeting of minds

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Image for Gauley Fest Presented by Subaru - Sept. 20-21, 2013

Gauley Fest Presented by Subaru – Sept. 20-21, 2013

This September 20-21, come join American Whitewater at the world's largest paddling festival (and our biggest fundraiser): Gauley Fest Presented by Subaru! American Whitewater is proud to join all our paddling friends in Summersville, WV for a weekend of great paddling, camping, music, vending and comraderie. What's more, this year is the 30th year of Gauley Fest, which means we have three decades of excellent whitewater paddling to celebrate after paddlers prevented a dam project and secured releases on this

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Image for Volunteer of the Month - Presented By Kokatat

Volunteer of the Month – Presented By Kokatat

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the August 2013 Volunteer of the Month: Katrina O'Brien! Katrina is a core volunteer helping with American Whitewater's Deerfield Fest in Massacussetts each year. Deerfield Fest is AW's largest event and fundraiser in the Northeast and it takes a ton of work to put on. Katrina helps AW with all parts of the event from several months in advance all the way through clean up afterwards. An event this size takes quite a bit of

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Image for Feather Fest 2013 - September 27-29

Feather Fest 2013 – September 27-29

The 22nd annual Feather River Festival (CA) will be held during scheduled releases on the Feather River September 27-29, 2013. The fund-raiser event for American Whitewater will be hosted once again by local paddling club Chico Paddleheads. The benefit event will be held at "Indian Jim School" campground located two miles upstream from the small town of Tobin and one mile upstream from Tobin Vista. Free camping and ample parking will be available.   This year's Feather Fest will continue the tradition

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Image for Visiting the Elwha (WA)

Visiting the Elwha (WA)

While paddling the Elwha River is a fascinating way to experience restoration and recovery of a free-flowing river in action, it’s not the only way to get a first-hand look at one of the nation’s most ambitious and fascinating restoration projects. There are a number of sites where you can scout the river or just explore the emerging landscape with friends and family. River Mouth The river mouth is quickly transforming as the cobble beach transitions to sand as predicted.

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Image for Gauley River (WV) Information for 2013

Gauley River (WV) Information for 2013

American Whitewater received the following letter from the rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area. Also, note that release information for the 2013 Gauley season is posted to:  http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wc/wwsched.html August 17, 2013 An Open Letter to Gauley River Boaters Dear Boaters, The rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area welcome you to the 2013 boating season. National Park Service (NPS) employees have been working, and are continuing to work, on preparing the put-ins and

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Image for Sustainable Roads Analysis on Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie NF (WA)

Sustainable Roads Analysis on Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie NF (WA)

With more than 2,500 miles of roads, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has an extensive road system that supports a variety of public needs, from recreation to resource extraction. Although the road network is extensive and provides access to far reaches of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, it is simply too big for the Forest Service to maintain under current budget resources. Roads are important for whitewater paddlers because they provide critical access to the rivers we all enjoy but

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Image for Nooksack River Recreational Use Survey (WA)

Nooksack River Recreational Use Survey (WA)

American Whitewater is working with several partners through the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program to develop an updated recreation plan for the upper Nooksack River basin. Paddlers are well aware of the high quality recreational resources found on the forks for the Nooksack and their major tributaries. The goal of this planning project is to develop a strategy for managing recreation use while maintaining the integrity of the natural resources in the area and minimizing potential conflicts.

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Image for Recreational Survey for Susitna River (AK)

Recreational Survey for Susitna River (AK)

American Whitewater is a stakeholder engaged in the proposed Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project that would dam the Susitna River upstream of Devil's Canyon. The project would impact instream flows through Devil's Canyon and inundate a significant stretch of river upstream of the canyon.   Currently the State of Alaska, the proponent of the hydropower project, is undertaking the a series of studies to examine the feasibility of constructing the project and the associated impacts. In an effort to better understand the

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Image for Take Action: Comment on Northwest Power and Conservation Council Protected Areas

Take Action: Comment on Northwest Power and Conservation Council Protected Areas

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is currently amending its Fish and Wildlife Program. This program includes an important "Protected Areas" designation, which keeps about 20% of Northwestern Rivers flowing freely by protecting them from future hydropower development. Protected Areas in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana mitigate the impacts on fish and wildlife of the Columbia River hydropower system and provide refuge as our climate changes and in the face of toxic loads. Threat: Northwest hydropower developers and utilities currently

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Image for NEEDED: Paddler Feedback on Uncompahgre, Cimarron, North Fork Gunnison (CO)

NEEDED: Paddler Feedback on Uncompahgre, Cimarron, North Fork Gunnison (CO)

If you have ever run Uncompahgre (upper, lower, playpark), Cimarron or North Fork of Gunnison please help us protect flows there by answering this very brief survey: Cimarron, Uncompahgre, North Fork Survey If you already answered the longer Gunnison River Flow Survey, there is no need to answer this one! Out of the 20 sections we surveyed for on the bigger Gunnison Survey, we got plenty of responses (thank you boaters) to all of the other sections. But we need more data

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Image for New River Flow Study Delayed 1 Week (WV)

New River Flow Study Delayed 1 Week (WV)

The first of a series of flow study dates have been rescheduled for 28 and 29, 2013 due to excessive flows predicted this week.  The study aims to assess the recreational flow needs for whitewater paddling on the New River Dries in West Virginia.  This flow study was requested by American Whitewater and other stakeholders, as part of the relicensing of the Hawks Nest Hydroelectric Project.  Paddlers with suitable skills are encouraged to sign up to participate.     Participants will test 500cfs

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Image for The Pit River Flows!

The Pit River Flows!

The Pit River experienced the first whitewater release this past weekend as part of the new license for PG&E’s Pit  3, 4, 5 hydroelectric project. This section of the Pit River, which is below the Pit 5 dam, is located about an hour East of  Redding in the small town of Big Bend in Northern California. “This is one of the best Class IV runs in California”, stated Jim Pepin, long time Redding resident and mainstay of the Northern California

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Image for UConn Abandons Plans to Divert Water from the Farmington River (CT)

UConn Abandons Plans to Divert Water from the Farmington River (CT)

The University of Connecticut announced selection of Connecticut Water Co. as the preferred option to provide additional water needed for the Storrs campus.  On August 7, 2013, the Board of Trustees voted formally to endorse this top option.  On importance to the paddling community and other groups, the diversion of water from the Farmington River had been one proposed options considered.  This option had been opposed by river watershed organizations at the local, regional, and national levels including American Whitewater.

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Image for Illegal Megaloads Push Ahead, Drawing Protests and Lawsuit (ID)

Illegal Megaloads Push Ahead, Drawing Protests and Lawsuit (ID)

Idaho Rivers United and the Nez Perce Tribe filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in Boise late this afternoon in order to stop the movement of megaloads along U.S. Highway 12 through tribal lands and the Clearwater-Lochsa Wild and Scenic River corridor.  The lawsuit charges that the U.S. Forest Service’s failure to stop a megaload from entering the river corridor was “arbitrary, capricious, (and) an abuse of discretion.” The Tribe and IRU are also seeking an injunction that would

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Image for UConn Abandons Plans to Divert Water from the Farmington River (CT)

UConn Abandons Plans to Divert Water from the Farmington River (CT)

The University of Connecticut announced selection of Connecticut Water Co. as the preferred option to provide additional water needed for the Storrs campus.  On August 7, 2013, the Board of Trustees voted formally to endorse this top option.  On importance to the paddling community and other groups, the diversion of water from the Farmington River had been one proposed options considered.  This option had been opposed by river watershed organizations at the local, regional, and national levels including American Whitewater.

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Image for Rescue Rodeo in Western North Carolina

Rescue Rodeo in Western North Carolina

Western North Carolina River Rescue Rodeo September 29th, 2013   There is still time to registor for 10 Teams of 5 members with either canoes or decked boats compete in river rescue events for over $1000 worth of prizes on the Tuckasegee River in Dillsboro, NC. Teams compete in all events for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as overall prizes. The event will be based out of Dillsboro River Company at the put-in to the Tuckasegee Gorge –

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Image for Submit Your Photos for our 2014 Annual Calendar!

Submit Your Photos for our 2014 Annual Calendar!

Submit your best photos for American Whitewater's annual calendar. When The deadline is August 31st, 2013. How Via our online submission form. Images must be submitted as high-resolution files (suitable for printing up to 10") for inclusion in the calendar, without monetary compensation. Maximum 10 photo entries per person. Who Any and all photographers, from professionals to complete novices. Have you taken a photo before? Then you're ready. Why First, you'll get a free copy of the calendar if your

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Image for Help AW With Our Critical Fundraiser: Gauley Fest!

Help AW With Our Critical Fundraiser: Gauley Fest!

Gauley Fest is the world's biggest paddling festival and American Whitewater's biggest fundraiser – but we need your help! Please sign up to volunteer and become a part of the Gauley Fest Volunteer Team! It's a fun and easy way for you to be a critical part of an amazing festival. Volunteer Rewards Volunteers-only Gauley Fest T-shirt tickets for a “volunteer only” raffle The feeling of knowing that you help AW put on a critical fundraiser! We've even got a few

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Image for Volunteer Of The Month - Presented By Kokatat

Volunteer of the Month – Presented by Kokatat

Bailey, Colorado – American Whitewater is pleased to recognize Ian Foley as this months Volunteer of the Month. Ian is well known as the lead organizer for Bailey Fest, and this year he accomplished a major milestone in improving public safety and access along the the North Fork of the South Platte River. Thanks to Ian's efforts, all the major rapids and the main canyon of Bailey are safe from the threat of private landowners shutting down river access or

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Image for USCG Project Experts Launch National Human Propelled Boat Standards Survey

USCG Project Experts Launch National Human Propelled Boat Standards Survey

A team of experts assembled with U.S. Coast Guard  (USCG) grant funding seeks national content validation of a set of entry level, skill-based Human (manually propelled) boat operation standards. This is your opportunity to impact the development of recreational paddling and rowing (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards, etc.) standards across the country by completing this on-line survey. WHAT: The National On-Water Standards Team, funded by USCG grants, is seeking input from recreational paddling and rowing educators across the nation on a

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Image for Wild and Scenic Rogue Closed in Response to Fires (OR)

Wild and Scenic Rogue Closed in Response to Fires (OR)

  The BLM has implemented a river closure for the Wild and Scenic Rogue River between Grave Creek and Mule Creek due to extreme fire conditions and public health and safety. In addition the Bear Camp shuttle road and Rogue River trail are closed.   The fire, known as the Windy Complex, began on July 26th and continues to have high growth potentially in extreme terrain. No timetable has been presented for opening the river.   Local businesses that serve

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Image for Middle Fork Snoqualmie Legislation Continues to Move Forward (WA)

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Legislation Continues to Move Forward (WA)

Legislative momentum continues to build for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act (S. 112, H. R. 361). Following passage of the bill by unanimous consent in the Senate, the House formally took up the legislation with a hearing before the House Natural Resources Committee. "The Middle Fork Snoqualmie is one of the nation's most spectacular whitewater rivers in close proximity to a major metropolitan area, and we are thrilled that support for

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Image for State Board Rules: Similkameen Falls Deserve Water (WA)

State Board Rules: Similkameen Falls Deserve Water (WA)

  On July 23, 2013, the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board issued an order directing the Department of Ecology to do an aesthetic flow study if Okanogan PUD decides to build its economically troubled Enloe Dam project. The Board ruled that the water quality permit (called a "401 Certification") does not protect the scenic and associated recreational values of the Similkameen Falls. A coalition of local, state and national river advocacy groups* challenged the permit for failure to comply

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