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Image for West Fork Tuck Release Cancelled (May 2013)

West Fork Tuck Release Cancelled (May 2013)

  After talking with AW about it, Duke Energy has posted the following message about the planned release on Western North Carolina's West Fork of the Tuckasegee River this weekend:    "Lake Glenville is at full pond after 7 inches of rain over the region in the last several days. High inflow into the lake continues. Duke Energy is currently spilling 600 cfs into the bypass reach and will be unable to decrease the flow to provide the scheduled bypass

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Image for 2013 Stonycreek Rendezvous May 17th through the 19th

2013 Stonycreek Rendezvous May 17th through the 19th

Stony Creek near Johnstown, PA is one of the finest class III+ rivers in the region. The Canyon section has many miles of interesting ledge and boulder rapids and lots of great play holes. Twenty years ago paddlers who inquired about releases from Quemahoning Reservoir and were told that a $500,000 valve was needed to let enough water go. After much groundwork the Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed by recreational, conservation, economic, and historical groups, raised over

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Image for 2013 Deerfield Fest (MA), July 13th

2013 Deerfield Fest (MA), July 13th

Come see American Whitewater at the 2013 Deerfield Fest in Charlemont, MA on July 13th! Deerfield Fest is one of AW's largest fundraising events and the Northeast's biggest whitewater festival. Surrounded by a three day release schedule on the Deerfield River, it's going to be awesome. Vendors This year, booths are only $50! You can purchase one right now via our vendor registration form. Prices increase to $100 on July 5th. Volunteering We need your help! Each year we're depressingly short

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Attend our Upcoming Ridgway and Montrose (CO) Boaters Meetings

  American Whitewater (AW), the nation’s leading advocate for the conservation of whitewater rivers, will be hosting public meetings for river boaters in Ridgway on May 14 and in Montrose on May 22.    These ‘regional paddlers dialogues’ are a part of AW’s efforts to define and protect recreational flow needs throughout the seven-state Colorado River Basin, which includes many stream segments throughout the Gunnison River Basin like the Uncompahgre River and Gunnison Gorge. At the meeting, AW Staff will

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Image for Make a Special Contribution to American Whitewater on GiveBIG Day

Make a Special Contribution to American Whitewater on GiveBIG Day

  If you've made a donation or become a member of American Whitewater in the past year, we thank you! Our work to keep rivers to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely would not be possible without your support.   If your membership has lapsed, or you haven't yet donated to American Whitewater but you're thinking about doing it soon, there's a way that you can make your contribution go further. Mark

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Image for May Volunteer Of The Month - Presented By Kokatat

May Volunteer Of The Month – Presented By Kokatat

If you want to find someone that can get things done, find someone that is busy because they are organized and can delegate tasks. Laura Dillon fits that description. She is a key part of Tallulah releases coordinating volunteers for those dates. When she is not busy with the Tallulah she can be found on southeastern rivers or volunteering her time with Team River Runner.  As a thanks for her efforts on the Tallulah, Laura will be receiving a Kokatat WoolCore

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Image for 2013 Gunnison Flow Survey is live. Share your thoughts & protect rivers!

2013 Gunnison Flow Survey is live. Share your thoughts & protect rivers!

April 30, 2013 American Whitewater (AW) is pleased to announce the launch of our 2013 Gunnison River Basin Flow Survey. We need your help to define flows that support the full range of whitewater boating opportunities for the main stem and tributaries of the Gunnison River in Colorado. This survey is designed so individuals can evaluate flows for each targeted whitewater run. Your feedback will help us describe how flows affect recreation quality, and identify the range of flows necessary

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Image for Western North Carolina River Rescue Rodeo - Sept 29th, 2013

Western North Carolina River Rescue Rodeo – Sept 29th, 2013

  Western North Carolina River Rescue Rodeo September 29th, 2013   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 – Dillsboro, NC.   Rescue Rodeo Events Team

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Image for 5th Annual Paddle to the Sea with Tuolumne River Trust

5th Annual Paddle to the Sea with Tuolumne River Trust

5th Annual Paddle to the Sea: from Yosemite to San Francisco this May and June California's Tuolumne River Trust is celebrating the 5th anniversary of their popular river adventure, Paddle to the Sea. This month long paddle-a-thon from Yosemite, through the Central Valley, to San Francisco Bay brings together hundreds of people and local businesses to raise awareness for river stewardship through whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking. Most paddlers come along for a fun one-day paddle, and each year a

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Image for Public Hearing Announced for Browns Canyon of Arkansas River National Monument

Public Hearing Announced for Browns Canyon of Arkansas River National Monument

Golden, Colorado – US Senator Mark Udall will host a second listening session in Jefferson County to hear community comments about his Browns Canyon National Monument and Wilderness Area proposal.  The draft bill, based on more than a year's worth of community input, would cover 22,000 acres between Salida and Buena Vista on the Arkansas River, including 10,500 acres of new wilderness. This event will take place SATURDAY, May 18: 9:30 a.m. MT Udall will host a listening session to

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Image for Green River Diversion Structure Needs Additional NEPA Study

Green River Diversion Structure Needs Additional NEPA Study

Green River, Utah – The Tusher Canyon Diversion structure, a 90-year old lowhead dam just upstream of the Town of Green River, is currently being reviewed for possible rehabilitation after the floods of 2011. The structure is the ONLY barrier to downstream navigability on the Green River from Flaming Gorge to Lake Powell, and American Whitewater is working to secure safe boat passage under various management alternatives. Project Status –  The NRCS and its contractors are currently developing a conceptual

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Image for Upper Chattooga Boating will Continue Under New Court Decision

Upper Chattooga Boating will Continue Under New Court Decision

  Last week a federal judge ruled in favor of the US Forest Service in the case regarding the management of the Wild and Scenic upper Chattooga River. The decision upholds the current USFS policy of allowing paddling December through April, above 350cfs, on 15 miles of the 21-mile-long upper Chattooga.  While the legal decision is a disappointment, this new management plan is clearly a victory for the paddling community, and is the direct result of over 15 years of

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Image for Upper Yough Preseason Update

Upper Yough Preseason Update

May 4th (CheatFest Weekend) is the first scheduled Saturday release on Maryland’s Upper Yough! If water levels cooperate this will be a busy day on the river. For Friendsville, MD (population 491) the influx of hundreds of whitewater paddlers can cause problems. Minimize your impact on the town by driving safely, being discrete while changing clothes, and by being careful when carrying boats along busy Maple Avenue. Remember that there is no parking along Water Street or Morris Avenue (the

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Image for Grand Junction, CO Boater’s Meeting: April 25, 6pm

Grand Junction, CO Boater’s Meeting: April 25, 6pm

  American Whitewater invites regional river enthusiasts to join our Gunnison Basin Stewardship staff and other paddlers at 6pm on April 25 at the Grand Junction City Hall auditorium at 250 N. 5th Street (directions). As part of American Whitewater’s efforts to define and protect flows throughout the seven-state Colorado River basin, we’ll discuss our efforts in the Gunnison River basin, explain how you can help, and gather feedback from Grand Junction area paddlers on river-related issues. Without the direct participation and membership support from the local paddling

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Image for Cheat Festival happening on Saturday May 4th!

Cheat Festival happening on Saturday May 4th!

There's so much going on at CheatFest that it's hard to cover it all. Here's a sample: From noon till 11:00pm on Saturday, May 4, the festival grounds in Albright, West Virginia will once again transform into a haven for boaters, music lovers, and families. Bands from all over Appalachia entertain crowds with live music all day, while Fest goers browse the Art Market, learn about other non-profit organizations that share the FOC vision, bid on a great array of silent auction

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Image for Detailed Report on 12/9/2012 Clear Creek Accident

Detailed Report on 12/9/2012 Clear Creek Accident

Shelbi Arno and I ran the Clear Creek river from Whiskeytown Reservoir NEED camp bridge on Sunday, December 9, 2012.  This section is about 8 miles, and CA Creeks rates it as class IV with one class V- rapid at nominal flows (http://cacreeks.com/clear-wh.htm).  The weather was warm and clear; it had recently rained, and the flow was about 260 cfs, mostly from dam release; it picked up a little from side creeks during the run, but not much.   Shelbi

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Image for Comment Deadline Extended for Yosemite's Merced River Plan

Comment Deadline Extended for Yosemite’s Merced River Plan

Yosemite National Park has extended the deadline for the public to submit comments on the Draft Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan from April 18th to Tuesday, April 30th. American Whitewater submitted comments on Tuesday, April 16th (see right). While we believe that some details in the Draft Plan relating to managing boaters within the Park can be improved, AW is supportive of the Draft Plan overall and believes that to date, the Park has conducted an unprecedented level of

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Image for Expect Many Portages on West Fork Tuck (NC)

Expect Many Portages on West Fork Tuck (NC)

Releases are set to begin this weekend on the West Fork of the Tuckasegee (NC), however the river still has significant numbers of log strainers.  Scouting runs have revealed 8-10 portages, and many more wood pieces that pose significant risk.  Given the unusual amount of wood currently in the river, paddlers are strongly cautioned about choosing to paddle the West Fork at this time. High flushing flows and limited wood management will be needed to re-distribute the wood into a

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Image for AW Seeks Volunteer Directors

AW Seeks Volunteer Directors

  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

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Image for Interior Recommends Removing Klamath River Dams

Interior Recommends Removing Klamath River Dams

On Thursday, April 4th, the Department of Interior recommended removing four dams on the Klamath River, listing the action as the Preferred Alternative for a long-term solution to address native fishery and water resource issues in Oregon and California's Klamath River Basin. The recommendation was set forth in the Department's Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which provides a comprehensive review of whether partially or fulling removing four dams owned and operated by PacifCorp will help to restore salmon runs to

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Image for 2013 French Broad River Fest (NC)

2013 French Broad River Fest (NC)

This May 3-5th, 2013, American Whitewater will be at the French Broad River Fest in Hot Springs, NC, where the French Broad River meets the Appalachian Trail. Proceeds for the event get donated to American Whitewater and other non-profits. In 2012 French Broad River Fest donated over $5,000 to American Whitewater alone! Tickets are $80 online (www.FrenchBroadRiverFestival.com). Last Year From the organizers: Last year we said 2011 was the best, but 2012 proved that it just keeps getting better.  At

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Image for Volunteer Of The Month - Presented By Kokatat

Volunteer Of The Month – Presented By Kokatat

American Whitewater is proud to annouce Phillip "Bubba" Sisk as our April Volunteer of the Month! Bubba is an integral part of the National Paddling Film Festival (which raises $5,000+ for American Whitewater each year!). NPFF's head honcho, Bethany Overfield, had this to say about Bubba: I want to nominate Phillip "Bubba" Sisk as the American Whitewater Volunteer of the Month for the countless hours of volunteer work he put into the National Paddling Film Festival this year. Bubba is

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Image for Paddling in Yosemite–Comments Due April 18th

Paddling in Yosemite–Comments Due April 18th

On February 26th, American Whitewater's California Stewardship Director Dave Steindorf met with Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher and his staff to discuss the prohibition on boating on most of the rivers within the Park. Yosemite is currently undergoing a Comprehensive Management Planning process for the Wild and Scenic Merced Rivers. While the Park is considering opening portions of the South Fork and mainstem Merced to boating, it is considering limiting use on others, treating boaters differently from other visitors

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Image for Little River Foot Entrapment: March 11, 2013

Little River Foot Entrapment: March 11, 2013

At around noon on March 11th Steve Senior, a 65 year-old open canoeist, was running Tennessee's Little River with a large group. He flipped in the first drop of "the Meanies" just above The Sinks and washed downstream over a 6' ledge. He was swimming on his back, feet first, lined up with the current when he washed into the backwash and did not reappear. The water "planted" him vertically in rocks below the drop, catching his foot. Several paddlers

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Image for Browns Canyon Of Arkansas River National Monument Proposal Released

Browns Canyon Of Arkansas River National Monument Proposal Released

Denver – Mark Udall, who chairs the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, unveiled draft legislation today to create the Browns Canyon National Monument, covering 22,000 acres between Salida and Buena Vista in Chaffee County.  The proposal includes 10,500 acres of new wilderness and seeks to protect the most popular rafting destination in the country.  The proposal is based on a year of public input that Udall and his staff have collected since the spring of 2012. "I am proposing a

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