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Image for See You This Weekend at Feather Fest 2012!

See You This Weekend at Feather Fest 2012!

The 21st annual Feather River Festival (CA) will be held during the scheduled releases September 21-23, 2012. The fund-raiser event for American Whitewater is hosted by local paddling club, the 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 is available. The Feather Fest will once again include a film festival on Friday night.

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Image for Thunder Creek Receives Wilderness Protection (WA)

Thunder Creek Receives Wilderness Protection (WA)

  Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar ensured the long-term protection of Thunder Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River, by administratively designating the river corridor as wilderness.    "As a highly valued backcountry kayaking destination once considered for hydropower development, paddlers are pleased with today's decision to protect Thunder Creek as a free-flowing river by designating it as wilderness," said Thomas O'Keefe, American Whitewater's Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director.   While designating a wilderness area usually requires an act

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Image for American River Festival

American River Festival

The 2012 American River Festival will be held September 7-9 at various locations on the South Fork American River.  Proceeds benefit American Whitewater and several other river conservation and nonprofit groups. Friday night there is a Free Kickoff Dinner, Raffle & Festival T-Shirt Sale at the River Store.  Saturday there is a gear swap, whitewater rodeo and downriver race. A big dinner and party is Saturday night.  Slalom races are on Sunday.   For more information see: American River Festival Website

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Image for White Salmon River Homecoming Celebration (WA)

White Salmon River Homecoming Celebration (WA)

  Removal of Condit Dam is nearing completion and we are getting ready to celebrate the moment on Saturday September 29th. For those wondering what river runners will encounter on this new stretch of river, our friends at Wet Planet offer a "Quick Glimpse" of the whitewater. PacifiCorp still has heavy equipment in and along the river that will be removed over the next couple weeks and a log jam resulting from the dam breach still needs to be addressed.

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Image for Clackamas River Clean Up This Weekend (OR)

Clackamas River Clean Up This Weekend (OR)

  We Love Clean Rivers, in partnership with Clackamas River Basin Council, hosts the 10th Annual Down the River Clean Up on the Clackamas!   SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 9AM  @ BARTON COUNTY PARK   This is a on-river, volunteer clean up made possible by a rich network of recreationalists and a strong NW community that joins together on drift boats, kayaks, rafts, tubes and even with SCUBA gear, to scour the banks and river bottom for garbage.   Attracting

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Image for Looking for Volunteers to Clean Up Vermont's West River

Looking for Volunteers to Clean Up Vermont’s West River

This year the Connecticut River Watershed Council's Source to Sea Cleanup coincides with the September 29 West River release in Vermont. American Whitewater is trying to organize a handful of volunteers to pick up any trash on the West. It is a tributary of the Connecticut, and it's important to show we care about the river as we try to get more releases. Email alan@americanwhitewater.org if you're interested, and we'll try to iron out a meeting place and time. Also,

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Image for We Want to Hear From You! Access in California

We Want to Hear From You! Access in California

Earlier this summer, American Whitewater sent comments to Caltrans about the Access Feasibility Studies the agency is required to complete when building a new state highway bridge over a river. These requirements have been in place for over 40 years, however only one Feasibility Study has been done in that time (it's still in progress), and it was for the Feather River at SR 99. AW is working with Caltrans to ensure that this particular Access Feasibilty Study is done

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Image for AW Supports Improved Water Quality on Sacramento

AW Supports Improved Water Quality on Sacramento

The Box Canyon Run on California's Sacramento River is a favorite for locals and people from around the region. The water quality of the reach has been impacted by the wastewater treatment plant at Mt. Shasta, with the notable "Brown Trout" rapid immediately downstream from the outfall. This August, a tentative new NPDES permit under the Clean Water Act for the treatment plant was put out for comment, and American Whitewater supported provisions in the tentative permit that provide more

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Image for Advertise in the American Whitewater Journal

Advertise in the American Whitewater Journal

Advertising in the American Whitewater Journal is a great way to reach your customers in the paddling and outdoor community. What's more, your advertising dollars help support AW's river stewardship work! For complete details on advertising in the American Whitewater Journal, see our 2013 Media Kit. Thanks!

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Image for Another Great Labor Day Weekend on the Beaver

Another Great Labor Day Weekend on the Beaver

  “Don’t call this a festival,” New York legend whitewater legend Chris Koll said of the original Beaver River Rendezvous in 1998. The three-day event has stayed true to that mantra, despite the popular “Beaverfest” dubbing, the event lacks any sort of commercial qualities. Just great whitewater. From the Class III-IV Taylorville to a Class V+ spillway on the Moshier section, releases on the three stretches of the Beaver and the Raquette provide a great variety of whitewater for intermediate

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Image for Down the River Clean Up - Clackamas - Sept. 9th!

Down the River Clean Up – Clackamas – Sept. 9th!

We Love Clean Rivers and the Clackams River Basin Council are joining together to host the 10th Annual Down the River Clean Up on the Clackamas this Sunday, September 9th. Events start at 9 am at Barton County Park. This is an on-river, volunteer clean up made possible by a rich network of recreationalists and a strong NW community that joins together on drift boats, kayaks, rafts, tubes and even with SCUBA gear, to sour the banks and river bottom for garbage.  Attracting

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Image for AW Working to Maintain West Canada Creek (NY) Flows

AW Working to Maintain West Canada Creek (NY) Flows

For decades, West Canada Creek from Middleville to Herkimer, N.Y., proved a reliable beginner/intermediate run with consistent water released from Hinckley Reservoir upstream. After a number of high water events a play spot formed near the end of the run above Kast Bridge. In the summer of 2012, one of the driest on record, regular releases from upstream hydroelectric projects began to arrive at the whitewater section in the middle of the night instead of the late afternoon as they

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Navarro River proposed for Boating Water Trail

The Anderson Valley Land Trust in cooperation with the National Park Service Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Program is evaluating the Navarro River as a potential non-motorized boating water trail. This survey about boating on the Navarro will assist in that evaluation. The Navarro River is located in southern Mendocino County about 2 hours north of San Francisco. The primary focus of the study is between Hendy Woods State Park in the Anderson Valley downstream to Navarro Beach in the

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Image for Navarro River proposed for Boating Water Trail

Navarro River proposed for Boating Water Trail

The Anderson Valley Land Trust in cooperation with the National Park Service Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Program is evaluating the Navarro River as a potential non-motorized boating water trail. This survey about boating on the Navarro will assist in that evaluation. The Navarro River is located in southern Mendocino County about 2 hours north of San Francisco. The primary focus of the study is between Hendy Woods State Park in the Anderson Valley downstream to Navarro Beach in the

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Image for Chattooga USFS Consideration Done – River to Partially Open This Winter

Chattooga USFS Consideration Done – River to Partially Open This Winter

A decision made earlier this month by the Washington Office of the US Forest Service officially ends the agency’s consideration of recreational management on the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River.  In the decision, the Washington Office chose not to review all appeals of recent Forest-level and Regional-level decisions that had selected a new management plan for the river.  The decision marks the final Agency green light allowing the public to paddle a 15-mile portion of the Upper Chattooga River

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Image for Chesapeake Watershed River Access Plan Open for Comment

Chesapeake Watershed River Access Plan Open for Comment

The public review and comment period for the draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Public Access Plan has been extended until September 14, 2012. The plan is a product of the Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, developed in response to President Obamas Executive Order 13508, and which aims to increase public access to the Bay and tributaries by adding 300 new public access sites by 2025. The draft plan is available now for review and comment, and depicts

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Image for AW Working to Ensure Access to Deerfield River

AW Working to Ensure Access to Deerfield River

American Whitewater is working with local outfitters to ensure a utility does not shut off access to one of the Northeast's most popular beginner/intermediate rivers. This summer, Brookfield Renewable, which operates the Fife Brook dam on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts, informed local rafting companies it would be closing access to the put-in when the river exceeded 2,500 cubic feet per second for "safety" reasons. American Whitewater is working with Brookfield to find ways to alleviate concerns over public safety

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Image for Gauley Fest Vendors: Register by Sept. 1st!

Gauley Fest Vendors: Register by Sept. 1st!

As a friendly reminder to prospective Gauley Fest vendors, booth prices go up 15% on Sept. 1st, so register now! 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!

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Image for August Feather Releases Cancelled Due to Fire

August Feather Releases Cancelled Due to Fire

Due to the ongoing Chips Fire in the Feather River Watershed, the August 25th and 26th whitewater release on the Feather River has been cancelled. In addition to the problems associated with heavy smoke in the area, PG&E has shut down most of the hydroelectric system on the North Fork Feather because of the fire. As a result, there is no way to get water into the Rock Creek reach where the releases were scheduled to occur. The August release

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Image for An Open Letter to Gauley River (WV) Boaters

An Open Letter to Gauley River (WV) Boaters

  August 17, 2012 An Open Letter to Gauley River Boaters Dear Boaters, The rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area welcome you to the 2012 boating season. National Park Service (NPS) employees have been working, and are continuing to work, on preparing the put-ins and take-outs, and other public use spots for upcoming Gauley River NRA visitation. We hope that this season will prove to be a safe and spectacular one for every one.    The

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Image for Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival (PA) Aug 18, 2012

Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival (PA) Aug 18, 2012

  This years Ohiopyle Falls Festival will be on Saturday Aug 18, 2012. You can register at the event. We need plenty of help, and will require everyone 18 and over who wants to run the Falls to give the event at least one hour of volunteer safety! Registration fees are only $15 and volunteers who give us at least two hours of their time will receive a cool T-shirt. Registration forms and waivers are included here. We ask that

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Image for AW Intends to File a Citizen Lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act

AW Intends to File a Citizen Lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – GROUPS NOTIFY AGENCIES, PG&E OF INTENT TO SUE TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SHASTA CRAYFISH On Thursday, August 9th, American Whitewater and Friends of the River notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and PG&E of their intent to sue for violations of the Endangered Species Act at the Pit 1 and Hat Creek Hydroelectric Projects. The projects, located in Shasta County California, have numerous impacts on the endangered Shasta crayfish and have operated

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Image for Wave Construction at Holtwood (PA) Begins

Wave Construction at Holtwood (PA) Begins

Earlier this week the owner of the Holtwood Hydroelectric Project on the Susquehanna River (PA) initiated a construction process that will result in two sizeable whitewater waves at the base of a defunct fish ladder on the west side of the dam.  Once completed, the waves will be activated by 264 hours of scheduled water releases each year as well as by significant periods of spill.  The waves will provide for high quality freestyle kayak surfing opportunities.  Construction is anticipated

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Image for Two Weekend Releases Cancelled Due to Low Water

Two Weekend Releases Cancelled Due to Low Water

Releases for the weekend of Aug. 4, 2012, on New York's Salmon River and the Canada Falls section of the Penobscot in Maine have been cancelled as a result of low water this summer. Saturday and Sunday releases on the Salmon will not happen. Neither will the Saturday release from Canada Falls. Officials with the Salmon River Flow Management Advisory Team say the cancellation is because of low water levels in Bennett’s Reservoir. Officials had hoped the release would help avoid

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Image for Submit Your Photos for our Annual Calendar!

Submit Your Photos for our Annual Calendar!

Submit your best photos for American Whitewater's annual calendar. When The deadline is August 31st, 2012. 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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