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Image for Discovery of Invasive Aquatic Alga Didymo in Youghiogheny (PA).

Discovery of Invasive Aquatic Alga Didymo in Youghiogheny (PA).

American Whitewater received the following press release about the discovery of the invasive aquatic alga known as didymo, or “rock snot,” in the Youghiogheny (PA). Please read and help educate the waterwater community on how to keep this from spreading to other local rivers. News for Immediate Release June 11, 2012 State Agencies Issue Alert to Contain Invasive Species in Youghiogheny  Harrisburg – With the recent confirmation of the invasive aquatic alga known as didymo, or “rock snot,” in the Youghiogheny

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Image for Friendsville MD Leaders Thank Paddlers for Donations

Friendsville MD Leaders Thank Paddlers for Donations

The Mayor and Town Council of Friendsville, Maryland recently sent AW an open letter of thanks in response to an outpouring of donations and support for their development of a new public take-out for the Upper Youghiogheny River in their Town.  AW helped collect donations from the paddling community, and we are pleased to pass this thank-you on to the many paddlers that contributed to this cause – your donations were greatly appreciated!  The full text of the letter is

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Image for AW Responds to Chattooga Farmstead Proposal

AW Responds to Chattooga Farmstead Proposal

In the midst of the controversial paddling ban and capacity consideration on the Wild and Scenic upper Chattooga River, the Forest Service is proposing to jointly develop a “farmstead” on the banks of the disputed section of river with a private non-profit partner organization.   The farmstead would be managed by the private organization which would be granted authority to charge the public fees for visiting the farmstead portion of the Wild and Scenic corridor.  The farmstead would be comprised

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Image for Upper Nantahala Releases to Begin This Fall!

Upper Nantahala Releases to Begin This Fall!

The first ever scheduled recreational releases on the upper Nantahala River will occur on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30, 2012, near Wesser, North Carolina.  Duke Energy will release water from the dam at Nantahala Lake into the upper Nantahala.  These releases are in addition to the more typical releases from the Nantahala powerhouse into the popular lower Nantahala River.  The releases were negotiated by AW and a diverse group of local and regional stakeholders between 2001 and 2003

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Image for Content for Sept/Oct. Journal

Content for Sept/Oct. Journal

See Your Name in Print! Reading the American Whitewater Journal is good … getting published in it is great! Be the envy of your boating friends by getting a story published in American Whitewater. Deadline for stories on the topics listed below is June 25. At this time, we're looking for stories on any and all of the following (though we're willing to consider any worthy story):   Best Runs for Intermediates There are a ton of great rivers out

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Image for Hydropower Development at Ernies: Public Meetings Scheduled

Hydropower Development at Ernies: Public Meetings Scheduled

Over the objections of the paddling community and several other stakeholders, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a preliminary permit last fall for the Black Canyon Hydroelectric Project. If constructed, this project would construct a new dam on the North Fork Snoqualmie diverting the river around Ernies Gorge to a powerhouse at the bottom of the canyon. The developer is moving ahead with their plans and earlier this spring filed a Notice of Intent to seek a license for

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Image for Last Call For 2013 Volunteer Board Of Director Nominations

Last Call For 2013 Volunteer Board Of Director Nominations

  American Whitewater is seeking nominations of interested and qualified candidates to serve as a Director. We are seeking Directors to begin a three-year term starting January 1, 2013.   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

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Image for 2012 Summer Appeal, Please Read

2012 Summer Appeal, Please Read

Only twice each year, American Whitewater appeals for financial support for our river stewardship work. To this end, we've put together the 2012 American Whitewater Summer Appeal (pdf). It details just how our supporter's money is spent and features a national listing of some of our major projects we're currently involved with. We sincerely hope you'll take the time to peruse this document and consider donating or joining/renewing with American Whitewater. Please, download and read the 2012 American Whitewater Summer

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Image for Ausable River Access Open for 2012

Ausable River Access Open for 2012

New York State Electric and Gas opened their gate to the Ausable River on May 25, 2012, and will continue to provide access through October 31, 2012.  Public access to this natural wonder is the direct result of a decade advocacy by American Whitewater and Adirondack Mountain Club. NYSEG may  temporarily close their access area based on their perception of public safety, and when construction and maintenance activities require a closure.  Notice will be given when such conditions are expected

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Image for Bad Ideas in DC Threaten Public Lands and Rivers

Bad Ideas in DC Threaten Public Lands and Rivers

Wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, wild and scenic rivers, and other treasured public lands have become the focus of a small number of elected officials whose intention is to roll back protections, limit access to outdoor enthusiasts, and to promote extractive activities over the existing recreation-based economy that supports $730 billion in economic benefits and more than 6.5 million jobs nationwide.  These efforts, illustrated by legislative proposals below paint a rather grim and shortsighted picture of the future of public lands. 

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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 Steve Powers as our June Volunteer of the Month! Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater National Stewardship Director, had this to say about Steve "Steve has been helping AW staff and our pro-bono legal team investigate the history of key riparian land parcels in Virginia.  His research is adding new insights in our quest for a clear understanding of the public's right to paddle through specific areas of Virginia, where archaic and complicated stream access laws

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Image for Rogue River Planning Effort Underway (OR)

Rogue River Planning Effort Underway (OR)

  A few years ago American Whitewater joined other organizations in advocating for the removal of a series of dams on the Rogue River. As expected and as detailed in a new report on opportunities following dam removal, "Southern Oregon has effectively increased the supply of recreational assets and ecosystem services in the region" and "economic benefits to the region derive from providing services that make the experience of playing on the Rogue more fun and more convenient."   Paddlers

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Image for AW Announces the Enduring Rivers Circle for Planned Giving

AW Announces the Enduring Rivers Circle for Planned Giving

  Leave a lasting legacy to the special places that made a difference in your life.  Become a member of the American Whitewater Enduring Rivers Circle, created exclusively to honor and recognize people who have helped to continue our river stewardship efforts through a gift to American Whitewater in their estate plans. As an Enduring Rivers Circle member, you will receive special recognition to serve as a reminder of your ongoing commitment to river stewardship. You will join a circle

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Image for Three Savage River Releases Scheduled for this Summer

Three Savage River Releases Scheduled for this Summer

The Upper Potomac River Commission has announced three recreational whitewater releases from Savage River Reservoir in Western Maryland this summer. The releases, based on water availability, will take place June 3, July 1 and Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The river, which hosted the 1989 World Slalom and Whitewater Championships, offers five miles of very continuous Class III-IV whitewater. Adventure Sports International of McHenry, MD has been working with the UPRC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NewPage,

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Image for Support American Whitewater with Web Ads

Support American Whitewater with Web Ads

Do you own or run a website? We hope you'll consider running some of the American Whitewater Ads that we've put together. We hope these ads will encourage people to become AW Members. Membership is of critical importance to funding AW's work and here's an easy way for people to help us increase it. We've got ads in different standard sizes with varied content. We're sure there's something that would appeal to any audience in there. If you own a website,

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Image for New Stonycreek River Summer Releases Near Johnstown PA

New Stonycreek River Summer Releases Near Johnstown PA

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 $2

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Image for Conservation Alliance Recognizes KEEN/AW Partnership

Conservation Alliance Recognizes KEEN/AW Partnership

  The Conservation Alliance has funded American Whitewater river stewardship projects going back to 1993. American Whitewater and KEEN are profiled as an example of an outstanding partnership that is delivering concrete results for river stewardship.   The following is also posted on the Conservation Alliance Blog.   Outstanding Partnership Stories: American Whitewater And KEEN, Inc. Join Forces To Make A Difference In Our Landscape   American Whitewater, Conservation Alliance grantee and nation-wide advocate for the preservation and protection of

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Image for Handling the Crowds on the Upper Yough

Handling the Crowds on the Upper Yough

    The Upper Youghiogheny River has some of the East's finest expert-level summer whitewater. Memorial Day Weekend is the first of many busy release weekends which create crowded conditions on and off the river. For the past four decades the paddling community has done a good job managing themselves. Here are some things you can do to help your trip run more smoothly. Collisions between boats are very rare on the Upper Yough. Here are a few things to

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Image for FERC Denies Flaming Gorge Pumpback Request for Re-Hearing!

FERC Denies Flaming Gorge Pumpback Request for Re-Hearing!

Green River, WY – On May 17th, FERC denied a request from WyCo Power and Water for a re-hearing of it's preliminary Permit application for the proposed Regional Watershed Supply Project (Project No. 14263-001). FERC's order has defeated the permitting process for the speculative project which proposed to pump 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River, to Colorado's Front Range cities over 500 miles away. American Whitewater and several of our partners in the conservation community worked hard to

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Image for ACTION ALERT: Ask Senator Feinstein to Protect the Merced!

ACTION ALERT: Ask Senator Feinstein to Protect the Merced!

The threats facing California's Wild and Scenic Merced River continue, and we need your help to protect it and the integrity of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The House will vote very soon on HR 2578, which proposes to de-designate a portion of the Wild and Scenic Merced River, drowning it. The bill would roll back the boundary of the Wild and Scenic section, allowing Merced Irrigation District to raise New Exchequer Dam and Lake McClure. This section of

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Image for 2012 Most Endangered Rivers Report Released

2012 Most Endangered Rivers Report Released

  Today, American Rivers released the annual report on America's Most Endangered Rivers. American Whitewater has partnered with American Rivers in past years in identifying threatened rivers, and this year we are working together to highlight threats to the Skykomish River in Washington and the Green River in Utah.   The Skykomish is one of Washington’s most popular rivers for fishing, paddling, and scenic beauty. However, a proposed hydropower dam would destroy the wild character of the river’s South Fork,

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Image for Upper Yough Parking Lot Construction Update

Upper Yough Parking Lot Construction Update

The Town of Friendsville wishes to update paddlers on progress made on the new boater parking area. Thanks to State of Maryland and Garrett County regulations we are bogged down with permit applications for floodplain construction, State Roads access, and Storm water management. We are pushing the process as fast as it can go since we want boaters to use the area as much as the boaters want to use it. We have spent $800 so far on turf seeding

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Image for American Whitewater Weighs in on BLM Oil Shale and Tar Sands Plan

American Whitewater Weighs in on BLM Oil Shale and Tar Sands Plan

  Some of our nation’s most well-known river trips are in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado – often right on top of areas with the potential for extractive energy development. Last week, American Whitewater partnered with our colleagues in the Outdoor Alliance representing the active outdoor recreation community to comment on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) new, far-reaching oil shale and tar sands development plan for those three states.    With the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, the BLM is considering

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Image for White Salmon Access Restored at Northwestern Park (WA)

White Salmon Access Restored at Northwestern Park (WA)

  PacifiCorp has opened the new take-out facility at Northwestern Park. Construction was completed late last month and for the first time since Condit Dam was breached in October 2011, a public access is once again available downstream of Husum Falls. Outfitters are now able to continue trips down to Northwestern Park and beginner paddlers once again have access to a regionally-important instructional reach. The trip on this lower reach is a fascinating journey that takes you down through the

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Image for New Report Reveals Colorado River As Major Economic Driver in the West

New Report Reveals Colorado River As Major Economic Driver in the West

Economic Study Reveals Colorado River As Top Employer, Major Economic Driver Across West Colorado River Ranks #155, 19th Largest Employer on Fortune 500. Following extensive research into the economic impact of recreational activities along the Colorado River and its tributaries across six western states, Protect the Flows in partnership with Southwick Associates, Inc. today released a study, “Colorado River, Inc.: The $26 Billion Recreation Resource Employing a Quarter Million Americans,” revealing the Colorado River to be the 19th largest employer

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