Articles

American Whitewater is pleased to announce that we are launching a new Northeast Regional Stewardship Program. The creation of the new program is made possible by a generous $50,000 gift, given in memory of Boyce Greer. The contribution will be used as seed-money and paired with additional support from the regional paddling community to hire a part-time Northeast Stewardship Director position. The new regional director will work closely with paddlers and partner organizations to carry out American Whitewater’s stewardship mission

Utah – The Obama administration has decided to authorize nearly 1,300 new natural gas wells in Utah’s Desolation Canyon wilderness and other remote areas of the Green River basin. It is anticipated that these new leases will degrade the pristine region’s air quality and hurt the state’s tourism industry, according to a coalition of environmental groups.   In approving the so-called Gasco development project, the Department of the Interior also rejected calls by the Environmental Protection Agency and tens of

  American Whitewater recently learned that O.K. Goodwin, founder of The Coastal Canoeists (1965) and AW safety chair from 1970 to 1987, died on December 3, 2011. He was 90 years old. A lifelong resident of Newport News, VA, he was a designer of merchant ships (and the occasional canoe) for almost four decades. A canoe instructor and Boy Scout leader, he was also a serious whitewater competitor, both in C-1 and in C-2 with his wife, Glenna. They were

  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

Chris Gragtmans, of TerraVida Threads, recently approached us with a cool challenge he's participating in to raise money for American Whitewater and other great non-profits. Chris's description: Thanks so much for your interest in supporting American Whitewater as part of the French Broad Distance Paddle! This organization was an obvious choice during the planning of the challenge, and has been doing great things for paddlers and other river-goers for nearly 60 years. AW represents the front line of whitewater river

The March/April issue of the AW Journal features River Stewardship in Perfect Clarity . Our index now provides direct links to each article. this issue includes. . . Chetco Obsession From Chlorine to Class V Quality Hanging Out Time Risk. . .and Reward . . .plus 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 your website user account.

  Spring 2012 Tallulah Release Reminders   Tallulah releases for spring 2012 are going to be held on April 7, 8 and 14, 15. Releases begin at 9:30 am and all boaters must start down the stairs by 3:00 pm to beat the flow down to the lake. Releases on Saturday are 500 cfs and Sunday releases are 700 cfs. You will need to sign a waiver at the top of the stairs to be permitted to paddle the river. Please continue to

Tellico Plains was hit really hard by a tornado last Friday. It ripped through a gas station and destroyed a campground on the gorge side of town then roared uphill. Sixty-seven homes were badly damaged. The Atlanta Whitewater Club has coordinated with Mayor Patrick Hawkins to help with the cleanup this Saturday, March 10th. Meet at the Tellico Plains Community Center across from Hardees at 9:00 AM. The Rescue Squad will manage the operation and put everyone to work. It's

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the recipient of our March 2012 Volunteer of the Month award: Brandon Jett and Bethany Overfield! Brandon and Bethany are both key members of the team that puts on the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF) each year, an event that usually raises over $5,000 for AW's river stewardship work. Allen Kirkwood, the President of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association (the American Whitewater Affiliate Club that puts on NPFF) had this to say about Brandon and

On March 5th American Whitewater presented Friendsville Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle with a check for $14,100, the total amount donated to our web site during the past month. Add pledges and money sent directly to the town the total is just over $18,000. Additionally, Brian Jacobson, a paddler who is also a licensed Maryland engineer, is donating services valued at over $15,000. This project marks a big step in the growing partnership between AW and the small town that has become

  American Whitewater participated in the White House Conference on Conservation — Growing America’s Outdoor Heritage and Economy — which took place at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. The conference explored the connection between stewardship, outdoor recreation, healthy lands, rivers, wildlife and the job creation strategies fueled by nature based tourism.   President Obama addressed the crowd, reinforcing the importance of conservation and expressing that it can go hand-in-hand with economic vitality and a sustainable approach

Upper Colorado River-Gore Canyon Whitewater Park Grand County has proposed the Gore Canyon Whitewater Park in the Colorado River which consists of two features or “waves” in the river and a new put-in and take-out access to the river along with parking and other facilities (the Project). The Project complements the County’s broader goal for the Upper Colorado River–to protect, restore and enhance the river ecosystem and provide nationally protected, outstandingly remarkable, diverse river based recreational opportunities. As part of

  Tallulah Fest April 13-15, 2012   Tallulah Fest celebrates the release of the Tallulah Gorge, and donates money to AW.  A weekend of being outside, listening to handmade music, and having a good time with the coolest crowd of people you might not remember.  We show big screen adventure movies, have photo and video contest, give away a lot of cool prizes and jam all night to live music.   Come represent for the Southeast and help raise money

Colorado – In consultation with the Lower Dolores Boating Advocates, one of American Whitewater's affiliate club members, a crew from the Dolores Public Lands Office removed willows from the boat ramp at the Gypsum Valley River Access site.  The Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service's "Service First" program coordinated with the Army Corps of Engineers to thin willow overgrowth, remove root balls with a back hoe, improve ramp gradient and spread gravel.  Work wrapped up in early

The Clean Water Act has traditionally applied to all headwater rivers, and is directly responsible for the quality and safety of the water we all enjoy.  Lawsuits over the past few years have left the level of protection afforded many headwater (and whitewater) rivers and streams in question.  Last year the Obama Administration released draft guidance on which streams should be covered by the Clean Water Act.   The new guidance would help remedy this problem by developing a clear protocol

American Whitewater is pleased to announce that we have negotiated a modified flow regime for the Black Canyon of the Bear River in Idaho.  Under the new agreement between AW and the other members of the Ecological Coordination Committee that was set up to implement a 2002 hydropower settlement agreement, PacifiCorp will provide nine scheduled pulse flows between April 1 and June 5 each year for the next three years.  These flows should provide a range of high quality Class