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Image for Tellico Plains Tornado Cleanup Needs Your Help

Tellico Plains Tornado Cleanup Needs Your Help

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

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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 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

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Image for Update: AW Raises 8,000 for Friendsville Paddler Parking

Update: AW Raises $18,000 for Friendsville Paddler Parking

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

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Image for White House Conference on Conservation

White House Conference on Conservation

  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

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Image for Upper Colorado River-Gore Canyon Whitewater Park, Proposed by Grand County, CO

Upper Colorado River-Gore Canyon Whitewater Park, Proposed by Grand County, CO

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

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Image for Action Alert - Support Fall Boating on the Upper Colorado River!

Action Alert – Support Fall Boating on the Upper Colorado River!

Grand County, Colorado – American Whitewater has been working tirelessly to protect healthy streamflows and recreational boating on the Upper Colorado River.  As part of this effort, AW is working with Grand County to support the proposed Gore Canyon Whitewater Park at the Pumphouse Recreation Site near the bottom of Gore Canyon.   We urgently need you to write a quick letter of support for this project—specifically supporting fall boating at the proposed whitewater park.   There have been questions raised

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Image for Court Sides with Paddlers on Several Chattooga Issues

Court Sides with Paddlers on Several Chattooga Issues

Two federal court decisions issued in recent days favor conservation-oriented paddlers and their efforts to require fair, legal, and protective management of the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River.   On February 16, 2012, the Honorable J Michelle Childs denied the Forest Service’s request to put the court case on hold.  AW is pleased that the Court denied the Forest Service’s attempt to delay judicial review of paddlers’ federally protected right to float the Upper Chattooga.  On February 22, 2012,

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Image for FERC Dismisses Preliminary Permit for Flaming Gorge Pipeline

FERC Dismisses Preliminary Permit for Flaming Gorge Pipeline

Colorado/Wyoming – On September 1, 2011, Wyco Power and Water, Inc., filed a preliminary permit application to study the feasibility of developing the Regional Watershed Supply Project.  Today, FERC dismissed as premature that preliminary permit application. The Regional Watershed Supply Project would consist of seven hydropower projects and a  501-mile water pipeline that would extend from Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River in Wyoming to a proposed reservoir near Pueblo, Colorado.  The water pipeline does not exist and has

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Image for Tallulah Fest April 13-15, 2012

Tallulah Fest April 13-15, 2012

  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

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Image for AW Intervenes in Proposed Hydropower Project in Dolores River basin

AW Intervenes in Proposed Hydropower Project in Dolores River basin

Dolores, Colorado – This week, American Whitewater filed a Motion to Intervene in the Preliminary Permit application for the Cortez Pumped Storage Project , with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The project would be located on Plateau Creek, near the town of Dolores, Colorado and affects streamflows in the Dolores River basin and federal lands administered by the Forest Service (San Juan National Forest). In December 2011, INCA Engineers, Inc., in Bellevue, Washington, filed an application for a preliminary permit

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Image for AW and Partners Fight a Proposed Dam in Northern Idaho

AW and Partners Fight a Proposed Dam in Northern Idaho

Last week American Whitewater and a group of regional environmental organizations intervened in opposition of a proposed dam and diversion on northern Idaho's Boundary Creek.  The proposed hydropower project would de-water a spectacular and remote whitewater stream, and would impact a stunning array of rare, threatened, and endangered species.  The proposed hydropower project would consist of a small dam that would divert virtually all the water from Boundary Creek through a pipe to a powerhouse 7 miles downstream. The pipe

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Image for Year of the River Film Released on Elwha and White Salmon (WA)

Year of the River Film Released on Elwha and White Salmon (WA)

  American Rivers, American Whitewater and the Hydropower Reform Coalition. released a short film today that tells the story of historic dam removal successes on Washington's Elwha and White Salmon rivers. The 7-minute film premiered at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in January and is the final installment in the “Year of the River” series by Andy Maser.       "People are hungry for positive news, and these river restoration stories are so inspiring," said Amy Kober, senior communications director for

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Image for Federal Land Managers Improve Boater Access for Dolores River - CO

Federal Land Managers Improve Boater Access for Dolores River – CO

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

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Image for AW and Outdoor Alliance Support Clean Water Act Guidance

AW and Outdoor Alliance Support Clean Water Act Guidance

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

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Image for Success and Scheduled Flows on the Bear River (ID)

Success and Scheduled Flows on the Bear River (ID)

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

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Image for New Nantahala Hydropower License Issued!

New Nantahala Hydropower License Issued!

Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new 30 year license for the Nantahala Hydroelectric Project in Western North Carolina.  The new license confirms many elements of a 2003 collaborative settlement agreement developed by Duke Energy, American Whitewater, state and federal resource agencies, and many other stakeholders.  Included in the new license are flow releases that treat over 250,000 people each year to whitewater paddling on the Nantahala River, and form the backbone of the local economy. Specifically, the

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Image for Deerfield Fest (MA) Dates Announced - June 30th, 2012

Deerfield Fest (MA) Dates Announced – June 30th, 2012

The Northeast's largest whitewater festival and American Whitewater fundraiser, Deerfield Fest, has been scheduled for June 30th, 2012 in Charlemont, MA. Members and Vendors alike should put the event on their calendar and plan on attending. Why The Date Change? Astute paddlers will notice that the date is about a month earlier than in past years. The reason for this change is pretty simple, actually. We want to have a three day release weekend on both the Dryway and Fife Brook

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Volunteer Of The Month – Presented By Kokatat

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the recipient of our February 2012 Volunteer of the Month award: Harry Dundore! Harry contacted us with a plan for getting the AW message out to existing Affiliate Clubs and encouraging new clubs to join our stewardship efforts. He has worked tirelessly passing on AW's stewardship message and has been very successful in securing new members. It's amazing what one volunteer can accomplish when they have a vision! Thank you Harry for being a

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Image for North Fork Skykomish Road Repair Public Comment Period Open (WA)

North Fork Skykomish Road Repair Public Comment Period Open (WA)

In the fall of 2006 a major flood event severely damaged the road that provides access to the North Fork of the Skykomish River. Most of the damage was between the put-in at Drumbeater (just above Troublesome Creek) and the take-out at Trout Creek. Of the 8 major sites of damage, 6 have been repaired but one section from road mile 6.4 to 6.7 needs to be rerouted. The road prism was within the channel migration zone and major sections

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Image for Donations Needed to Secure Permanent Upper Yough Takeout

Donations Needed to Secure Permanent Upper Yough Takeout

A generous 4 acre land donation from a Friendsville resident has put a permanent, convenient takeout for the Upper Yough within paddlers’ reach.The donated land is in the field on the upstream side of Route 742.This new lot will greatly improve boater parking in town. The current arrangement, with paddlers parking on both sides of busy State Route 742 ,is a source of friction with town residents as well as a real safety concern. Your donations are needed to fully

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Image for AW Appeals a Bad Decision in New York

AW Appeals a Bad Decision in New York

High Falls Gorge of the Saranac River is a short and stout section of waterfalls that is typically dewatered by a hydropower dam and diversion.  While you may not aspire to paddling this challenging river, the contested relicensing process for the dam blocking the river could affect many of your treasured dam release rivers in New York and beyond. The power company (NYSEG), often with the strong backing of the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) has asserted that:

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Image for A *Loud* Call for Creeking Stories ... and More!

A *Loud* Call for Creeking Stories … and More!

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 February 25. At this time, we're looking for stories on any and all of the following: Creeking Back for another issue due to ridiculously low contribution numbers last time on this usually popular topic, Creeking is many

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Image for AW and Northeast Paddlers Seek More Class III Opportunities

AW and Northeast Paddlers Seek More Class III Opportunities

American Whitewater recently joined regional paddling and conservation partners in seeking additional class III paddling opportunities on Vermont's Little and West rivers.  The requests were formal filings made to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The West River The West River is a treasured whitewater river that is regulated by the Army Corps of Engineer's Ball Mountain Dam.  Spring and fall recreational releases have attracted hundreds of paddlers for over half a century, providing for great social and recreational events, and

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Image for Forest Service Proposes More Boating on Upper Chattooga

Forest Service Proposes More Boating on Upper Chattooga

Today, the US Forest Service released their newest proposal regarding how to manage recreation on the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River, where they currently maintain a controversial ban on paddling. The proposal will, if it is implemented, allow more paddling than has been proposed by the Forest Service in prior proposals as soon as March of this year. It will also correct some of the degrading ecological conditions and will employ specific capacities for all visitors. However, like previous proposals,

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2012 Member Rewards Announced

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the availability of our 2012 Member Rewards. These are the items that we give as a thank you to our $100 and above members in recognition of their substantial support for AW. Also, as in years past, all $100 – $2,500 memberships include a complimentary copy of the next American Whitewater Calendar. Awesome! The full list of items is available on our member rewards page. Big thanks to KEEN, Kokatat, Smith Optics, Watershed and

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