Articles

Jan. 26, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today signaled the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s intent to issue a new planning rule for America’s 193-million acre National Forest System that seeks to deliver stronger protections for forests, water, and wildlife while supporting the economic vitality of our rural communities, by releasing online a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. The National Forest System is a haven for outdoor recreationists seeking solace and adventure,

American Whitewater is looking for an oustanding vendor to help us build the next version of our website. We've put together a Request for Proposal (RFP) outlining this project more fully and to help us select an appropriate vendor. All qualified vendors are encouraged to participate. Download the American Whitewater Website RFP Submissions are due by March 12th at midnight ET.

Today, the Columbia Bioregional Education Project (CBEP), joined by several conservation groups including American Whitewater, issued a new economic analysis of Okanogan Public Utility District’s (PUD) proposal to re-start hydropower generation at Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River. The analysis, prepared by Rocky Mountain Econometrics (RME) of Boise, Idaho, concludes that it is not possible for the PUD to sell power from Enloe Dam at or above the cost of producing it, and that the PUD will lose $26 for

We are pleased to report that members of the Oregon congressional delegation including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader have introduced legislation (S.2001/H.R.3436) to permanently protect portions of the Rogue River and its surrounding forests. The "Rogue Wilderness Area Expansion Act of 2011" will preserve an economic engine in southwest Oregon that supports local jobs, clean water, wildlife habitat, fishing opportunities, and one of the most spectacular multi-day whitewater trips

After 30 years, the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF) is still going strong. This year's NPFF will be held on February 24-25 in Frankfort, KY at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. You can buy a ticket to the magic via this easy online order form. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. Ticket sales are processed by American Whitewater. You can be confident in the security of your information and that your dollars are going to a good cause. We're proud

If you have not already done so, it is now time to start thinking about multi-day trips for the spring and there are several great opportunities on Western Rivers. Many of these rivers require you to fill out a lottery application and deadlines are coming up. Check our permit database for the information and links to agency sites with detailed instructions and applications you can download. We have updated the database with links to all the best multiday trips in

The January/February issue of the AW Journal features our Top Ten River Stewardship Issues of 2012 . Our index now provides direct links to each article. this issue includes. . . Washougal River Tandem Time Montana's Big Hole River Nepal's Wild West . . .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. Current

Paddlers at the swinging footbridge put-in for Goshen Pass on Virginia’s Maury River were recently confronted with a new sign. Starting January 1, 2012, the VA State Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will require a permit to launch there. According to the DGIF web site says that anyone who wants to access a Wildlife Management Area or public fishing lake must purchase an access permit; the cost is $4 daily, $23 annually for both residents and non-residents. Anyone possessing

  Since their formal announcement in mid-November, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Norm Dicks have been soliciting input on their draft conservation proposal for the Olympic Peninsula to establish new Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and provide an opportunity for targeted Olympic National Park preserve additions through a willing-buyer, willing-seller process. The proposal would protect some of the most critical landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. While the draft Congressional proposal does not include all the elements of the original conservation

  As an organization, American Whitewater is fortunate to have a committed group of volunteer Directors that provides the organization with high-level oversight and strategic direction. To sustain this healthy and vibrant Board, an effective election process is in place to insure an appropriate transition of Directors over time. This transition process balances the need for fresh ideas with appropriate leadership continuity. Our recent elections concluded on December 13, 2011. Over 460 members cast their votes for new Directors.  

BLM Recommends Wild & Scenic River Protection For The San Joaquin River Gorge! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is recommending protection of the magnificent San Joaquin River Gorge as a National Wild & Scenic River. The agency’s recommendation is in the Bakersfield BLM Draft Resource Management Plan (DRMP), which is providing management direction for more than 408,000 acres of public land in central California. The Wild & Scenic recommendation for the San Joaquin River Gorge is gutsy given that

Just a friendly reminder: an American Whitewater membership makes the perfect gift for the paddler or river-lover in your life! We’ve made buying one super easy and quick too. Just fill out our Gift Membership form and we’ll take care of the rest. If they already have an AW membership, no problem, we’ll just add on another year to it. You get to give a great gift and support your favorite non-profit at the same time. Awesome!