Articles

We’re all VERY excited to see Washington’s White Salmon River break free of Condit Dam tomorrow. In order for the events to go off without a hitch, we’ll need everyone’s cooperation. If you plan to head to the White Salmon area for the events, please respect PacifiCorp’s closures around the dam site – today and throughout the removal process over the next 11 months.  Learn more about the closures through PacifiCorp, and at Wet Planet’s blog: PacifiCorp Means Business. Don’t

Ruling preserves popular backcountry recreation destinations across the country Earlier today, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the final legal challenge to the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, affirming protections for nearly 60 million acres around the country. Today’s decision clears up legal ambiguity that had existed. The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule was approved in January 2001 following years of scientific study, more than 600 public hearings across the country, and 1.6 million official public comments. The lands

This week, another important step was taken down the long road of bringing a whitewater park to the City of Oroville, California.  On Tuesday, October 17th, the Oroville City Council voted unanimously to hire McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group to conduct the first phase environmental assessment for the whitewater park. Through the assessment, McLaughlin will consider a number of alternative sites and consult with numerous local, state and federal agencies to assess the environmental permitting requirements for building the park. The

TELLURIDE, Colo.— In a major victory for clean air, clean water and endangered species on public lands, a federal judge on Tuesday halted the Department of Energy’s 42-square-mile uranium-leasing program that threatened the Dolores and San Miguel rivers in southwestern Colorado. Five conservation groups had sued to halt the leasing program, charging that the Department of Energy was failing to adequately protect the environment or analyze the full impacts of renewed uranium mining on public lands. The 53-page ruling invalidates

Calling all writers/photographers… We’d love to read your stories (and see your pictures) about whitewater. In fact, we’d love to print them in an upcoming issue of the American Whitewater Journal. Deadline for stories on the topics listed below is October 25. While we will always accept articles on any topic, at this time, we’re looking for stories on any and all of the following: Canoeing Ask any kayaker who has ever paddled a canoe and they will tell you

As the winter rains return to the Pacific Northwest, those passing through Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in search of paddling opportunities will have an opportunity to see the largest dam removal effort in the nation underway. Olympic National Park recently opened the Elwha Dam Overlook Trail where visitors can view dam removal progress in person. The Elwha Dam Overlook Trail can be reached by taking Highway 101 west from Port Angeles. At mile 242.5 turn onto Highway 112. Take this road

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the recipient of our October 2011 Volunteer of the Month award: Neal Dana! Neal is an instrumental volunteer helping AW put on Gauley Fest. Each year, Neal offers up his electrical expertise helping us safely wire the Gauley Fest site for power. Since the festival site only features power supply boxes, this is no small feat. Neal oversees 1,000s of feet of electrical wire and hundreds of light and power sockets all put up

Take part in the Great Willamette Clean Up, Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th.  The 187-mile effort will clean up the Willamette River, which is essential to life in Oregon. Bring your family & friends!  Earn enough river-karma to last a year!  Meet other river-loving enthusiasts, have fun, and get an awesome, FREE event t-shirt! – The Great Willamette Clean Up takes place on the water (via kayak, canoe or SUP) and on land (by bicycle and foot). –

Several bills currently threaten Wild and Scenic Rivers throughout the country, including the St. Croix in Minnesota and Wisconsin (HR 850/S1134), California’s Merced River (HR 869 and 2578), and Oregon’s Crooked River (HR 2060). These bills will be moving out of committee this fall.     Congress established the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to protect the outstanding values of the nation’s most cherished free flowing rivers for current and future generations. A Wild and Scenic designation protects the outstandingly

A public comment period is now open for the restoration of the Klamath River through November 21st. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced in late September that the federal government has completed numerous peer-reviewed scientific and technical studies providing new and detailed information about the environmental and economic impacts of removing four Klamath River hydroelectric dams – fulfilling a major condition of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA), which was negotiated among state, local, tribal and water provider leaders

A strong response from the whitewater community has gone a long way towards protecting summer whitewater on the Upper Youghiogheny River. The story starts when property owners on the back coves of Deep Creek Lake begin pressuring politicians to raise the minimum summer lake level. This would have eliminated many summer releases! A discussion between the editor of the Garrett County Republican and Friendsville Town Councilman Jess Whittemore resulted in an editorial that drew an unprecedented 160 supportive letters from

This Saturday October 1st and Sunday October 2nd, American Whitewater will be out on the Pit River in Northern California to celebrate and enjoy whitewater releases from Fall River Mills to Highway 299. On Saturday evening, AW staff and volunteers will be at the Pit River Recreation Area campground. Come on over after 6 p.m. to join us for a beverage and get caught up on what we’re doing in California and throughout the West!   The Pit River is

Maryland’s Upper Youghiogheny River is one of the finest expert whitewater runs in the country and one of the few with a predictable summer release schedule. Hundreds of private and commercial paddlers assemble in Friendsville every summer weekend to run the river. Several years ago American Whitewater supported local kayakers and outfitters as they worked with the Town of Friendsville, regional and local members of Trout Unlimited, and Brookfield Power  to develop the current permit. It allows Brookfield to profitably

As many folks know, Gauley Fest is American Whitewater’s biggest fundraising event. As such, we’re very proud to announce another excellent Gauley Fest for the record books. First, a huge thanks goes out to Subaru for being Gauley Fest’s title sponsor. Subaru has a long history in the whitewater community as a favored shuttle rig. We’re glad they’ve chosen to support American Whitewater’s river stewardship goals through their partnership with Gauley Fest. Thanks Subaru! We’d also like to thank the

 The “Best River Festival in the West” – the Feather River Festival (CA) will be held this weekend – September 23, 24, and 25, 2011. The Festival will coincide with the Rock Creek/Tobin scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, 2011. This fundraiser for American Whitewater is hosted by local paddling club, the Chico Paddleheads. The event will be held at “Indian Jim School” campground located two miles upstream from the small town of Tobin and one