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Image for Read the May/June Issue of the AW Journal Online Now!

Read the May/June Issue of the AW Journal Online Now!

The May/June issue of the AW Journal features Road Trips and includes: Pacific Northwest Huckfest The Southern Sierra Whitewater Road Trip The American Road Trip . . .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 members – Read the Road Trip issue now! Not a current member? Renew or Join today!

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AW Journal Women’s Issue–Deadline EXTENDED!

You heard right! AW is extending the deadline for the wildly popular Women’s Issue one more week to allow our members time to finish up that last-minute idea. We want this issue to reflect the talent, diversity, and excitement that women bring to whitewater paddlesports, and so we’re hoping that no one feels too busy to contribute. It only takes a couple of hours to tell us your story, so don’t delay! Final deadline for all Women’s Issue content is

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Image for Feds Support 2011 Condit Dam Removal (WA)

Feds Support 2011 Condit Dam Removal (WA)

Earlier today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a decision that supports and orders the removal of Condit Dam, located on Washington’s White Salmon River in October of this year.  Today’s decision clears the path forward for one of the most exciting river restoration initiatives in the United States! The decision follows a procedural disagreement between FERC and the groups that negotiated an agreement calling for the removal of Condit Dam in 2011.  American Whitewater, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited,

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Image for Court Ruling Protects California's Mokelumne River

Court Ruling Protects California’s Mokelumne River

American Whitewater is celebrating a recent court victory from the Sacramento Superior Court that protects the recreational, cultural and historic values of the Mokelumne River.  The April 11, 2011 decision by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley held that the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s ("EBMUD") 2040 Water Plan violated California’s Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The suit was filed by AW partners Friends of the River, Foothill Conservancy, and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance in an effort to halt EBMUD’s

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Image for Cheat Festival 2011 Dedicated to Glen & Donna Miller

Cheat Festival 2011 Dedicated to Glen & Donna Miller

For over 30 years Glen and Donna Miller of Mount Nebo, West Virginia drove shuttles for Cheat and Big Sandy River paddlers in their big stake-bed truck. Thousands of us have looked forward to their friendly greeting, a beer from the cooler, and a memorable ride home. Glen, a logger by trade, is known as one of the hardest-working men in the area. What other kind of man would decide to run boater shuttles in his spare time? Glen began

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Image for Lifetime Member Patches

Lifetime Member Patches

American Whitewater is excited to announce our new patch for Lifetime Members. This patch is only available to our Lifetime ($750) and above members. If you’re a lifetime member, you should have already received this patch in the mail. We hope to see all our Lifetime members proudly wearing this patch! All individuals that sign up for a Lifetime membership in the future will receive this patch too. If you’re interested in becoming a Lifetime, or above member, you can

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Image for 2011 French Broad River Fest (NC)

2011 French Broad River Fest (NC)

This April 29 – May 1, 2011, American Whitewater will be at the French Broad River Fest in Hot Springs, NC. Proceeds for the event get donated to American Whitewater and two other non-profits. In 2010 French Broad River Fest donated over $5,000 to American Whitewater alone! Purchase your tickets now for $65 or they can be purchased for $75 at the gate. Past festivals have featured multiple stages w/ over 20 bands, a whitewater raft race, a mountain bike

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Image for Hoosic Release Pending Correct Flows

Hoosic Release Pending Correct Flows

It is time once again for the annual Whitewater Release on the Hoosic River at the Schaghticoke Hydro Development, in Schaghticoke, NY Once again, the current flow forecast for the Hoosic River indicates that flows this Saturday at Schaghticoke are likely to exceed the 1,600 cfs upper limit for the whitewater release (i.e., 800-1,600 cfs). http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=aly&gage=eagn6&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1" Therefore, be advised that due to current river flow and weather conditions on the Hoosic River there will be no whitewater release at the

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Image for Call for Board of Director Nominations - 2011

Call for Board of Director Nominations – 2011

              Date:                        Spring 2012 From:                         Norwood Scott, Vice President To:                        All interested and qualified AW members     Dear AW Member,   American Whitewater is seeking nominations of interested and qualified candidates to serve as a Director. We are seeking candidates to fill 4 board seats to begin a three-year term starting January 1, 2012.   A healthy, vibrant, participatory and functional board of Directors is critical to the long

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Image for Tallulah Fest May 13-15 -- Still Taking Place

Tallulah Fest May 13-15 — Still Taking Place

Tallulah Fest May 13-15 presented by BBB paddling Even with Tallulah releases being cancelled, the Tallulah Fest is still going to happen! Come out and paddle other close-by southeastern classic rivers; Chattooga, Cheoah, Nantahala and Ocoee. Get ready for an outdoor festival thrown by a bunch of kayakers.  Tallulah Fest will feature games, camping, live entertainment Friday and Saturday night, kayaking videos presented by John Grace, over $1,000 worth of gear to be raffled away, giveaways, some friendly competition and

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Image for AW Announces New Dolores River Program Staff!

AW Announces New Dolores River Program Staff!

Colorado –  In order to advance our goals in the Dolores basin, American Whitewater has hired a Dolores River Stewardship Assistant. We are happy to announce that Jay Lochert has joined our stewardship team! Welcome Jay! Jay will be working closely with AW’s Colorado Program Director and our partners at the San Juan Citizens Alliance in Cortez, Colorado. In his role at AW, Jay will serve as a local advocate for whitewater paddling interests, and work to improve the coordination

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Image for Tallulah Releases (GA) For May 2011 Are Cancelled

Tallulah Releases (GA) For May 2011 Are Cancelled

American Whitewater received notice yesterday that GA Power is canceling May Tallulah boating releases. GA Power first delayed the usual April flows and tentatively moved releases to May due to ongoing repairs of dam gates damaged in August 2010. Below is an excerpt of a letter that GA Power sent to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to inform the commission that the repairs to the dam have not been completed. In the letter GA Power states, "Due to the uncertainty

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Image for Fellowship Opportunity with Outdoor Alliance

Fellowship Opportunity with Outdoor Alliance

AW is pleased to share the following fellowship opportunity within the Outdoor Alliance. The Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of human-powered recreation organizations, seeks a highly motivated individual to fill a two-year Grass-top Advocacy Fellow position. The Fellow will build coalitions of climbers, paddlers, hikers, backcountry skiers and mountain bikers to positively impact conservation policy at the state, regional and national level. The Fellow will be based in Boise, Idaho, but will spend time in Washington, DC on a regular and

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Image for Journal Supplement: Accident Site Photos on the Safety Page

Journal Supplement: Accident Site Photos on the Safety Page

Several paddlers have sent us photos of accident and rescue sites. One picture is worth a thousand words, and there’s a lot to learn here. Although the photos do not meet the publication requirements of the AW Journal they look fine on the web and can be used to suppliment our regular accident reports.Photos of four accident sites from last year covering the Blackwater, Gauley, Arkansas, and North Fork of the Feather now published as articles on the Safety Page.

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Image for North Fork Feather Drowning: August 29, 2010

North Fork Feather Drowning: August 29, 2010

                  On August 29, 2010 Susan Marie Kaiser paddled the “Lowbin” section of the North Fork of the Feather in an inflatable kayak. According to postings in Boof.com, Ms. Kaiser, a former river guide, flipped her IK on a large breaking wave near the bottom in a long Class IV rapid below the first (Bucks Creek) power house. The current pushed her to the left and she pinned in a slot between a large boulder and

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Image for Frog Rock Drowning, Arkansas River: July 11, 2010

Frog Rock Drowning, Arkansas River: July 11, 2010

Frog Rock Rapid on Colorado’s Arkansas River is a deceptively dangerous place. At high flows it’s a straightforward Class III, at lower levels much of the water runs under a massive rock . It has been the scene of at least six deaths in the last two decades; the lower the water, the worse it gets. Signs warn boaters to stay left or portage, but for those used to higher levels, its hard to shift gears. On July 11th  a

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Image for Pillow Rock Pinning: October 10, 2010

Pillow Rock Pinning: October 10, 2010

Pillow Rock Rapid on West Virginia’s Upper Gauley has been thought of as big, powerful, but relatively hazard free. That changed on October 10th when a veteran paddler died after pinning on a previously unknown undercut rock. Mark Hanna, 55, had been paddling the river for over a decade. His friends agree on these facts: At Pillow rock, running fourth in a group of 9, Mr. Hanna flipped on the big pressure wave that gives the rapid its name. He

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Image for Upper Blackwater Entrapment: October 2, 2010

Upper Blackwater Entrapment: October 2, 2010

Photo shows Flatliner Falls, the site of Carl Schneider’s drowning on the Upper Blackwater River in West Virginia on October 2, 2010.This classic Class V run was running at 400 cfs, a high but commonly run level, when a group of 7 expert paddlers put in below the falls. Here Mr. Schneider, 35, missed a boof and washed over a 6’ ledge sideways. His bow hit rocks at the bottom, and the left side of his boat washed against an

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Image for American Whitewater Earns Top Rating from Charity Navigator

American Whitewater Earns Top Rating from Charity Navigator

Cullowhee, NC – American Whitewater, the leader in conserving and restoring America’s whitewater resources, is proud to announce it has been awarded the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator.   Charity Navigator works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,500 of America’s largest charities. Ratings reflect the organizational efficiency and organizational capacity examining financial records to evaluate the balance and growth of such things as

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Image for Help Evaluate Flows in the Virgin River and Zion National Park - UT

Help Evaluate Flows in the Virgin River and Zion National Park – UT

American Whitewater has launched an online survey for paddlers to report flows that support whitewater boating opportunities for the main stem and tributaries of the Virgin River in southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona. We have developed this survey so individuals can help American Whitewater provide the National Park Service and other land use agencies with science-based information on flows in the Virgin River. Our goal is to utilize information from the survey to define flow needs for whitewater boating, and

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Image for LAST CALL - Yampa River Flow Survey

LAST CALL – Yampa River Flow Survey

  Colorado – AW is currently working with local governments, conservation groups, and State and Federal agencies to decide the future of the Yampa and White Rivers and their tributaries. Your honest participation in this study, will help American Whitewater develop new instream flow guidelines for the Yampa and White Rivers. To take the survey, CLICK HERE. We have developed this survey so individuals can help American Whitewater represent recreational interests in deciding what the future of the Yampa and White

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Image for Forest Service Seeks Input On Snake River Headwaters (WY)

Forest Service Seeks Input On Snake River Headwaters (WY)

Jackson, Wyo. – The Bridger-Teton National Forest continues to seek public input for the next stage in creating its comprehensive management plan for the Wild and Scenic Snake River Headwaters. With 20 segments in 3 classifications along 3 different rivers and 9 creeks, the planning team needs the knowledge and thoughts of everyone who knows these areas in order to create the most useful plan for meeting the Congressional mandate to protect or enhance these waterways into the future.  Note

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Image for Paddlers Rally to Protect Grand Canyon from Uranium Mining

Paddlers Rally to Protect Grand Canyon from Uranium Mining

Cullowhee, NC – The paddling community is rallying to support a proposed 20-year federal moratorium on new uranium mining claims around Grand Canyon National Park. Citing unacceptable risks of recreational, environmental, and aesthetic impacts that uranium mining could have on a “national treasure,” paddling clubs across the nation are calling on the US Bureau of Land Management to support US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s position that new uranium mining claims should not be permitted at this time. The

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