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Decades ago river outfitters and American Whitewater joined together to protect the Gauley River from hydro development. The success of these business enterprises were one of the key reasons that the river was protected as a National Recreation Area. But with success has come new challenges. Professional guides find the number of kayakers on the Upper Gauley overwhelming at times and kayakers also find the number of rafts intimidating. There can be problems in the larger rapids and miscalculations are

Gauley Fest is American Whitewater’s biggest fundraising event and the largest boater festival in the world. This year’s event was another great success raising a significant amount of money for AW’s river stewardship work. A huge thanks goes out to Subaru for being Gauley Fest’s title sponsor. Subaru has a long history as a favorite shuttle vehicle in the whitewater community, we’re glad they’ve chosen to add to this history via their support for Gauley Fest and American Whitewater. Thanks

On September 9th in Redding California the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) held a meeting to receive public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the McCloud/ Pit Hydroelectric project in Northern California.   At this meeting more than a dozen paddlers showed up to tell FERC staff how important the McCloud is to the boating community.    Currently PG&E is required to release a flat line flow of 200 CFS year round.   These flows do not mimick natural flow

The annual Fall release on Piru Creek in Southern California will start September 17th and last about 4 weeks.  Flows will start at 400 cfs, which is an excellent level.  There will be transportation on weekends to move boaters from the parking area near the top of the dam, down to the creek.    Transportation will be available from 9 am to 3 pm on weekends.  

This September 17th, spend a day paddling with Girls at Play on the Lower Gauley and raise money for AW!   Once again Girls at Play and North American River Runners are pleased to team up and host the Ladies on the Lower G fundraiser for American Whitewater! It only costs $40 and that includes lunch and shuttle. All proceeds go to AW. The trip leaders and safety boaters will include accomplished paddler and women’s Green Race record holder, Adriene Levknecht,

American Whitewater is proud to announce the two Affiliate Club recipients of the 2010 Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Campaign: The Greater Baltimore Canoe Club and the University of Idaho Recreational Student Organization! Each club will receive a $1,250 grant to go towards their respective projects.   Greater Baltimore Canoe Club The GBCC’s grant is for the rehabilitation of a 1,200 foot access trail at the takeout of the Lower Gunpowder Falls River. This trail is currently in a state of

A year ago the President of the United States invited AW and other leaders in public land stewardship to DC.  He formally kicked off the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO).  His question was simple: how can the federal goverment do a better job of protecting our natural landscapes and encouraging their enjoyment?   Since that initial meeting the government has hosted listening sessions across the country that were well attended by the paddling community.  In addition, the Outdoor Alliance hosted

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to whitewater related activities.The first class of honorees was inducted in 2005. To date, 25 honorees from the United States, Australia, France, Germany and New Zealand have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Honorees are extraordinary people because they fell in love with the adventure and romance of whitewater rivers. They challenged themselves to achieve their best as athletes and citizens, as adventurers,

As September Volunteers of the Month, American Whitewater would like to recognize the Ohiopyle Falls Access Committee who put in countless hours representing boater interests for access at Ohiopyle Falls. Those individuals include:   Barry Adams – Ohiopyle Falls Festival Coordinator Barry Tuscano – Former AW President Kenneth Gfroerer – Mountain Watershed Association Charlie Walbridge – AW Board Member Mike McCarty – Falls Fest Safety Coordinator Pat Norton – Falls Fest Safety Coordinator Peter Zurflieh – Harrisburg Attorney, Community Justice

The September/October issue of the AW Journal features Wilderness Whitewater and includes: A Broadview of Wilderness Going Deep on the Talkeetna Salmon and Bears on the Taseko-Chilko Wilderness Wilderness Immersion on BC’s Tuya River . . .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 Wilderness Whitewater issue now! Not

After two decades of working on Ohiopyle Falls access, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks has implemented a pilot program to provide private boater access to Ohiopyle Falls through September 12, 2010. If this pilot program goes well, then it would be fully implemented for the 2011 boating season.   What Boaters Need To Know About Ohiopyle Falls: It is important that everyone realize that running this waterfall should be for experienced boaters only. Running this class IV waterfall has all

Each year, AW and its staff of just 8 puts on the world’s biggest whitewater festival, and AW’s biggest fundraiser, the American Whitewater Gauley Fest! However, we couldn’t do it without out the help of over 250(!) volunteers each year.   Please take a few seconds and sign up to volunteer via our simple, online form. Thanks!   For your time you’ll be given a “volunteers only” Gauley Fest T-shirt, tickets for a “volunteer only” raffle, plus the feeling of knowing that you

FERC has released their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the McCloud /Pit Hydroelectric Project in Northern California. In this document FERC staff provides their “preferred alternative” for flows on the McCloud River that could go into the new project license to PG&E.  In the DEIS, FERC has evaluated a number of flow proposals from, PG&E, the Forest Service, Angling Groups, and American Whitewater. The McCloud River is quite possibly the best Class III/IV multi-day run in California.  While many

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has posted the following news release to its website: http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/cenap-pa/spotlight/docs/FE%20Walter%20Releases% 20Status%20Aug%202010.pdf Corps updates F.E. Walter Dam water release schedule PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 13, 2010) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers Philadelphia District has updated the Francis E. Walter Dam water release schedule for the remainder of the 2010 recreation season. The Corps plans to hold whitewater releases on Aug. 28 and 29 and will continue to complete fisheries releases through Sept. 10. The

Join us for the annual clean up of the Trinity River and State Highway 299 hosted by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Watershed Research and Training Center. The Forest Service and other sponsors, along with our partnering outfitter-guides, will be joining to make your day a fun and rewarding one. The clean up will include activities such as floating the river in rafts, canoes and kayaks as well as walking along the highway, beaches, and river bars to pick