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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

As Gauley Fest grows, the ability to safely have car parking in the same area as camping becomes more and more difficult. In each of the past several years one or more tents have been run over during the festival, luckily with no injuries as a result. It goes without saying that the safety of attendees is the number one concern of American Whitewater. To this end, we’re going to have to limit parking in the inner festival area as

Entrance fees for 2010: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: $25 Friday and Saturday: $20 Saturday only: $15 Note: these are the exact same prices for attendance and camping that have been in place, unchanged for over a decade (really!). However, what is no longer available are non-camping, entrance-only passes. This minor change is to simplify the pricing and to minimize the number of people who were trying to underpay on their way into the Festival – Gauley Fest is after all

The most recent issue of Currents features a Canadian youth development program that teaches students about the importance of rivers and how to protect them. Not only are the athletes/coaches considered to be some of the best kayakers in the world, they also embody the traits of quality role models and what it takes to be ambassadors of the sport.   Episode 5 of Currents can be viewed at: http://five2nine.ca./ Currents is a river stewardship focused WebTV program (online video

Colorado – On August 14-15, Denver Water will be releasing 300 cfs into the North Fork South Platte River.  When combined with natural flows, we are expecting boatable levels in Bailey and Foxton Canyons. These kayaking flows are being provided in accordance with the South Platte Protection Plan, which was developed by water providers, environmental groups, recreation groups, governmental organizations, local landowners and many other interest groups as an alternative to Wild and Scenic river designation.  Included among the organizations

After two decades of working on Ohiopyle Falls access, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks contacted American Whitewater today with official notification granting additional boater access to Ohiopyle Falls starting August 22, 2010. The new guidelines are as follows:First Year Private Boater Ohiopyle Falls Access Guidelines 1.    Prior to launching for each falls run, all boaters must register at the Lower Youghiogheny Launch Booth on SR 381.  A launch permit, governed by the private boater quota reservation system, is required during

On Monday, August 2nd Friendsville Town Council discussed problems with whitewater paddlers taking out above the Maple Street Bridge. This is not, as has been rumored, simply a neighbor dispute! There were complaints from both sides of the river. Too many paddlers are parking and getting out on Water Street (on river left) and Morris Avenue (on river right). These are quiet residential areas where several paddlers now own homes. They are not suitable public takeouts, especially since there’s an

This August 7th the annual Friendsville Days Parade will block the usual Maple Avenue access until 1:00 pm. The town park will also be closed to paddlers. Boaters wishing to drop a shuttle car in town have two choices. First, from the Friendsville Exit, go south on Route 42 towards Sang Run. Turn left on 1st Avenue and enter the town south of Maple Street. Park on First Street or major side streets like Chestnut Street or Oak Street. After running the

American Whitewater would like to recognize Risa Shimoda as our August Volunteer of the Month.   Risa is, amongst many other things, the chief coordinator behind Potomac Fest in VA/MD. Potomac Fest is the third largest whitewater event that AW attends (behind our own Deerfield Fest and Gauley Fest) which raised nearly $10,000 for AW in 2009. This fest has multiple competition and community events, not to mention a great festival itself, over the course of an entire long weekend. Being the lead coordinator

Currents is a river stewardship focused WebTV program (online video documentary) which uses white water kayaking as a means to educate a broader audience about the risks threatening the world’s rivers and to help highlight the intrinsic value of preserving rivers in their natural state.   While international rivers are out of the scope of the stewardship workplan of American Whitewater, many of our members may be interested in river issues from other countries. Rivers in South Korea face many

If you’ve been thinking about submitting an entry to AW’s 2010 Story and Photo Contest, it’s time to get busy. We’ve just passed the two-weeks-to-deadline mark, so now’s the time to write that story or comb through that photo archive. All details and submission guidelines are available here. Please use our new online submission form to enter. Deadline is Wednesday, August 11, 2010. And may the best writer/photographer win!

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Office of the Governor of the State of Colorado, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order creating the Governor’s River Access Dispute Resolution Task Force (“Task Force”).     I.               Background and Need   Colorado’s rivers are essential to all Coloradans, not only for the vital drinking and agricultural water they carry, but also to our overall economy and quality of life.  Anglers, rafters and