Front Page News

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the winner of the brand new Dagger Kayak in the 2008 Invest in AW and Win drive: James Keese from Foresthill, CA! James is an Ender Club Level member and has been an AW supporter since 2003. Congrats James!

In our original announcement AW and Dagger had teamed up to reward American Whitewater members who went the extra mile in support of AW's mission by donating $5 or more beyond regular membership dues in the final quarter of 2008. In the first week of 2009 we pooled all the names of our generous members who donated during this time period and chose one at random as our winner.

Although only one AW Member could win this particular giveaway, the true winners are the many whitewater enthusiasts all over the US that benefit from a properly funded river advocate like American Whitewater. Congratulations again to James for winning his choice of a Dagger kayak and thanks again to everyone who made donations, large and small, to AW in 2008. Here's to 2009!

The 2009 American Whitewater Calendar has been a huge hit amongst paddling enthusiasts from all over and now you have a chance to get your hands on it for cheap.

Available now, in limited quantities, the 2009 American Whitewater Calendar will be available for the low price of $15! If you're an AW member, and logged into the website as such, you'll receive an additional 10% discount too.

Hurry up and place your order now before supplies run out!

American Whitewater recently joined several organizations with an interest in stewardship and conservation of the Skykomish River Valley in requesting that Longview Timber refrain from road building or logging on key parcels in the Skykomish River valley.

One of the highlights of any Idaho river trip is the spectacular wildlife that paddlers glimpse on their way down the river.  An AW member recently shared with AW that the US Forest Service is currently considering the fate of one species of wildlife, bighorn sheep, in the infamous class III/IV Hells Canyon of the Snake.  Learn more about the issue, and send in some comments by March, 3rd. 

American Whitewater would like to recognize Todd Garland as our January volunteer of the month.


Since 2007 Todd has been the lead coordinator of the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF) that takes place each Winter in Kentucky. This event attracts whitewater enthusiasts from all over that come to see the past year's best in paddling-related films. NPFF and American Whitewater have a long history of cooperation including yearly contributions of some of the NPFF proceeds to AW that go a long way to supporting the AW mission. This partnership, and this popular festival, would not be where it is now if it weren't for the steadfast efforts of Todd on its behalf.
 

A mining company has proposed a large scale mining exploration operation 3 miles inside of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The mining operation would take place in the Big Creek watershed, which enters the Middle Fork Salmon at the beginning of Impassable Canyon.  American Whitewater filed preliminary comments on the proposal this month, and will alert paddlers to additional comment opportunities later this spring. 

Last Tuesday the Waterkeeper Alliance board of directors approved an application for a new riverkeeper for the Columbia, South Carolina area.  The riverkeeper will act as an advocate for the Saluda, Congaree, and Broad rivers.  Knowing that rivers need all the help they can get, AW wrote a letter of support for the riverkeeper position earlier this month.

The Sumter National Forest announced today that the final decision on recreation uses on the upper Wild and Scenic Chattooga River is under internal review and will not be released this month as planned.  The decision is now scheduled to be released "next year."  It has been over 3.5 years since the highest office of the Forest Service ruled that the Upper Chattooga boating ban violates the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

American Whitewater and various stakeholders have formed a Working Group in the Lower Dolores River Valley to update the 1990 US Bureau of Land Management’s Lower Dolores River Management Plan. In December 2008, the Working Group launched a year-long process to develop and evaluate alternatives to Wild and Scenic River designation for the Dolores below McPhee Dam.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the first installation of a hydrokinetic device at an existing FERC-licensed hydroelectric project, to be located on the Mississippi River.  AW is supportive of testing new hydrokinetic "damless hydropower" technology and we are working to assure that the technology will be responsibly sited and operated only in cases in which the environment and public uses will be protected.

The Outdoor Alliance submitted testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee regarding investments in clean energy and natural resources projects.

Good news: your chance to win a brand new Dagger Kayak in AW's "Invest in AW and Win" drive has been extended until Dec. 31st!

To celebrate the many accomplishments that AW has achieved over the last year, AW has teamed up with Dagger to reward those members who go the extra mile in supporting American Whitewater's mission.

To win, you only have to do two things:

• Be a current AW Member
• Have donated $5 or more beyond regular membership dues between Oct. 1 - Dec. 31

That's it!

Yesterday the owner of Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River announced that they would not move forward with their plans to install additional generation capacity to their dam. In a statement on their website, William H. Spence, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PPL Corporation stated: "As we evaluated this project in light of current economic conditions and projections of future energy prices, we reached the conclusion that it is no longer economically justifiable.”

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the regulatory agency that manages many of the leases necessary to drill for oil and gas on public land, is planning an auction of parcels in southern Utah that has the potential to impact iconic southwestern rivers. American Whitewater has joined with the Utah Rivers Council, outfitters and other business owners to protest specific parcels scheduled for auction on December 19th.

Ohiopyle State Park held a public meeting to gather input and obtain feedback on a proposal submitted by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks for private boater access to Ohiopyle Falls. American Whitewater is now asking for boater letters supporting the park proposal, which must be submitted by December 31, 2008.

Ohiopyle State Park is conducting a public open house on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008, at 1 pm to 5pm to gather input and feedback on a new proposal for private boater access to Ohiopyle Falls. The open house is a chance for the boating community to review the new park proposal, ask questions of park staff and provide comments.

We ask that paddlers familiar with Idaho's Black Canyon of the Bear River fill out a short one-page online survey.  The survey will help us understand paddler's preferences for flow volumes and scheduling.  American Whitewater strives to represent the interests of the paddlers that are out on the water, and surveys are a big help.

Due to the prolonged absence of southeastern rainfall, American Whitewater received the following letter from the Southern Company (Georgia Power) dated October 22, canceling fall releases on the Tallulah River. The Southern Company letter is posted on the "read more" link.

On Thursday, October 16, 2008 the US Forest Service released the Idaho Roadless Rule, which provides management direction regarding road building and resource extraction across 9.3 million acres of public roadless lands in Idaho.  The Rule replaces the more protective 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it applied to Idaho’s roadless areas.    

Congratulations to Paul R Hummel, winner of the week long trip in Ecuador provided by Small World Adventures! Paul has been a member and supporter of AW since 1999 - thank you Paul for your ongoing support of our mission.

With generous support from Small World Adventures and Smith Sport Optics, American Whitewater hosted a fundraising and membership drive that ended on October 1st raising $163,791.  Anyone who joined or renewed their AW membership or donated at least $10 to support our river stewardship efforts was entered in a raffle to win the week long trip in Ecuador with Small World Adventures and monthly prizes from Smith Sport Optics.  Every $10 contribution provided one chance to win. A huge AW thank you goes out to both Small World Adventures and Smith Sport Optics for making this membership drive possible!

Recreational releases on the Upper Nantahala and West Fork of the Tuckasegee are currently being held up by a local County's opposition to removing Dillsboro Dam on the Tuckasegee River. As resolution nears, opposition to releases on the West Fork of the Tuck is heating up.  Regardless, it appears that 2010 may be the year that sweeping river restoration initiatives occur on the Tuckasegee River.  We have posted a West Fork video to remind paddlers why this project is so important. 

The 2009 American Whitewater Calendar is available in our online store. This is the perfect calendar for your home or office; it’s full of spectacular imagery from rivers throughout the country. Order yours today so when you aren't on the river you can at least stare at one!

Don’t Delay. . .Order today!

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Windy Gap Firming Project. The Project, proposed by the Municipal Subdistrict of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District would move the Colorado River another step closer to being a "flat lined" river, with flows perpetually at low flow levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled two public meetings where citizens can offer written and oral comments: one in Loveland on October 7 and one in Granby on October 9.

A new SC state Attorney General's opinion suggests that public river access at bridges, and recreational activities like fishing and boating (including scouting and portaging) within the bounds of the high water mark are likely legal activities on navigable rivers in the state.  This positive opinion is not a substitute for a definitive judicial ruling, however it will guide the officers and agents of the State in their law enforcement practices.

Right now the largest land and river protection bill in recent history is in the US Senate, awaiting action. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 (S. 3213) represents a legislative package that will protect several rivers and headwater streams that the paddling community enjoys. AW encourages you to contact your Senators. 

Congratulations to Dan Kelly for winning the August pair of Smith Optics Sunglasses.  With generous support from Smith Optics and Small World Adventures, American Whitewater is hosting a fundraising and membership drive ending on October 1, 2008.

American Whitewater would like to recognize Anne Connolly as our Volunteer of the Month. Anne was the mastermind behind the first annual Boater Chick Festival held on the Nantahala River at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, NC May 17 - 18, 2008.

An alternative to Wild and Scenic River Management is currently being developed for the Upper Colorado River, that would provide water for growing populations in Colorado, while permanently protecting the iconic river's threatened fish and wildlife habitat, riparian systems, and the world class whitewater from Gore Canyon to Glenwood Canyon. American Whitewater is working to ensure that environmental and recreational flow needs are protected under the new management alternative.

Ever since first raising the issue of boating on the Upper Chattooga with the Forest Service in 1995 AW has repeatedly sought to establish a reasoned dialogue with the other stakeholder groups and reach a mutually acceptable agreement regarding boating on the upper Chattooga River.

As paddlers and stewards of America's whitewater resources we have much to be thankful for in 2007. Your support of American Whitewater enabled us to gain ground on significant issues facing our rivers both at a regional and national level.

Our regional river stewardship program, an integrated approach to the American Whitewater mission of conservation, access and safety, is performing at a very high level. Our stewardship team is racking up on-the-ground achievements while building internal capacity to more fully involve the paddling community. This Annual Report highlights the methods and achievements of our stewardship efforts.

Colorado- While the US Army Corps of Engineers is drafting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the enlargement of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County, Colorado, Denver Water is taking comments on their proposed changes to the reservoir's FERC license, including tree removal, relocating recreation facilities, and hydropower generation.

Comments on the FERC License amendment associated with Gross Reservoir Enlargement Project are due September 29th, 2008.

Removal of the Dillsboro Dam is one step closer. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued more approvals connected with Duke’s plans to remove the Dam on the Tuckaseegee River in western North Carolina.

American Whitewater is studying instream flows that sustain the recreational opportunities of the Upper Colorado River. The survey of flow prefrences for commercial rafting opperations on the Upper Colorado River is intended to compliment the 2007 survey of private boater flow preferences for the Colorado River, reaching from Kremmling to Glenwood Springs. Please share the news of this survey with commercial rafters.

Releases have lowered to approximately 800 cfs as of Tuesday and will continue between 800 to 1000 cfs through next weekend.  Next forecast data expected shortly after May 1, 2008 and may reflect recent high winds and lack of new precipitation leading to lower releases.  Flows may rise in May, but keep reviewing updates.  The most current flows are available at Department of Water Resources site, Dolores gage below McPhee. http://www.dwr.state.co.us.  For proposed spills in May and June 

Recently the Administration has initiated a national rulemaking that will decide the fate of 9.3 million acres of backcountry areas in Idaho's national forests—representing the core of the last intact forest ecosystem in the lower 48 states and some of our nation's most spectacular backcountry paddling destinations. Watch the video and learn what you can do today to help protect these areas.

Using data from the USFS we have published a Google Earth layer of eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers. We encourage paddlers to use this map, which can be displayed with our whitewater database in Google Earth, to learn more about their local run and agency management priorities.