This December 8th-24th KEEN will donate $5 to American Whitewater for each purchase made in their Hybrid.Shop online using the code KEENAW.
What's more, this offer is open to anyone, AW member or not, who shops at Keen's Hybrid.Shop online.
AW has provided comment on the Puget Sound Partnership's draft Action Agenda for cleaning up Puget Sound in Washington State. The Puget Sound Partnership is a community effort of citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget Sound. The scope of this effort includes the headwater areas that flow into the Sound including nearly 100 recognized whitewater runs that are readily accessible to the paddlers of Western Washington and Southwest British Columbia.
The Park Service held two public meetings this past month and solicited scoping comments on the subject of whether to recommend the Skagit River upstream of Copper Creek as a candidate for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. While the Park Service is in the process of reviewing comments, it is not too late to weigh in. It is important for the Park Service to hear from the paddling community and those who enjoy the recreational opportunities this river offers.
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.
American Whitewater would like to recognize John Cantrell as our November volunteer of the month.
Stacey Johnson, Gauley Fest volunteer coordinator, had this to say about John:
Recently American Whitewater sent our Fall Appeal to our current members. This letter highlights some of the many stewardship projects American Whitewater is working on and some of the current threats that whitewater enthusiasts face.
As you review the Fall Appeal, please consider a couple of things. First, that membership in American Whitewater is more than a subscription to our Journal. Your membership fuels our stewardship work. For each dollar that you invest in membership, American Whitewater is able to leverage that dollar for another two dollars in foundation and sponsorship support.
Looking for that holiday gift for a paddler new to the sport? How about an AW membership!
American Whitewater is pleased to announce the availability of a special holiday membership package for 2008. For the low price of $45 this package includes a one year membership with American Whitewater (or a 1 year extension to a current membership) plus a 2009 American Whitewater calendar and a copy of Doug Ammons book "Laugh of the Water Nymph"! A total value of $77 for just $45!
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.
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
Congratulations to Paul R Hummel, winner of the week long trip in
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
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!
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.
John R. Sweet, leader of the first party to run the Gauley River in modern hardshell whitewater craft, turns 70 on September 27th. Sweet was one of the strongest paddlers of his era, a man whose skills set a standard that others tried to emulate. A member of several U.S. Whitewater Teams, he was a fierce competitor in slalom and wildwater events. Forty years ago John was the first to run what later become known as Sweet's Falls on the Upper Gauley. He was a mentor to many paddlers still active in the area.
The state of Illinois has proposed a new dam safety law. The proposed law includes the establishment of a 300 ft upstream and 50 ft downstream exclusion zone around “dams” identified by the law as a threat to boaters. The law would prevent portage at many dams, effectively preventing public recreation. It would also senselessly end use at at least one popular whitewater feature.
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.
Tributaries of the lower Rogue River and the rivers of Mt. Hood will be the subject of a hearing today in the U.S. House of Representatives. American Whitewater has participated in outreach efforts associated with both pieces of legislation that include rivers of interest to the whitewater paddling community.
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
Friends of the Cheat, with the help of whitewater paddlers throughout the region, constructed a new parking area along the Big Sandy Creek in Rockville, West Virginia. This will provide secure public access to this popular whitewater run. The location is on river left, just upstream of the Rockville Bridge. There's space for over 30 cars here, and we hope that this will relieve congestion on busy spring weekends. The road from the bridge to the lot was also widened and greatly improved. Future plans include trails to several different spots along the shore.
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.
Shuttle service is now available for the Big Bend run on the North Fork Feather River. Lake Oroville is at its lowest level in years which is uncovering this run that is normally inundated by the Reservoir. AW is looking for your feedback on this new shuttle service.
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
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.
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