Front Page News

As you determine your charitable gifts for the end of the year, consider the value of an investment in American Whitewater.

Save rivers, get cool stuff! For 2010, we have a great Holiday Membership offer: for just $45 you get a regular one year membership with American Whitewater and our popular American Whitewater Logo t-shirt. We think it's a great gift to give to a new boater, or heck, a great gift to give yourself!

American Whitewater is excited to announce that we have a new Join or Renew form and a new Donate form on our website! We hope folks will find them attractive and easy to use. If you've ever had a problem Joining via the website or making a donation before, we hope you'll try now. Thanks!

American Whitewater is incredibly excited to announce the availability of membership auto-renewals! Signing up for Auto-Renewals saves AW tons of money in mailing renewal notices, saves trees, saves you time and decreases the amount of mail you receive. What's not to like about all that?

Current American Whitewater members have the opportunity to elect Directors and approve changes to the AW Constitution online through December 15th.

American Whitewater is pleased to announce that you can now purchase a Gift Membership on the AW website. With this new functionality, people can easily and clearly purchase a gift membership for a friend or loved one. We hope lots of river lovers out there will be inspired to get an AW membership for someone else!

This event benefits the Yough Defense Fund of the Mountain Watershed Association. Proceeds will help cover legal expenses incurred in challenging the proposed Curry Mine.

We are pleased to announce that Duke Energy recently received their new state water quality certificates for their dams on the Tuckasegee and Nantahala rivers. These certificates were the final remaining documents that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission needs to issue new federal licenses for the dams. The dams are expected to be licensed before the end of 2010.

Now that the last Uper Yough releases are over its time to recognize a number of people who helped make access to the river work. Friendsville city councilman Jess Whittemore alerted us to various parking problems and the paddling community responded by doing the right thing. People in town noticed! Upstream, this is AW's 10th year maintaining the Sang Run access, and many people helped out. Kurt Knuth and Bob Spangler each mowed the grass one for month. Paddling tree surgeon Wes Mack dropped two loads of wood chips on the trail to the river, then Scott Sough and his friends spread them out on the trail to the launch area. Then John Regan brought his tractor up and brush hogged the part of the field that Charlie and Sandy Walbridge don't mow regularly. Our thanks, too, to hundreds of paddlers who made access contributions to the fee box; the money we raised paid for the portable toilet and will pay for more gravel and other maintainance next year. We look forward to seeing you all next year!

Yesterday, conservation-oriented paddlers presented their case against the US Forest Service regarding the agency's illegal paddling ban on 21 miles of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River in a federal district court hearing. The judge heard roughly four hours of arguments and testimony, and stated that she would issue a decision at a later date.

Earlier today the Washington Department of Ecology issued the water quality permit under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Issuance of the permit is a major milestone and is the final step before issuance of a dam removal order by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is expected later this year.

Utah - The National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management are developing a Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Virgin Wild and Scenic River. As paddlers, our input on what makes the Virgin River and its tributaries outstandingly remarkable will help protect this river system for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

Between now and December 6th, we need your input!

This week Western Rivers Conservancy announced plans to purchase the Minam Store, a critical parcel at the confluence of the Minam and Wallowa Rivers that provides access to the Wild and Scenic Grande Ronde River.

American Whitewater received notice from Georgia Power notifying us that the fall Tallulah releases are cancelled for 2010 due to a broken dam gate.

Colorado - Last month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released their proposed management plan for the Little Snake Resource Area, encompassing over a million acres of soaring plateaus, wild and scenic rivers, and sweeping sagebrush basins. Special interests are trying to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's plans to protect portions of the Yampa River - one of the nation's last free flowing rivers. Let BLM know that protections for these rivers are important to you!

Colorado - American Whitewater has recently brought our expertise to bear on Dolores River Management and is actively working to restore reliable and sufficient flows to the Dolores Canyon.

Today, we need you to join us in asking the US Bureau of Reclamation to take a leadership role in protecting the recreation and environmental values of the Dolores River. By signing on to our letter, you are demonstrating public support for Federal decisions that protect natural resources and enhance instream flow conditions.

For the past three years North Cascades National Park has been working to revise the management plan for the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, which includes the lands and rivers along Highway 20 in the North Cascades. As part of this planning effort American Whitewater formally requested a review of rivers that may be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation.

American Whitewater and our affiliates in Colorado have been working on issues with safe public access to rivers in the state.
Our staff and partners in Colorado have created this film, which focuses on the recent conflicts on the Taylor River and the risk to the public's right to float on this pristine Colorado waterway.

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.

Fort Collins, CO - The Save the Colorado River Campaign Fund announced its grants for 2010. In total, $150,000 was donated to ten environmental groups from the top of the river basin all the way to the bottom - all working to protect and restore the Colorado River.

American Whitewater received funding to protect streamflows, and thus boating opportunities, in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

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 paddlers showed up to tell FERC staff that the McCloud is an important river that should be open to all. Find out how you can help.

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.

The Obama Administration is wrapping up the initial phase of their America's Great Outdoors Initiative. We would like to thank all the paddlers who attended listening sessions. We encourage paddlers to check out the AGO comment website and vote for AW's comments.

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is taking public comment on its Proposed Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Little Snake Field Office which administers 1.3 million acres of the Yampa River basin. The plan addresses major issues facing our public lands and waters, and determined that 3 segments of the Yampa River are suitable for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area outline access for the 2010 season in an open letter to boaters.

There are only 3 weeks left to participate in American Whitewater's Flow Study for the Dolores River. This is the last call to help American Whitewater propose new reservoir operations and negotiate enhanced instream flows below McPhee Reservoir.

The September/October issue of AW Journal features Wilderness Whitewater. Current members, read the Journal now! Not a current member? Renew or Join today!

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks has implemented a pilot program to provide limited private boater access to Ohiopyle Falls through September 12, 2010. As a pilot program there are some limitations on access and important guidelines for use.

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" which gives more weight to angling than to recreational boating. Find out what you can do to change FERC's mind.

Over the past few months Gresham Municipal Utilities has been gearing up to relicense their hydroelectric projects on the Red River. As paddlers know operation of the Weed Dam impacts flows on the Red River. American Whitewater can provide technical assistance on the project but we are seeking a local volunteer or group of volunteers willing to invest some time in this process over the next few years.

The Army Corps of Engineers has just released a Draft Environmental Assessment to rebuild the Minto Fish Collection Facility on the North Santiam River. Most boaters know this facility as the place with the hazardous low head dam between Niagara County Park and Packsaddle County Park on the river. The project to rebuild the facility, which would keep the existing dam in place, would result in a two year closure of the river from Niagara to Packsaddle. The current proposal is to build a portage trail that would accommodate kayaks. It is unclear if this would accommodate rafts. Those who use this river are encouraged to provide public comment.

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 contest closes August 11th, so get us your best stories and photos ASAP!

Colorado's Governor has created a Task Force charged with establishing a framework for landowners and boaters to efficiently and fairly resolve disputes over the use of rivers as they arise. The Task Force will NOT decide whether there is a "right to float" in Colorado.

The National Park Service is working on the Wild and Scenic River Management Plans for both the Merced and Tuolumne rivers. American Whitewater recently had the opportunity to meet with the Park service and provide input into this planning process. Many rivers in the Park have been closed for decades, this meeting represents a huge step towards a future boating access in Yosemite National Park.

As paddlers, we have the opportunity to help in creating a long-term vision and plan for the wilderness and backcountry of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado.

The landscapes under consideration include the Inner Canyon of the Gunnison River which contains some of the best backcountry whitewater in the West. We have until May 12th to comment.

Obama administration officials hosted the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors Friday, April 16. The conference is an attempt to reshape U.S. conservation policy at a time when the nation is facing new environmental threats and American Whitewater was there to represent the interests of whitewater paddlers.

Administration officials announced that they will host a White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors on Friday, April 16, and American Whitewater has received an invitation to attend.

The removal of Dillsboro Dam is complete. Work to restore and stabilize the river banks will continue over the next few months.

After several years of international diplomacy, last month the Governor of Montana and the Premier of British Columbia signed an agreement permanently halting proposed mining and petroleum extraction in the Canadian portion of the North Fork of the Flathead River's watershed. Last week Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester introduced legislation that would offer the same protections for the watershed on our side of the border. Together, the recent actions of Montana and British Columbia will protect one of our Nation's last best rivers.

Last week American Whitewater sent a letter to the Utah legislature opposing HB 141, a bad stream access bill that is currently under consideration by the Rules Committee. We are hopeful that the Executive Appropriations Committee will chose not to fund this bill because it is a waste of money in economically tight times. Calls from paddlers to the Executive Appropriations Committee highlighting the potential impacts of this bill would be useful in educating Committee members.

American Whitewater has been working for three years to get improved flows on the McCloud River, quite possibly the best class III/ IV wilderness run in California. In order for this to become a reality we need your support!

Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacobi recently featured the Atlanta Whitewater Club's clean up of the Ocoee River in his "Gold to Green TV" video series. The featured clean up was assisted by a 2008 Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Grant provided through American Whitewater.

CANCELLED--September 5, 6, 7 Bear River Study Flow

Based on recent scouting trips on the Bear River below Drum Power House, AW, PG&E and NID have agreed that the boating flow study of the Drum Power House and Dutch Flat Power House reaches on the Bear River is to be postponed until 2010. Based on recent scouting trips, the reaches have a level of difficulty and a level of potential hazard that will require better information regarding the reach, and a more controlled study than the "opportunistic" study that we had planned.

Over the past several months American Whitewater has been participating in mediated settlement negotiations regarding the fate of two dams that are part of the Sullivan Creek hydroproject, which has not generated power in over half a century. The negotiation team is exploring opportunities for enchancing the management of Sullivan Lake in a manner that benefits both recreation and the environment, and is considering options including removal for Millpond Dam.

Prevent the transport of nuisance species. Clean all recreational equipment.

There is a new invasive species in California. The zebra and quagga mussels, originally from Ukraine, landed in the Great Lakes in the 1980s and have spread steadily throughout the Midwest and Mississippi River.

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.