American Whitewater has scheduled a work party with Washington Trails Association for Saturday June 19 from 8:30-3:00 to work on the Sultan River trail into the gorge on the Upper Sultan.

As part of the relicensing for the hydropower project on the Sultan River American Whitewater has worked to restore flows to the Sultan River for whitewater recreation and ecosystem processes. While the new agreement we have negotiated will not take effect until at least 2011, we have some important stewardship work that needs to be done on the trail into the gorge. During test flows to determine the feasibility of providing whitewater recreation a privately-constructed miner's trail was severely damaged in places. It was not designed to sustain the level of traffic it received and we are now working with the Forest Service to identify an alternate route into the gorge that avoids unstable soils and maintains a more gradual grade.

Volunteers should be at the trailhead near Culmback Dam by 8:30 for an orientation and safety briefing (follow directions to the put-in for the Upper Sultan). Washington Trails Association will provide tools, hard hats, and crew leaders.  Volunteers need to provide and wear work gloves, work boots, and work clothes (long pants). Be sure to bring a lunch and water.

If you can help out for the day please contact AW at info@americanwhitewater.org so we can plan accordingly. Following the work party there will be an opportunity to get a run in on the Sultan and have dinner at Andy Bridge's house.