Get your Gauley Fest Tickets online and WIN! And Gauley Fest News......
09/15/2025 - by Bethany Overfield
Online tickets sales for Gauley Fest are available now. Gauley Fest is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Ticket sales help fund the river project work we do at American Whitewater and we are grateful for every attendee! Early bird tickets start at $60 for Thursday entrance / $50 for Friday entrance / $40 for Saturday entrance. In person gate admission will be through cash or Eventbrite only this year. To encourage folks to buy tickets in advance (and help the flow of event traffic). As a pretty sweet incentive, all Eventbrite (pre-sale online) ticketholders will be entered to win an American Whitewater Ocoee Watershed Drybag. Boom.
We’re still looking for volunteers to put on the biggest whitewater festival in all the lands.
Finally, we’re looking forward to one of the greatest costume parties of all time this year at Gauley Fest! The event, which starts on September 18th and concludes on September 21st, will showcase a Bridal Party Theme. Attendees will have a chance to renew their vows to American Whitewater with membership support and receive a commemorative token. Whether you choose to dress up as a bride, groom, wedding officiant, flower girl/boy, or a bridesmaid/groomsman, you’ll be in the running to win our costume party on Saturday night. We’re excited to see you all show up rocking those 70s tuxedos and wedding dresses!
Restoring Access to the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River (CA)
09/09/2025 - by Jeff Venturino and Katie Hawkins
American Whitewater is thrilled to announce significant progress toward the restoration of access to the Tuolumne River. A contract for repairs and improvements to Lumsden Road is out to bid. Although delays in contracting are possible, it is likely that road repairs will be completed this fall and winter with the road reopening in the spring. Our advocacy has only been possible thanks to support from our partners at Outdoor Alliance California, Tuolumne River Trust, Tuolumne River Outfitters, and dedicated members of the paddling public. Tuolumne County and the Stanislaus National Forest have both been driven to move repairs forward and strong collaborators. This repair work includes significant and hard-won improvements to the damaged locations that should reduce the chances that the road washes out at those locations again.
Administration Seeks Comments on Repealing Roadless Area Protections
09/04/2025 - by Kevin Colburn, Thomas O'Keefe, and Evan Stafford
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially proposed to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected popular backcountry recreation destinations spanning nearly 60 million acres of Forest Service lands across the country since 2001. The result of this action, if successful, would open remote landscapes highly valued for backcountry river and other recreation activities to road building and logging. Protected Roadless areas are a treasure trove of whitewater boating and biodiversity gems. Runs like the Middle Fork Feather and Dry Meadow Creek in California, South Fork Salmon in Idaho, Cascade Brook in New Hampshire, the Cooper and McCoy Creek in Washington, Seneca Creek and Tea Creek in West Virginia, Upper Chattooga in Georgia, Snowbird Creek and Upper Wilson Creek in North Carolina, and Laurel Fork of the Potomac in Virginia all flow through Forest Service Roadless Areas. We encourage boaters to submit a personal letter to the Administration clearly supporting the No Action Alternative. Arguments about protecting recreational experiences and water quality are encouraged. The deadline to comment is Sept. 19, 2025.
Limited Edition Whatever Your Quiver AW Gear
09/01/2025 - by Evan Stafford
Show your support for American Whitewater with limited edition river inspired gear! American Whitewater has partnered again with FLOAT to bring you these tees, tanks, and hoodies, but only for a limited time! Celebrate all the ways you can enjoy the river, with our “Whatever your quiver, American Whitewater delivers” line of gear. Purchasing these items directly supports American Whitewater’s stewardship efforts! Tons of colors and styles available. And for every item sold, FLOAT donates $8 to our program protecting, restoring and ensuring safe access and enjoyment of our rivers. Head on over to FLOAT and SHOP today–lots of fun colors and styles to choose from! Don't delay. . . this offer is only available for a limited time! Thanks for supporting American Whitewater!
Support Shoshone Permanency
08/14/2025 - by Hattie Johnson
If you’ve driven I-70 through western Colorado, you’ve likely driven by the Shoshone dam and powerhouse in the depths of Glenwood Canyon. Unless you have stopped to boat the Colorado there - and I hope you have! - you would likely miss the over hundred year old structures tucked in the canyon walls. But that small hydropower operation holds the largest and oldest water rights that keep the Colorado River flowing throughout most of the year from Kremmling to the Glenwood Springs. Because of this, American Whitewater has been a proud supporter of the Shoshone Water Right Preservation Coalition. Preserving the streamflow created by the Shoshone water rights creates massive benefits upstream and downstream for Colorado’s recreation, environment, communities, and water users across the state, especially in light of a hotter and drier future.
Gore Fest 2025
08/14/2025 - by Hattie Johnson
After eight years of hosting Gore Fest, American Whitewater is excited to announce we fully passed the festival off to the incredibly capable hands of the folks at Whitewater Racing LLC. We will be out there at our tent, so please still come and stop by and renew your membership or join for the first time! Click on read more for all the details about this year’s festival taking place at the Pumphouse Rec area from Aug 21st -24th (Thursday evening till Sunday morning).
New Wild and Scenic River Legislation for Montana!
08/13/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
On August 1st, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism Act, legislation that would designate nearly 100 miles of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers and select tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Congressman Zinke worked closely with local stakeholders, including county commissioners, conservation groups, including American Whitewater, local outfitters, private landowners, and Northwestern Energy, to draft the legislation.
Illegal Mine that Ravaged the Nolichucky Put-In Blocked By Courts
08/13/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
Boaters once began their trips down the Nolichucky River Gorge at a US Forest Service access site in the bucolic community of Poplar, NC and floated seamlessly into the natural scenery and big mountains that buttress the Gorge. Never again though. To supply rock to CSX for their railroad reconstruction in the gorge, a company called Horizon 30 LLC cut into the mountain at the gorge’s start and opened what would become a jarring 50-acre quarry. They had no permits. The state of North Carolina ordered them to stop mining three times this spring and summer. The company refused. The State took the company to court, and earlier this week, they won.
Stand Up for River Access in Colorado!
08/13/2025 - by Kestrel Kunz
American Whitewater needs your help to secure the right to float in Colorado. Many people are not aware that there is no secured legal right to float, fish, boat, portage, or swim Colorado’s rivers and creeks that run through private property. American Whitewater has helped reduce conflict and secure landowner agreements where possible, for example access to the Cheeseman Gorge or supporting access easements on the Upper Colorado. Despite these site specific solutions, every year we get calls from boaters that they have been confronted by landowners or the local police, threatened with firearms, entrapped in barbed wire, or otherwise threatened. We want to know if this has happened to you and any incidents involving conflicts on the river will be critical to the success of our campaign. With a rapidly growing population in the state and new ownership of river front property, the status quo is not sustainable and it is time to secure permanent, legal public access to Colorado’s rivers for all.
Submit Your Best to the 2026 American Whitewater Calendar!
08/12/2025 - by Evan Stafford
Show off your best images to the entire community by submitting photos for inclusion in the 2025 American Whitewater calendar 📷💥📸 If your image is selected for the calendar, you'll receive a free copy of the finished product! If your photo doesn't make it into the calendar, we'll hang on to it and consider it for inclusion in one of our other popular publications, like the annual impact report, our Journal, or other print and online uses intended to highlight our river stewardship work across the country. Submit your images today at the link in the comments, it's super easy! Images that feature current, past, or future American Whitewater projects, and images that represent a diversity in season, craft type, river trip length, river difficulty, and/or geography, will be given the highest consideration, but all compelling photos will be considered. Thank you!
Legacy Giving is Easy with Our Free Make-A-Will Program
08/12/2025 - by Clinton Begley
Legacy giving through the Enduring Rivers Circle is more than philanthropy—it’s gratitude in action. You can leave a lasting legacy to the special places that made a difference in your life by joining the Enduring Rivers Circle, our program that honors people who include American Whitewater in their estate plans—ensuring river stewardship continues for generations to come. American Whitewater offers flexibility in how you include a gift in your legacy and you can use our free make-a-will portal through FreeWill or work with your own attorney and advisors.
Emily Jackson and Nick Troutman reflect a shared ethos among paddlers who give back:
"Nick and I met on the banks of a river. Like many of our close friends, the river has been a source of connection—not only to others, but to where we feel the most ourselves. Knowing how powerful the rivers have been in shaping our lives, and how much joy they bring on a daily basis, we wanted to ensure the opportunity would be available for future generations. When we saw that American Whitewater had access to a FreeWill portal, and how easy it was to set up, it was a no brainer to not only use this platform, but leave a small gift to AW. If you're like us and want something simple, easy and incredibly impactful—use FreeWill and give back to amazing organizations like AW!"
To make a bequest, beneficiary gift, trust, or non-cash asset estate plan, click "Read More" below or, if you need further help getting started, contact Bethany Overfield at bethany@americanwhitewater.org or 1-877-748-3777.
All Klamath River Accesses Now Open Along Undammed Reaches (OR/CA)
08/01/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe & Scott Harding
With four dams removed, five new access sites completed, and all existing access points open, the 45 miles of newly restored river between Keno and the former Iron Gate Dam offer exciting new opportunities for boating—and are now more accessible than ever.
But before heading to the river, it’s important to know the specific use guidelines at each access site. Read on and check out our new map to learn more about each access and how to be a respectful visitor to this remarkable, newly undammed stretch of the Klamath.
American Whitewater Helps Defend State’s Rights Under Clean Water Act, Again
07/17/2025 - by Bob Nasdor and Evan Stafford
The D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in Nevada Irrigation District v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a court case deciding whether the irrigation district could stop providing instream flows below their hydropower projects in the Yuba and Bear watersheds in California.This case follows the recent case of Village of Morrisville v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where we filed an amicus brief. In the Nevada Irrigation District case, we were represented by Julie Gantenbein at Water Power Law. Relying on its Morrisville decision, the Court rejected Nevada Irrigation District’s claims that the Water Board waived its Clean Water Act 401 authority to certify the project's compliance with water quality standards by failing to act timely on the certification request. The Court found that it was Nevada Irrigation District’s own failure to comply with California Environmental Quality Act requirements that caused the delay, rather than due to some coordinated scheme to circumvent 401's timeliness requirement. American Whitewater is leading in its advocacy to protect and strengthen the critical role of states in hydropower licensing proceedings. These cases also pair with our state litigation in New York, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, holding states accountable when they fail to use their 401 authority to protect flows and existing recreational uses.
Call for Nominations to the American Whitewater Board of Directors
07/17/2025 - by Clinton Begley
American Whitewater is now accepting nominations for volunteer positions on our Board of Directors. Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of river conservation, access, and safety while giving back to the boating community. We welcome nominations from members and affiliate clubs who are passionate about protecting rivers and have skills and experience that support our work. In particular, we seek candidates with: Demonstrated commitment to river conservation and recreation, experience in areas such as nonprofit governance, fundraising, finance, law, marketing, or organizational leadership, interest in supporting American Whitewater’s mission through personal engagement and outreach, and the ability to reflect the geographic, demographic, and professional diversity of our boating community. For nominations to be considered for terms beginning in 2026, the deadline is August 15th, 2025. For more info and to submit a nominee, please click read more below.
Fires in Grand and Black Canyons (AZ, CO), Use Our Fire Map to Stay Up to Date
07/17/2025 - by Kestrel Kunz
It's mid-summer and for much of the country that means it's prime boating and river season. For some areas, particularly the West, it's also fire season. This means that in addition to checking flows and weather before heading to the river, it's a good idea to also check for any wildfires, smoke issues, or closures that may impact your plans. We built the American Whitewater Wildfire Information Map to help you with trip planning and safety. There are currently major fires impacting rivers in Black Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. The South Rim Fire at the Black Canyon has burned over 4,000 acres and the Park is completely closed to visitors. The Dragon Bravo on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has completely destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. As of July 17, Grand Canyon river trips are still permitted to launch and river exchanges are allowed to travel on Bright Angel Trail to Pipe Creek. Boats are not allowed to stop at Phantom Ranch, and many of the inner canyon hikes are closed.
2025 Deerfield Festival on August, 2nd! Volunteer with us!
07/15/2025 - by Bethany Overfield
American Whitewater is kicking off our festival season in a few weeks with our annual Deerfield River Festival at Berkshire East in Charlemont, Massachusetts. We’ll gather on August 2nd to celebrate the Deerfield River together. This is a significant fundraiser for our work in the northeast and we can’t pull it off without our great volunteers! Please sign up for a volunteer shift (or two) and get a free event tshirt!
For more than 25 years, American Whitewater has hosted the Deerfield Fest to celebrate the successful dam relicensing process that provides 32 annual whitewater releases on the Dryway and 106 annual whitewater releases on Fife Brook. The main festival activities take place on Saturday evening from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. at Berkshire East and provide entertainment for both paddlesport and non-paddlesport enthusiasts young and old. The Deerfield River Festival is a critical fundraiser for American Whitewater, and is one of our premiere events. All proceeds from the festival support American Whitewater’s conservation and access work throughout the Northeast including the dam relicensings on the Deerfield and nearby Connecticut River
Administration to Strip Protections From 58 Million Acres of Backcountry Forest
07/08/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
The Trump Administration has announced that they will rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected popular backcountry recreation destinations spanning nearly 60 million acres of Forest Service lands across the country since 2001. The result of this action, if successful, would open remote landscapes valued for backcountry recreation to road building and logging. The announcement is anticipated to kick off a formal rule-making process that will include opportunities for the public to speak up for these important areas. In advance of this action, you can make your voice heard with Members of Congress by supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025.
Community Proposes Post-Hurricane Plan for Rocky Broad River (NC)
06/12/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
Flooding caused by Hurricane Helene largely destroyed the town of Chimney Rock and the Rocky Broad River as we knew it. The river grew to fill the entire valley with a torrent, and the storm left behind a greatly widened river often lacking a clear channel and with massive carved out banks. Shortly after the storm, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) built a temporary road through the gorge that is often in the middle of the river channel. Now, as the community seeks to rebuild, they have come together with a draft plan to create a river park through town that features a trail, whitewater features and pools, and green space. With a little effort by NCDOT to leave the river in good shape, and in combination with the river park downstream, the Rocky Broad could once again be a beloved staple of the Western North Carolina boating community. Explore the new plan and learn more in this article!
Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River (CA) Access and Advocacy Updates for 2025
06/12/2025 - by Jeff Venturino
American Whitewater has been working since 2023 to build a coalition of support, advocate with policy makers and land managing agencies, and keep the repair of Lumsden and Ward’s Ferry roads moving forward. Funding sources for both road repairs have been identified and it is possible that they will both be repaired before next season. Access unfortunately, however, will not be restored to normal this summer. Interim access involves moving equipment up or down the South Fork Road (which leads to Meral’s Pool), and boaters on the main T need to get vehicles and themselves to Moccasin Point Marina. The following article describes the specifics of this interim access. Thanks to members and passionate Tuolumne donor support, we’ve been able to put forth a tremendous effort toward trying to see reasonable access return as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your love of the Tuolumne and to everyone who has supported this work.
May June American Whitewater Journal Hot Off the Press!
06/11/2025 - by Evan Stafford
The newest edition of the American Whitewater Journal is now available online. American Whitewater member's print editions should have already arrived (if not, they'll be there soon!). We have a wonderful team of talented folks that work on publishing the Journal five times a year, but at its heart the American Whitewater Journal is a volunteer publication that relies on community members to submit their stories, photos, art and other contributions that make up its content. This is OUR Journal!
If you're interested in submitting your original work for publication, you can easily do so via our Journal Submission Form.