Stewarding Our Public Lands and Waters Requires a Workforce
02/24/2025 - by Evan Stafford
Public land agencies like the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been chronically underfunded, and as visitors to these lands have increased, our workforce stewarding them has not. These agencies manage thousands of miles of rivers critically important to our clean water supply and recreation economies. They are now being stripped disproportionately of their on-the-ground staff who play a direct role in managing rivers and the infrastructure we rely on to access them. American Whitewater works closely with agency staff, and while we don’t always agree on every issue, we deeply respect the work they do and it’s important we speak up and defend them from unwarranted firings, which leave our public lands and waters vulnerable. Our public lands and waters need you to raise your voice in support of their workforce and we’ve made it super simple to do right now by reaching out to Congress using our easy-action form.
Grant Funding Freeze Creates Uncertainty for River Projects
02/12/2025 - by Clinton Begley
Federal grants play an important role in amplifying the membership contributions and donations that sustain American Whitewater’s mission. These grants account for a significant portion of our budget, supporting important projects that protect and enhance river access and recreation opportunities across the country. An example of recent success is the creation of our revised river safety code, open source river signage toolbox, and river safety video series, all produced under grant funding from the United States Coast Guard. We have also had several partnership agreements with the Forest Service and National Park Service over the years allowing agencies to leverage our expertise and skills to improve river access. A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued in January has created new uncertainty around federal funding destined for all kinds of causes you may care about. This includes over $400,000 in grant funding awarded to American Whitewater for work this year. Although a judge in Rhode Island has temporarily blocked the memo, the future of these projects remains uncertain, threatening to stall or cancel efforts that benefit our members and local communities.
Protect America’s Outdoor Heritage
02/12/2025 - by Evan Stafford
The American system for preserving public lands and supporting its citizens' access to them has been the envy of the world, but it’s currently under attack. Use our easy-action form to ask your lawmakers to support a new bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Zinke (MT-1) and Congressman Vasquez (NM-2) that helps keep public lands and waters in public hands by requiring congressional approval for the large-scale transfer or disposal of public lands and waters.
Support Colorado River Access with a Night of Films
02/10/2025 - by Hattie Johnson
Join American Whitewater and the Roaring Fork Kayak Club for a night of river films, including, River of Sorrows, on February 20th in Glenwood Springs at the Vaudeville Theater. Doors will open at 5:30 and films begin at 6. We are fundraising for incredibly important work to defend and expand legal access to rivers in Colorado. Access is foundational in our ability to enjoy, restore and protect our rivers. Rig to Flip is creating a new and exciting film to describe the confusing - and definitely not public friendly - state of river access. Get your tickets and enter to win awesome prizes here. You do not have to be present to win, so grab a $5 ticket and you could win a drysuit!
Comment Period Extended - Weigh in on Grand Canyon Fees and Management Today!
01/28/2025 - by Kestrel Kunz
American Whitewater is formally commenting on the drastic proposed fee increases for the Grand Canyon and you should too. At the start of the year, the National Park Service proposed a 244% increase for non-commercial permit fees for the Grand Canyon effective March 1, 2025. Non-commercial permit fees would increase from $90 to $310 per person. In addition, a new $55 fee is proposed for trips from Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry. Comment on the proposed fee increase now!
West Rosebud Creek Releases Now Scheduled and More Reliable (MT)
01/28/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
American Whitewater and our affiliate club, Beartooth Paddlers have worked with the power company and other stakeholders to simplify and schedule the summer recreational pulse flows on West Rosebud Creek, located southeast of Livingston, MT. For the past decade these dam releases have mitigated some of the hydropower project’s impacts on recreation, but their unpredictability caused challenges for visitors as well as dam operators. The new approach will remedy those issues, and now the public can plan their boating trips to West Rosebud Creek well in advance. Under the new approach, whitewater releases will be conducted the first weekend in July (Saturday and Sunday releases) and the second and third Saturdays (only) in July. These dates have been scheduled for the next ten years.
Speak Up for Strong Permits for Nolichucky River Work
01/16/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
State and federal agencies in both North Carolina and Tennessee are in the process of issuing permits that will allow CSX to continue rebuilding their railroad through the Nolichucky River Gorge. CSX has already mined massive amounts of rock from the riverbed of the Nolichucky in Tennessee to save money on the reconstruction of their rail line, and is working their way into the heart of the Gorge in North Carolina. Current approaches to issuing permits for the work appear unlikely to stop CSX from causing significant additional damage through rock removal. CSX needs approvals for their work from a number of managing entities and your voice asking for strong standards for the mining of any rock from the river gorge will go a long way towards protecting the Noli. Take action today!
2024 Board Of Directors Election - Current Members Please Vote Now!
12/17/2024 - by Evan Stafford
Each year American Whitewater's membership ratifies Board of Director members to serve three-year terms. These candidates volunteer to serve on the American Whitewater Board. Current American Whitewater members can cast their votes through Midnight Pacific Time, December 27th. American Whitewater has two Director Nominees to fill two open seats in this election, and you may vote for up to two candidates on the slate. The ballot for our Board of Directors election is placed online here. Reminder, you need to be an American Whitewater member to vote.
Help Determine the Future for a Free Flowing Lower Snake River
12/10/2024 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is requesting public input on a survey to determine recreational interests and opportunities in and along the Lower Snake River, should it return to a free-flowing state. The survey, which takes only 10 to 15 minutes to complete, is intended to capture insights on current and potential future recreation activities, preferences, and accessibility needs. The benefits of a restored lower Snake River will be enormous–including opportunities for people to experience a thriving ecosystem and healthy water, Tribal cultural sites restoration, protection, and education, and significantly expanded recreation/outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, rafting, kayaking, birding, hunting, and much more.
Georgia Right to Float Committee Wraps Up
12/10/2024 - by Kevin Colburn
A legislative committee that spent much of 2024 exploring Georgia’s stream access laws has wrapped up its work with a final report. The report discusses the various perspectives the committee heard during their outreach, and issued a list of recommendations that support keeping stream access laws as they are. River enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief that the committee recommended against legislating a list of rivers where the public has–and does not have–the right to paddle. American Whitewater would like to commend our many community members and partners who shared the incredible value of paddling Georgia’s rivers with the committee.
Take a Look at Our Goals to Expand and Improve River Access in 2025
12/10/2024 - by Evan Stafford
What does having safe river access mean to you and your family? For most of you reading this, we’d be willing to wager it’s incredibly important for your quality of life and something you cherish. Take a look at some of our ambitious goals to improve and expand river access across the country in our 2024 Winter Stewardship Update! You should know, we have big plans for 2025. From dam removals, new instream flows in dewatered rivers, and securing new Wild and Scenic designations, to new access sites, influencing National Forest Plans and sharing an updated American Whitewater River Safety Code, we’ll have our work cut out for us. If our past success is any indication, we’ll surely rise to the challenge, but we can't do it without your support to keep us on track.
2024 American Whitewater Calendar Now Available!
12/10/2024 - by Evan Stafford
Each year, we collect the best photos from our gracious (and incredibly talented) community and pick out our favorites for our annual calendar. Proceeds from calendar sales support our river stewardship work. It's an awesome fundraiser and a product that we know you'll love! Keep AW close all year long. Purchase a calendar from our webstore for $25. These make the perfect gift for all the whitewater enthusiasts in your life! Calendars for those of you who receive them as a membership perk, should land in mailboxes soon.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directs CSX to stop mining Nolichucky River
12/10/2024 - by Kevin Colburn
Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to CSX Transportation, ordering the rail company to stop mining the Nolichucky River for rock and fill. The letter comes after the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of American Rivers and American Whitewater, sued the Army Corps and two other federal agencies for approving CSX’s harmful mining practices in the Nolichucky River Gorge. Our community support in this effort to halt the illegal mining played a significant role in convincing the court that a stop work order was necessary–thank you Noli River lovers!
Holiday Offer Available Now!
12/10/2024 - by Bethany Overfield
Looking for that special gift for someone or just feeling the need to treat yourself? Our American Whitewater Holiday Offer just went live! You can get a Standard Membership ($35), your choice of a green or camel colored AW beanie, and a 2024 calendar (plus shipping) all for $75. Head to our membership form and snag a Holiday Offer today. This is a splendid way to support our Stewardship work at American Whitewater.
The beanies, made by Richardson, are waffle-cuffed and have a small American Whitewater tag so you can rep AW while you keep your noggin’ warm. Note: beanies will ship out at the end of next week around 12/20.
Our calendar images are all contributed by our amazing and talented community and highlight many of the rivers you love. Keep American Whitewater close all year long with these gifts!
Last Chance to Support River Access in Colorado TODAY!
12/10/2024 - by Kestrel Kunz
Today is your LAST CHANCE to support our river access program by donating through Colorado Gives Day to have your dollars go even further in supporting American Whitewater’s river access work in Colorado. We use this opportunity every year to raise awareness and financial support for our Colorado River Access Program. Now more than ever we are working to improve river access sites in Colorado and to secure better policies for the right to float on Colorado’s rivers.
Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, Boaters at the Table
12/10/2024 - by Kestrel Kunz
Last week, the Southern Rockies Team traveled to the annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. We met directly with federal decision makers and our partner organizations on the future of the Colorado River and its important recreation economy. State and federal decision makers have yet to come to agreement on how to conserve water and align reservoir management with available hydrology, but the clock is ticking and we are staying at the table to make sure that recreation and the health of the river is considered in management. In the coming months we will know more about what options are on the table for the future of the Colorado River and we will continue to be a voice for the river and flows that support recreation and river health.
Low-Head Dam Inventory Included in 2024 Water Resources Development Act
12/10/2024 - by Hattie Johnson
American Whitewater was successful in getting a national low-head dam inventory into the final Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024) for Congress to vote on before the end of this year. Over the past 50 years, low-head dams have claimed more than 1,400 lives. American Whitewater’s database of whitewater accidents and fatalities, maintained since 1972, documents that 10% of fatalities nationwide are a result of individuals getting caught in a low-head dam hydraulic. There has been no reliable understanding of where all these structures exist.
Southern Rockies End of Year Recap!
12/10/2024 - by Kestrel Kunz and Hattie Johnson
We have a lot to celebrate for our Southern Rockies rivers this year! We could not have accomplished these milestones without the support from our members and our passionate river community! If you are able, please consider donating to American Whitewater for Colorado Gives Day. Any donations made through December 10th will help us leverage additional funds from the Colorado Gives Day Program and support our Colorado River Access Program. Our work on river access is only funded by your donations.
Deadbeat Dam Argument in Appeals Court
12/03/2024 - by Robert Nasdor
American Whitewater's challenge to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision allowing the abandonment of two deadbeat hydropower dams on the Salmon Falls River on the Maine/New Hampshire border was heard in the Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, on November 20th. The three judge panel considered whether FERC properly considered the dam removal alternative to the proposed abandonment and whether dam removal was in the public interest. The abandoned dams will continue to block fish passage, disrupt river connectivity, and prevent whitewater boating on the Salmon Falls River. A decision from the appeals court is expected early next year.
American Whitewater Sues Agencies for Allowing Mining in Nolichucky River
11/18/2024 - by Kevin Colburn
The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of American Rivers and American Whitewater, sued several federal agencies on Monday, saying the agencies violated federal law by allowing a rail company to mine the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee. Recently CSX Transportation, a major railroad company, began mining the Nolichucky’s riverbed for rock while repairing a rail line that was washed away during Hurricane Helene. Trucking in rock from upland quarries is standard practice and much less destructive. Instead, CSX brought heavy machinery into the Nolichucky River Gorge and began removing rock and fill directly from the riverbed. This dangerous and unnecessary method does irreparable harm to the waterway, hurts local businesses that rely on the river, and increases flooding risks for communities downstream. American Whitewater has worked tirelessly with local paddlers to halt the riverbed mining for several weeks, yet the destruction continues at a rapid rate.