Help Restore Eel River Whitewater (CA): Comment on Dam Removal by Dec. 19
12/10/2025 - by Scott Harding
As the federal review begins on removing two obsolete dams from the Eel River in northwestern California, whitewater enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to speak up for restoring this remarkable river and securing public access once the dams come out. Please take a moment to submit a comment supporting dam removal and public access. Comments are due by 2 PM on December 19 (Pacific time).
Boaters Protect More Big Sandy Lands!
12/10/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
American Whitewater is thrilled to announce that over the past two months we purchased two parcels of land bordering the Lower Big Sandy River in West Virginia, providing critical recreational access and protecting three quarters of a mile of this special river. These purchases were made thanks to generous donations from the whitewater community, and are in addition to the 4.25 miles of river frontage American Whitewater purchased last year on the Big Sandy. With these purchases now complete, American Whitewater will be donating the lands to the West Virginia Land Trust for their permanent protection.
New Whitewater Reaches Await as Eel River Dam Removal Advances
12/10/2025 - by Scott Harding
Two obsolete dams on Northwestern California’s Eel River are slated for removal, marking one of the most significant emerging river-restoration efforts in the West. American Whitewater is working to ensure this historic transition creates opportunities for the public to safely experience newly restored whitewater reaches and witness the river’s recovery from a century of dams and diversion. Once the dams are out, the Eel will become California’s longest free-flowing river.
Big decisions coming for Chehalis River–proposed dam, salmon and flood response
12/09/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Storm season in western Washington is upon us, and with it, the risk of atmospheric rivers bringing severe flooding. Nowhere is this more evident than in the naturally flood-prone Chehalis River Basin, where the debate about a proposed flood control dam on the upper river has reached a critical milestone with the release of the state’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS report from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) details potential implications of construction and operation of this new mega-dam for salmon, fish habitat, recreation, water quality, water temperature, and many other ways the project could impact the river and its communities and ecosystems. The 75-day public comment period for the DEIS began on November 20th and will conclude on February 4th. You can make your voice heard by submitting written comments and testifying at one or more of five public hearings.
Shoshone Water Rights Accepted as Instream Flow
12/09/2025 - by Hattie Johnson
In a big win for the Colorado River, the purchase of water rights to protect and leave in the river flows that support river health and recreation was unanimously approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. On November 19th, the Board signed off on “the interest in the acquisition” of both the junior and senior water rights associated with the Shoshone Hydropower Plant as an instream flow. American Whitewater was a party in the contested hearing in front of the Board in support of the acquisition of the instream flow right. We jointly submitted a prehearing statement with the Colorado River Outfitters Association describing in detail the benefits to river recreation on the mainstem of the Colorado from Kremmling to Glenwood Springs. These are some of the most senior water rights on the river and keep boatable flows in the river through one of the longest boating seasons in the state. The Colorado River District and Public Service Company of Colorado, along with the support of the Colorado Water Conservation Board staff, were asking the state to accept the donation of these water rights as an instream flow and to ensure that the Colorado River District would have a say in how they are operated.
American Whitewater Online Store Offers Array of Gifts
12/08/2025 - by Bethany Overfield
If you’re holiday shopping for the river enthusiasts in your life, we have some stellar merchandise available in our webstore! Proceeds from webstore sales help propel our river stewardship work so you can feel extra good about gifting with American Whitewater. Of course, you’re encouraged to treat yourself as well!
We have new camo hats, new mesh hats, 2026 calendars, a selection of wonderful books for adults and children and some great apparel. We also have our 2026 American Whitewater calendar, which is always a big hit. If you order this week you should get your goodies by late next week, so head over to the webstore now!
Defending Public Lands and Waters–Winter Stewardship Update 2025
12/08/2025 - by Evan Stafford
What does having safe access to clean water flowing through public lands mean to you and your family? For most of you reading this, we’d be willing to wager it’s incredibly important to your quality of life and that having intact and protected public lands is something you hold close to your heart as an American. Take a look at our 2025 Winter Stewardship Update to see some of the ways American Whitewater membership supports our work protecting rivers and creeks in our national parks, forests, and other public lands. Your membership dollars and donations are an incredibly efficient and effective way to show your love for public lands and rivers and to support your ability to safely access them. Plus bonus–all American Whitewater members with an active membership on Dec. 31 will be entered in a drawing to win a week of boating in Ecuador through Small World Adventures or a Dagger Indra Kayak (S/M, shipped to your door)!
Deerfield River: The Next 40 Years of Whitewater (MA)
12/08/2025 - by Robert Nasdor
A decade of advocacy efforts in the hydropower project licensing on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts has finally resulted in a new hydropower license that will preserve and expand whitewater boating and angling opportunities for the next 40 years! Whitewater releases on the Deerfield River are the result of 40 years of effective river advocacy that created the advocacy model, resulting in scheduled releases and river restoration on more than 100 rivers nationally.
Tax Smart Charitable Giving–Make the Most of the 2025 Rules
12/05/2025 - by Clinton Begley
As you plan your year-end giving, 2025 is a uniquely powerful year to make tax-smart, non-cash gifts that protect the rivers you love and strengthen your own financial strategy. Tax rules are scheduled to tighten in 2026, reducing the benefit of charitable deductions for many donors—especially those who use donor-advised funds (DAFs) or like to plan multi-year support. By acting before December 31, 2025, you can lock in today’s more favorable rules while sustaining American Whitewater’s work for years to come. If you would like to talk about a significant gift or multi-year commitment through a DAF contribution, appreciated stock, or other non-cash gift, please contact Clinton Begley at clinton@americanwhiter.org.
2026 Advances Southeast Release Schedule Announced!
12/04/2025 - by Kevin Colburn
American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies, and discuss any issues with the release programs. We strive to create a schedule with minimal conflicts to maximize recreational value. Below are the 2026 dates for the Class IV/V Cheoah, Nantahala Cascades & Upper, West Fork Tuck, and Tallulah rivers. Also 2026 marks the fourth year of releases on the Great Falls of the Catawba! Thankfully, none of these rivers were significantly affected by Hurricane Helene. Enjoy these releases, big thanks to all the volunteers and agency staff that make these releases possible, be safe out there, and we appreciate your support of this work.
American Whitewater Year-End Membership Drawings
12/02/2025 - by Bethany Overfield
As our way of saying, “Hey! Thanks!”, we're elated to announce that we have two great prizes for our end-of-year membership drawing for 2025. All current American Whitewater members as of Dec. 31, 2025 will be entered to win a week of boating in Ecuador through Small World Adventures or a Dagger Indra Kayak (S/M, shipped to your door). If you’ve let your membership lapse, now would be a great time to renew! If you’ve been sitting on the riverbank and haven’t yet joined, we’d love to have you as a member!
American Whitewater is a membership-based nonprofit organization, and we depend on our members to fuel the work that we do. This support goes beyond financial contributions—our membership base shows up for us as volunteers, advocates, and as die-hard river protectors. We couldn’t do any of the access, restoration, or conservation work we do without you.
Colorado Gives Day Happening Now!
11/28/2025 - by Kestrel Kunz
Colorado Gives Day is happening now through December 9! Donate today to have your dollars go even further in supporting American Whitewater’s river access work in Colorado. We need your support more than ever this year as we are tirelessly working to secure legal public access to Colorado’s rivers in the 2026 state legislature. Donations made through Colorado Gives this year will go directly to our Colorado Access Program and will ensure that your dollars are matched from the $1 million incentive fund.
Success: Klamath River Access Sites Staying Open (OR/CA)
11/19/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Two weeks ago, the states of Oregon and California unexpectedly announced the seasonal closure of three of the new Upper Klamath River access sites. Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls, and K’utárawáx·u were scheduled to close from November 20 through March 31 — a move that would have cut off direct access to the Big Bend Run and the K’íka·c’é·ki Canyon Run during the very season when flows are typically at their best and affected take-out access for the Keno and K’íka·c’é·ki Valley runs. Thanks to rapid engagement by American Whitewater, strong support from outfitters, and calls from many of you, both states have now reversed course. All three access sites will remain open this winter, with only short, weather-dependent closures if conditions genuinely warrant them. This is an important victory for the boating community and ensures that the public can safely reach and enjoy the newly undammed Klamath River during its prime winter and early spring season.
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.
Senator Murray & Representative Randall Reintroduce Wild Olympics Bill (WA)
05/13/2025 - by Thomas O'Keefe
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D-WA-06) reintroduced the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, legislation that would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries—a total of 464 river miles—as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to conserve ancient forests and pristine rivers, protect clean water and salmon habitat, and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would set aside the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in over four decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. With a strong foundation of overwhelming local support, the bill has made steady progress each successive Congress—passing the House with bipartisan support twice before and passing out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Congress for the first time in the bill’s history.
2025 Southeast Advanced Release Schedule
12/18/2024 - by Kevin Colburn
American Whitewater and our affiliate clubs have spent the past 25 years working to restore flows to incredible Southeastern rivers impacted by dams. A lot of our work has focused on releases and access on Class II and III rivers like the lower Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Hiwassee, and Catawba, but we also secured releases in some classic steeper reaches previously dewatered by hydroelectric diversions. Each year we meet with power companies and agencies to schedule future releases, review ongoing ecology studies, and discuss any issues with the release programs. We strive to create a schedule with minimal conflicts to maximize recreational value. Below are the 2023 dates for the Class IV/V Cheoah, Nantahala Cascades & Upper, West Fork Tuck, and Tallulah rivers. Also 2025 marks the third year of releases on the Great Falls of the Catawba! Thankfully, none of these rivers were significantly affected by Hurricane Helene.
Local Coalition Celebrates Commission Ruling to Protect Colorado's Waters
09/09/2022 - by Kestrel Kunz
A Big Win for Rivers in the Sierra & Sequoia National Forests (CA)!
07/25/2022 - by Theresa Lorejo-Simsiman
The Sierra and Sequoia National Forests have released final forest land management plans containing protections for 498 miles of rivers found eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Since 2013, American Whitewater has been engaged in this forest planning process with the goal of getting California's whitewater resources included in the eligibility inventory and recognized for their outstandingly remarkable values. As a tenet of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, managing agencies like the Forest Service (USFS) provide interim protections for eligible river's free flowing character and outstandingly remarkable values until they can be designated by Congress.
American Whitewater Prevails in Case to Protect the Tuolumne River
06/21/2022 - by Theresa Lorejo-Simsiman
In a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, American Whitewater and our allies prevailed to uphold the Clean Water Act in protection of the Tuolumne River. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act which requires that any utility applying for a hydropower license that may discharge pollutants into waters of the United States must receive state certification ensuring the project complies with all state standards for beneficial use, water quality, and anti-degradation of the waterway. The case brought forth by the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts (the Districts) challenged a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order upholding California’s clean water certification for the Don Pedro and La Grange Hydropower Projects located on the Tuolumne River.
It’s Finally Time to Protect Colorado’s West Slope Rivers!
08/16/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz
Today, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest Unit announced the much-anticipated release of the Draft Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft Plan materials were released on Friday, August 13, initiating a 90-day review period. The GMUG National Forest is home to gems like Oh-Be-Joyful Creek, the Taylor River, Norwood Canyon on the San Miguel, and numerous others. Many of these rivers are free-flowing and offer outstanding values, including paddling, breathtaking scenery, fish habitat, and profound history and culture. This point in the plan revision process is the most important time for the river community to engage and speak up to protect our beloved West Slope rivers in Colorado!