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AW in the MidAtlantic
American Whitewater has a long history of working in the Mid-Atlantic. Our regional conservation and access program is directed towards securing recreational releases from dams and securing public access points to rivers, which would otherwise be lost due to development. Our work on securing releases on the Gauley and Yough (both Upper and Lower) have proven integral to developing regional rural economic strategies and building sustainable commercial markets for eco-tourism opportunities. We are lucky that West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland have fairly strong navigability and public access laws; however we are vigilant for any legislation that would reduce the public right to float. We are also increasingly concerned about the state of water quality in the Mid-Atlantic and the effect of surface mining and extractive mountain top mining removal in which unusable dross is simply pushed into sensitive headwaters streams and creeks.
Benefit for the Yough Defense Fund
The Curry Mine is a proposed 480 acre strip mine along the banks of the Youghiogheny River, just below the southern border of Ohiopyle State Park and adjacent to the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.
West River Hydropower Proposal Meetings Scheduled
A private hydropower company has proposed to install hydropower generation facilities in two Army Corps of Engineers Dams on the West River (VT), including Ball Mountain Dam which provides releases into the popular whitewater section of the West. The Company, Blue Heron Hydro (BHH) is hosting a public meeting and site visit to discuss their proposal. Paddlers interested in the effects that the hydropower installation may have on the West River are encouraged to attend the meeting and site visit.
Army Corps to complete planned Lehigh releases in 2009
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced recently that there is sufficient reservoir storage behind Francis E. Walter Dam to complete all planned whitewater releases for 2009.
NPS Outlines Gauley River Access for 2009
American Whitewater received an open letter to boaters from the National Park Service outlining Gauley River access for 2009. For the last decade AW has leased the open field at Mason Branch for private boater parking - we are leasing the field again this year. These are your AW dues at work!
American Whitewater Joins the EPA Green Power Partnership
American Whitewater has joined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their Green Power Partnership. AW has purchased enough renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Clean Currents, a leading supplier of wind energy credits, to offset energy usage in our national office.
2009 Lehigh Release Schedule Announced
The Army Corps of Engineers recently announced the 2009 schedule of releases from the Francis E. Walter dam on the Lehigh River. You can read the ACOE Release Notice, or you may also check the AW event calender for the release dates.
Friendsville Boater Etiquette
New Saturday Releases Secured on the Upper Youghiogheny
Paddlers have been negotiating a new release schedule on Maryland's Upper Youghiogheny River with Brookfield Power and other stakeholders for over one year. The results have just been released in a new permit for the operation of the Deep Creek Dam. This year, and for the foreseeable future, paddlers will be treated to upper Yough releases on every Saturday from mid-June through mid-September!
Cheat Canyon Settlement Reached; Land Set Aside for Endangered Species
New Project Threatens Holtwood Playspots (PA)
Lehigh River Management Announced (PA)
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November 2009 |
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Events
(iCal)
Associated Projects
- Gauley River
For many years AW has worked on the protection of this river and advocated for public access.
- Upper Yough Releases
American Whitewater worked closely with local paddlers and other stakeholders to negotiate an improved flow regime on the Upper Yough.
- Virginia Access
Virginia has some superb rivers and river access laws among the worst in the Nation. American Whitewater is working to assure the basic right to float down a stream in Virginia.
- Lehigh River
AW has worked with local paddling clubs to improve the recreational value of dam releases on the Lehigh
- Upper Yough Access
AW collaboratively manages the put in for the Upper Youghiogheny River in Western Maryland.
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