Don’t Let Railroad Rebuild Destroy the Nolichucky Gorge

11/06/2024 - by Kevin Colburn

Update: It looks our advocacy has won the day for now!  The Army Corps of Engineers and CSX have agreed that no more rock will be removed from below the ordinary high watermark effective immediately, and that there will be additional consultation on next steps. We will stay involved in the process from here and let the community know if any further advocacy is needed. Thank You!!! Our ability to respond when access to our public lands and waters is threatened is an example of your member contributions at work! Please consider renewing your membership, or making an additional donation today to ensure we can stay engaged on this critical issue. 

You can join or renew your membership here, or make an additional contribution via our donation page.

One of North Carolina and Tennessee’s best whitewater rivers is facing a man-made disaster rivaling Hurricane Helene in the storm’s aftermath. Right now, dozens of excavators and dump trucks are pushing their way ever-deeper into the Nolichucky River Gorge, removing massive amounts of rock and soil from the river’s bed and banks in an unregulated rush to rebuild the railroad through the Gorge. Located on the Tennessee-North Carolina state line near the hurricane-impacted town of Erwin, TN and Poplar, NC, the Nolichucky Gorge is an economically vital source of river-based tourism and an amenity that attracts and retains residents. 

Canyon Creek Access Temporarily Closed (WA)

10/25/2024 - by Thomas O'Keefe

As the winter paddling season in the Pacific Northwest starts to get underway many eagerly await the opportunities to get out on Canyon Creek in the Lewis River drainage. This past summer the site was heavily vandalized when individuals rolled boulders (used to delineate parking) down the stairs, severely damaging the stair treads and rendering them unsafe for public use. PacifiCorp has the site temporally closed as they work to make repairs and make changes a the site over the coming weeks. The current timeline should have the site open by the Thanksgiving holiday.

Journal Moves to More Sustainable Production Model

10/15/2024 - by Evan Stafford

The new Sept/Oct American Whitewater Journal should be landing in your mailbox soon and you may notice it looks, feels, and maybe even smells a little different. You may also notice a couple of new logos inside this issue’s first few pages. The new look and feel, and these logos, represent our shift to using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper and to producing the Journal in a Pure Power certified facility that uses renewable energy sources. The team that produces the Journal has been eager to move to a more sustainable production model and reduce the environmental impact of the printed Journal. We explored some options and we’re happy to announce we’re now working with Modern Litho, a Pure Power facility, to help us achieve this with FSC-certified paper and the use of BioRenewable vegetable-based inks in their energy-efficient printing facility.

Celebration of Life for Chris Tulley Scheduled for Nov 2

10/10/2024 - by Evan Stafford

American Whitewater Board of Directors member, Chris Tulley, of Folsom, CA, passed away on Friday, October 4th while paddling the South Fork of the Feather River, near La Porte, California. The entire American Whitewater family is deeply saddened by his passing and eternally grateful for his dedication to our organization and river stewardship. Chris was a  longtime contributor to American Whitewater in numerous ways, including in his service as a Board member, as a volunteer working closely with our California staff, and as a lifetime member. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and those closest to him, and also to the team he was paddling with, who made every effort to rescue him. 

Reflections on Loss and Opportunity In Flood Ravaged Western North Carolina

10/09/2024 - by Kevin Colburn

I can still feel the lines in my body.  I close my eyes and I run the Green Narrows in my mind, and my body feels every move. As I think about the rapids, certain muscles tense, like a dog chasing rabbits in its dreams. Following Hurricane Helene, these moves, these currents, these images are now just dreams of a river forever lost. And like a wonderful dream, I want to hold on to it, knowing it's all that is left of the Green Narrows I knew so well. When I multiply my grief by all the rivers in the path of the hurricane, and all the people who have come to know them so well, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the collective loss. 

Forest Service Backs Elimination of Lochsa Area River Protections

10/09/2024 - by Kevin Colburn

The Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest recognized that 88 rivers on the National Forest lands they manage are eligible for Wild and Scenic designation. Normally this would mean the free-flowing nature and special values of these streams would be protected in a new forest management plan. Instead, the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest used a sketchy political process to release 76! of those rivers from protection. American Whitewater and several other groups appealed their decision, and this week our appeal was essentially denied. The appeal decision requires the National Forest to address some logical and factual inconsistencies with how the agency released the rivers, but defends their ability to do so. 

Image: John Webster

Montana Walks Back Proposed Fish Creek Paddling Ban

10/09/2024 - by Kevin Colburn

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP) released their final Fish Creek Recreation Strategy earlier this week, in which they no longer propose to ban paddling as they had in their draft plan. We would like to thank MTFWP for listening to the public and eliminating what would have been a major mis-step in the management of the State’s rivers. The final plan does however contain concerning language around paddling, and the public should remain vigilant as the agency implements the plan. Specifically, the final plan states that “FWP will assess recreational floating, user conflicts, and the alteration of [woody debris]” with the goal to “Provide a high-quality wade fishing experience and protect fish habitat,” and based on the principle that, “when feasible, recreation uses will be separated to prevent conflict.” While monitoring and protecting habitat is appreciated, this framework continues to wrongly cast paddling as a threat to other users and habitat. 

Georgia Committee Meeting on the Right to Paddle this Friday

09/16/2024 - by Kevin Colburn

A special state House study committee tasked with determining the public's rights to paddle on Georgia’s streams will hear from the public for the first time in a meeting scheduled for Sept. 20 at Unicoi State Park. The meeting could result in recommendations to dramatically curtail the public's right to paddle rivers in Georgia. Friday’s meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the lodge at Unicoi State Park, near Helen, GA. Following a presentation by the Department of Natural Resources, there is time set aside on the agenda for members of the public to provide comments. Paddlers are encouraged to attend the hearing and speak up for your right to paddle the state's rivers. American Whitewater and our partners will be urging lawmakers to preserve existing recreational river uses and protect the public’s ability to float down the state’s many rivers and streams.

2024 Southeast Advanced Release Calendar Announced!

11/20/2023 - 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. In this article you'll find the 2024 dates for the Class IV/V Cheoah, Nantahala Cascades & Upper, West Fork Tuck, and Tallulah rivers. 

Protection for the Headwaters of the Illinois and North Fork Smith Rivers (OR)

07/27/2023 - by Thomas O'Keefe

We are pleased to report that Representative Val Hoyle, the new representative for Oregon's 4th Congressional District has reintroduced the Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act (SOWSPA) as her first piece of conservation legislation. This legislation will permanently protect the headwaters of Southwest Oregon’s outstanding collection of wild rivers—including the National Wild and Scenic Illinois and the National Wild and Scenic North Fork Smith, plus Pistol River and Hunter Creek—from the threat of mining in the headwaters.

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!

Black Canyon Put-In Closed for 2021 Season (CO)

04/06/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz

The National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that the East Portal Road which serves as the put-in for the Black Canyon section of the Gunnison River will be closed for maintenance for the duration of the 2021 season. While the road closure is an unfortunate obstacle for many this season, the needed maintenance of the road will lead to fewer unexpected road closures due to rockfall and will improve access to the Black Canyon for the long term. American Whitewater will track the status of the road closure and we will share an update as soon as access to the Black Canyon is reopened.  

Train Operations in Eagle and Arkansas Corridors to Require Full Review (CO)

03/25/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz

This morning, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) made a much-anticipated decision on the revival of the Tennessee Pass Rail Line - a 160-mile rail line that follows the Eagle and Arkansas Rivers between Sage and Parkdale, Colorado. The STB formally rejected Colorado, Midland and Pacific Railway’s (CMPR) request to be exempt from oversight and regulation of their proposed operation on the line, which would be leased under an agreement with Union Pacific. This decision comes nearly three months after CMPR filed a notice of exemption on December 31, 2020, as people were bringing in the new year. 

Help Protect Colorado’s Western Slope Rivers this Valentine’s Day

02/09/2021 - by Kestrel Kunz

American Whitewater is asking the paddling community to step up this Valentine’s Day to help protect rivers like the Taylor, Oh-Be-Joyful, and San Miguel rivers in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) in Colorado. This Valentine’s Day and for the whole month of February we are collecting LOVE LETTERS from you to your favorite river in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests. We want to hear directly from you about why you love these rivers and why they are worth protecting. We have made this easy-to-use form to submit your letter to us! 

Urgent: Help Protect Browns Canyon and the Arkansas and Eagle River Valleys

01/21/2021 - by Hattie Johnson

It’s hard to imagine what it would be like if up to 10 trains full of heavy crude oil and hazardous chemicals were rumbling by while paddling the Arkansas or Eagle Rivers. It would, without question, change the experience in negative ways, including opening up the opportunity for the major disturbances associated with any kind of derailment and spill of hazardous materials into the river.  We need your help today to protect these incredible places. This past New Year’s Eve, Colorado Midland and Pacific Railway filed a notice of exemption for lease and operations of the Tennessee Pass line that runs through the Eagle and Arkansas Valleys to Parkdale. You have two options to make your voice heard. We have created a sign on letter to be submitted along with American Whitewater’s’s technical comments. However, if you’ve got the time to go the extra mile, we’ve included detailed directions below to submit your own filing directly to the Surface Transportation Board. Please follow these directions carefully and copy hattie@americanwhitewater.org if you decide to file your own comments. Comments are due by January 22 - please take action today! 

Gauley Season 2020

08/21/2020 - by Mark Singleton

While Gauley Fest has moved to a virtual format for 2020 due to Covid-19 and social distancing concerns, releases on the Gauley River will still take place. American Whitewater received the following open letter to boaters from the rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area. This information will keep you up to date on important management actions of the National Park Service on the Gauley River for the 2020 season.