Volunteer Of The Month - Presented By Kokatat

American Whitewater is pleased to announce the recipient of our December 2011 Volunteer of the Month award: Jack Barker!

Jack is a long-time fixture in the Colorado boating scene, especially at his local backyard runs around Crested Butte and Gunnison. For the past two years, Jack has spent countless hours on behalf of the paddling community, applying pressure on the US Army Corps of Engineers and local landowners along the Taylor River, to ensure we have opportunities to paddle into the future. Jack also starred in AWs 2010 video on Colorado River Access.

Recently, Jack's diligence paid off as landowners were forced to raise the height of private footbridges crossing the Taylor River, to allow for downstream navigation. Any of us who have paddled the Taylor know the countless bridges and obstructions that have been placed in the river to prevent paddlers from floating through private property. The recent order from the USACOE, and the subsequent compliance by landowners, is a major victory for American Whitewater's River Access Program in Colorado. Thank You Jack for being a diligent volunteer and advocate in this effort!

In recognition of his efforts, Jack will be receiving a custom Destination Shirt from Kokatat! Thanks Jack!