American Whitewater

Yosemite Seeks Comments on Wilderness Plan

12/11/2015 - by Megan Hooker

Yosemite National Park recently announced that it is beginning the process of updating its Wilderness Stewardship Plan, and has requested that the public provide comment about the future of the Park's Wilderness lands. As we celebrate that boaters can now access the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers within the Park for the first time in decades, the rest of the rivers in the Park remain closed to paddling. The Wilderness Stewardship Planning process provides an opportunity to ask the Park to consider changing this. American Whitewater successfully advocated that the Park view "rivers as trails and boats as backpacks" on the Merced and Tuolumne, and we believe this approach is relevant again. We encourage paddlers to speak up during the scoping process, which closes January 29th.

04/27/2015 - by Megan Hooker

On Friday, April 24, 2015, the Merced River in Yosemite National Park was officially reopened to paddlers! Even though the new Wild and Scenic River Plan was finalized a year ago, the actual rules and regulations for the Park were finally updated on Friday. This marks the culmination of seven years of sustained engagement by American Whitewater with the National Park Service and other stakeholders.

02/14/2014 - by Megan Hooker

Earlier today, Yosemite National Park released their Merced Wild and Scenic Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. The new plan places paddling on equal footing with other activities in the Park, and we're very pleased to announce that the Park Service has improved and enhanced opportunities to enjoy Yosemite via kayak, canoe and raft.

04/16/2013 - by Megan Hooker

To date, Yosemite National Park has conducted an extensive amount of public outreach on the Draft Merced Wild and Scenic River Plan. Today the Park announced that they are extending the deadline for the public to submit comments to Tuesday, April 30th. American Whitewater submitted comments today, and you can read them here!

02/08/2013 - by Megan Hooker

Yosemite National Park is currently seeking the public's input on how the Wild and Scenic Merced and Tuolumne Rivers will be managed in the future, including the question of whether to open them up to paddling. While we're pleased to see the park is considering lifing the ban in some areas, the preferred alternative for both rivers keeps the long-standing prohibition on paddling in place for the Tuolumne and on sections of the Merced. With your help, we can advocate more effectively for opening these stunning and amazing rivers to the public!

Paddling on the Merced in Yosemite!

03/27/2012 - by Megan Hooker & Paul Martzen

Yosemite National Park is currently seeking your input as they develop alternatives for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan. Boating is currently banned throughout most of the Park, and we are pleased to see that it is being considered on additional stretches of the river. Your comments can help support opening the entire length of the Wild and Scenic Merced River within the Park to canoes, kayaks and rafts! Participate in public workshops and/or log in to a Webinar an April 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 (Pacific time) at yose.webex.com

Merced River Plan Suggestions Needed by Feb 4, 2010

01/19/2010 - by Paul D. Martzen

Yosemite National Park is starting fresh with a new river planning process for the Wild and Scenic Merced River and tributaries. The public can tell the park what they want studied in the plan by submitting comments before February 4, 2010. Yosemite severely limits whitewater boating in the park, so this is your chance to ask the planners to increase whitewater boating opportunities.