Program areas at AW
Conservation and Access: American Whitewaters core mission-related work is the conservation, restoration, and responsible management of whitewater rivers. In 2023 American Whitewater helped introduce legislation to designate over 1400 miles of National Wild and Scenic Rivers (NM, CA, MT, WA), as well as conservation legislation for the Dolores River in CO and several areas in OR. American Whitewater supported the creation of the 1.1 million acre Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints Grand Canyon National Monument. Through engaging in National Forest planning American Whitewater secured Wild and Scenic eligible status for 600 miles of streams in CA and NC. American Whitewater directly participated in management decisions that improved flows and river access associated with dams on at least 33 rivers across
Public Education American Whitewater educates the paddling community, general public, federal agencies, and decision makers on river stewardship issues and opportunities through several outlets. American Whitewater maintains and posts weekly content on the go-to website of the paddling community. Our website features news, action alerts, and descriptions of roughly 5,800 whitewater river reaches. The organization also reaches over 50,000 people through action alerts and monthly email newsletters, and regularly posts to a Facebook page with over 35,000 followers. American Whitewaters roughly 7,000 members and over 80 affiliate clubs receive our print journal published five times per year. American Whitewater conducted several online trainings related to river access and presented on Wild and Scenic Rivers, fish barriers, and river access law at online conferences and events. American Whitewater educated the public on responsible river use through the Paddle Wise program, through the production of two new river safety films, and through a new open-source river safety signage project. Lastly, we worked to deepen and broaden our education and engagement on the rich tribal context of whitewater rivers.
the country. Flows were restored to the Great Falls of the Catawba River in 2023 based on two decades of work by American Whitewater. In addition, American Whitewater celebrated the removal of Copco 2 Dam on the Klamath River, and ensured river access was part of the removal plan. American Whitewater secured nine new river access areas (SC, CA, OR, WA), helped secure funding for additional access in OR and UT, and secured a new stream gauge on the Colorado River. Lastly, we worked successfully to reverse paddling prohibitions at whitewater boat ramps in CO. All told these efforts benefited several thousand miles of spectacular rivers and hundreds of thousands of river enthusiasts.