Greetings from American Whitewater

Dear SAPC subscribers, 

Last week, American Whitewater’s staff and board came together in Ashland, Oregon for several days of in-person meetings centered on strategy and crafting our approach for the years ahead. While virtual meetings serve our geographically dispersed team very well, there’s something uniquely valuable about gathering face-to-face to tackle big questions and engage in thoughtful, collaborative sense-making. I’m deeply appreciative of the insight, energy, and care that our team of staff and volunteer board members brought to the table. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, but I returned home from this gathering with confidence that our smart and nimble team will navigate whatever lies ahead. 

We ended our time together with a visit to the former dam sites along the Klamath River—witnessing firsthand the progress being made to restore the river and create new public access for river users. Under the leadership of our stewardship staff in the Northwest and California, American Whitewater has worked closely with area Tribes to ensure this new recreation infrastructure is culturally responsible. Our staff have directly secured more than $3.5 million in grant funding in partnership with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation to help create these access points–none of which would’ve happened without your contributions to fuel our efforts. Take a trip to the Klamath this year, and see your member dollars at work. 

Thank you for playing an important role in everything we accomplish together. None of it would happen without our members. 

Have a great spring on the water. I hope to SYOTR soon,

Clinton Begley
Executive Director

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The BETA

Boat passage at Poudre River Diversion Dam (CO) Moves Forward

After multiple years of advocacy by American Whitewater, the local outfitting community led by Rocky Mountain Adventures, and our nonprofit partners, the City of Fort Collins has agreed to improvements that will allow for boat and fish passage at the Gateway Diversion Dam in the lower Cache la Poudre River canyon. These dam modifications will restore aquatic connectivity and nearly double the length of the Filter Plant run, one of the river’s most popular reaches and one of the few true quality beginner whitewater runs in the area.

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Access Update: Boating an Undammed Klamath (OR/CA)

The four Klamath River hydropower dams have been removed, and this brings new opportunities for boating and experiencing the 45 miles of restored river. Before boating, river users need to learn about the new river reaches and know the current status of access points. We know everyone is eager to get out on the river, however some areas are not ready to receive visitors. It’s incredibly important that the boating community respect these closures and encourage others to help protect the area’s natural and cultural resources. 

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