Conservation • Access • Events • Adventure • Safety BY BOATERS FOR BOATERS Mar/Apr 2021

AFTER 30 YEARS, A WIN FOR THE NOOKSACK

EXTREME INNER TUBING SECOND TIME’S A CHARM ON ST. MARY’S CUB

THE ULTIMATE RIVER PLAYBOAT aire.com | 844.243.2473 A VOLUNTEER PUBLICATION PROMOTING RIVER CONSERVATION, ACCESS AND SAFETY American Whitewater Journal Mar/Apr 2021 – Volume 61 – Issue 2

COLUMNS 5 The Journey Ahead by Mark Singleton 32 Staff Highlight: Bethany Overfield by Evan Stafford 34 Remembrance: Memories of Stewart Greenleaf, Paddler and Legislator by Charlie Walbridge STEWARDSHIP 6 Middle Fork Nooksack River by Thomas O’Keefe 12 Water Rights to Keep Water in Colorado’s by Hattie Johnson 14 Day-One Executive Actions and Whitewater Recreation by American Whitewater Stewardship Team FEATURE ARTICLES WILDERNESS 20 Wilderness Packrafting = Extreme Inner Tubings by Lisa Ronald 26 Exploring Saint Mary’s River by Adam Goshorn SAFETY 37 Logjam Rescue by Julie Titone and David Hablewitz 46 Whitewater Accident Summary July-December 2020 by Charlie Walbridge

The Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act is working its way through Congress and will designate over 1,000 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula in Publication Title: American Whitewater Issue Date: Mar/Apr 2021 Statement of Frequency: Washington and in California’s Central Coast and Trinity Alps, and will also create landscape Published Bimonthly protections for Arizona’s Grand and for public lands and rivers across Colorado, California, Authorized Organization’s Name and Address: American Whitewater and Washington. The upper New River in Northern California (pictured) would be among those new P.O. Box 1540 designations, alongside a number of other new Wild and Scenic and land protections in the Cullowhee, NC 28723 watersheds of this whitewater rich region. Photo by Scott Harding PURPOSE

processes, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, whitewater rivers, as well as river recreation, RIVER STEWARDSHIP: empowerment of volunteers, public outreach and conservation, access, and safety. This is accomplished AN INTEGRATED APPROACH education, and, when necessary, legal action. through our bi-monthly AW Journal, a monthly e-news, americanwhitewater.org, paddling events, RIVER ACCESS: To assure public access to whitewater Our mission: “To conserve and restore America’s educational events, and through direct communication rivers pursuant to the guidelines published in its whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities with the press. to enjoy them safely,” is actively pursued through official Access Policy, AW arranges for river access our conservation, access, safety and education efforts through private lands by negotiation or purchase, Together, AW staff, members, volunteers, and affiliate under the umbrella of River Stewardship. The only seeks to protect the right of public passage on all rivers clubs can achieve our goals of conserving, protecting national organization representing the interest of and streams navigable by or , encourages and restoring America’s whitewater resources all whitewater paddlers, American Whitewater is the equitable and responsible management of whitewater and enhancing opportunities to safely enjoy these national voice for thousands of individual whitewater rivers on public lands, and works with government wonderful rivers. agencies and other river users to achieve these goals. enthusiasts, as well as over 100 local paddling AW was incorporated under Missouri nonprofit club affiliates. SAFETY: AW promotes paddling safely, publishes corporation laws in 1961 and maintains its principal AW’s River Stewardship program adheres to the four reports on whitewater accidents, maintains a uniform mailing address at PO Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723; tenets of our mission statement: national ranking system for whitewater rivers (the phone 1-866-BOAT-4-AW (1-866-262-8429). AW is International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty) and tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal CONSERVATION: AW’s professional staff works publishes and disseminates the internationally- Revenue Service. closely with volunteers and partner organizations recognized American Whitewater Safety Code. to protect the ecological and scenic values of all whitewater rivers. These goals are accomplished EDUCATION: AW shares information with the through direct participation in public decision-making general public and the paddling community regarding

American Whitewater Board of Directors & Staff Journal Staff BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Tulley Bob Nasdor Folsom, CA NE Stewardship Director Editor Ambrose Tuscano Brent Austin P.O. Box 913, Soda Springs, California 95728 [email protected] Sudbury, MA Lexington, KY e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Graphic Design/Production/Photo Editor Megan Seifert Charlie Walbridge, Honorary Thomas O’Keefe Melissa Driver [email protected] Assistant Editors Patricia Rutka, Erica J. Seifert, Barry Tuscano Pacific NW Stewardship Director Asheville, NC Bruceton Mills, WV Seattle, WA Contributing Writers [email protected] Mark Singleton, Thomas O’Keefe, Hattie Johnson, American Courtney Wilton [email protected] Whitewater Stewardship Team, Lisa Ronald, Adam Goshorn, Susan Elliott [email protected] Bethany Overfield Evan Stafford, Charlie Walbridge, Julie Titone, David Hablewitz Lyle, WA Portland, OR Membership Director Photo Contributors [email protected] Scott Harding, Eric Mickelson, April McEwen, Leif Embertson, BOARD OFFICERS Lexington, KY Wilson Survey, Michael Deckert, Bethany Overfield, Mike Harvey, Christopher Hest President: Chris bethany@americanwhitewater. Zachary Collier, Evan Stafford, Hannah Harris, Ben Schuberg, Chico, CA org John Howard, Adam Goshorn, Thomas O’Keefe, Neuenschwander ––Julie Titone, David Hablewitz [email protected] Vice President: Brent Austin Theresa Simsiman Industry Partnerships and Adverstising: Mark Singleton Brian Jacobson California Stewardship Director e-mail: [email protected] Long Creek, SC Secretary: Erin Savage Sacramento, CA Safety Editor Charlie Walbridge [email protected] Treasurer: Brian Jacobson [email protected] Route 1, Box 329F, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 e-mail: [email protected] Greg Lee At Large: Melissa Driver and Mark Singleton Executive Director Stewardship Reports Editor West Lebanon, NH Chris Tulley Evan Stafford [email protected] [email protected] Cullowhee, NC AW STAFF [email protected] Missing Copies and Address Changes Bethany Overfield [email protected] Megi Morishita Kevin Colburn Evan Stafford Bend, Oregon National Stewardship Director Communications Director Founded in 1954, American Whitewater is a national non-profit organization (Non-profit # 23- Asheville, NC 7083760) with a mission “to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance [email protected] Fort Collins, CO opportunities to enjoy them safely.” American Whitewater is a membership organization representing [email protected] a broad diversity of individual whitewater enthusiasts, river conservationists, and more than 100 [email protected] local paddling club affiliates across America. The organization is the primary advocate for the April Montgomery preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States, and connects the Scott Harding Dave Steindorf interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve Norwood, CO the goals within its mission. All rights to information contained in this publication are reserved. Stewardship Associate Special Projects Director [email protected] Forks of Salmon, CA Chico, CA [email protected] [email protected] Chris Neuenschwander Pike Road, AL Hattie Johnson Laura Wilson EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER Southern Rockies Stewardship The opinions expressed in the features and Chris.Neuenschwander@jackson- Finance Manager thornton.com Director Cullowhee, NC editorials of American Whitewater are those of Carbondale, CO the individual authors. They do not necessarily [email protected] represent those of the Directors of American Erin Savage [email protected] Whitewater or the editors of this publication. Asheville, NC Kestrel Kunz On occasion, American Whitewater publishes [email protected] official organizational policy statements drafted Southern Rockies Associate and approved by the Board of Directors. These Stewardship Director policy statements will be clearly identified. Crested Butte, CO [email protected]

4 americanwhitewater.org THE JOURNEY AHEAD

very time I send an email through seek land and water conservation, public superpower to be leveraged fully as we my American Whitewater account river access, flow information, advocate for the stewardship of rivers. there is a text block in the footer and flow releases that benefit the aquatic You’ll hear from us regularly on issues that Ethat reads, “American Whitewater is the ecosystem, as well as recreation. We have affect the places you paddle, asking for primary advocate for the preservation and a proven track record of success with each your engagement through simple online protection of whitewater rivers throughout of these goals. These enhancements create tools that provide direct and meaningful the United States and connects the interests a triple bottom line: They provide local comments to decision makers. It only takes of human-powered recreational river users communities a sustainable economic base, a minute and your comment might just be with ecological and science-based data to they result in healthier rivers, and they the critical tipping point in a crucial issue restore and protect rivers.” But what does provide opportunities for healthy, nature- affecting a whitewater river. that mean? based recreation. Reconnecting people and communities with their rivers creates an Next time you get an email from me and The reason I use this language is it captures enthusiastic and lasting constituency for see the footer at the bottom, realize it’s how I view our mission work here at rivers. We call this integrated approach to more than just words on your screen. It American Whitewater. It means, first, that our mission river stewardship and pursue it represents real, on-the-ground work to our national organization is the leading in three tracks: Protect, Restore, and Enjoy. protect the places that are important to us. group in protecting whitewater rivers. Where are whitewater rivers located? PROTECT Take care of your paddling and rivers will In headwaters, where gradient is most To protect rivers, we celebrate public take care of you, likely to occur. Second, we represent the lands, champion Wild and Scenic and other interests of human-powered recreational designations, defend rivers from and river users. It doesn’t matter what you diversions, and advocate for clean water. paddle. Yes, many of us kayak; but , We treasure wild rivers and celebrate raft, SUPs, pack rafts, and river boards the wildness inherent in all rivers. We are all ways to connect with rivers. Hikers believe that free-flowing rivers should stay appreciate whitewater rivers too. If you that way. paddle, you likely hike as well (who hasn’t walked around a rapid, or simply viewed RESTORE a rapid and gazed in awe). The important To restore rivers, we negotiate new and point is that we are human-powered in improved flows at dams and diversions, the pursuit of interacting with whitewater and work toward removals, where rivers. Finally, we use science-based data appropriate. We’ve proven that rivers and the inherent quality of nature to are resilient and often bounce back support our work. Years ago, when we from degradation far more quickly were just ramping up our program in the than predicted. southern Rockies, I heard a story about a river manager who, after attending one of ENJOY our town hall-style meetings on river flows, To help the public enjoy rivers, we defend said, “Until you guys showed up, trying to the right to paddle rivers, secure areas for get paddlers to agree on flow levels was like public access to rivers, share information nailing Jell-O to the wall.” No other group on rivers, host events, and encourage knows headwater rivers as well as we do sustainable use and safety on the water and can collect and present solid social and through education. scientific data on impacts to those places. As river lovers and paddlers, it’s our We’ve been through an era of increasing ability to lean forward and tell compelling threats to rivers and their surrounding real stories about places and rivers public lands. Our focus moving forward that are important to us that enables is to make sure the paddling public has our stewardship efforts. That ability access to rivers that are well managed to keep it real makes us a force; it’s our for their recreational and ecological unique superpower! As we move into the values. On each project we work on, we coming year, it is American Whitewater’s

Mar/Apr 2021 5 MIDDLE FORK NOOKSACK RIVER: A 30-YEAR CONSERVATION STORY OF PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND RENEWAL BY THOMAS O’KEEFE

Jamie Klein enjoying the Clearwater, as Chris Tretwold and Leif Embertson wait in the eddy upstream. This major of the Middle Fork Nooksack River was threatened by hydropower development until federal regulators pulled the plug in 2003. Photo by Eric Mickelson

he Middle Fork Nooksack River is into law. The Middle Fork Nooksack letter to the developer, the Washington one of Washington’s whitewater Dam was among the sites identified for Department of Ecology wrote, “...at our treasures, flowing through a hydropower development. meeting last November, I emphasized the dramaticT gorge and brought to life during importance of ensuring that instream flows winter rain events. It’s the kind of place Until 2020, the Middle Fork Diversion Dam for your project protect not only flows for that only attracts the most dedicated on the Nooksack River in Washington was fish and wildlife habitat, but scenic and paddlers, willing to endure the hardships a 25‐foot high, 125‐foot long concrete aesthetic values as well.” The developer of cold weather, temperamental drysuit dam built in 1961 to divert water to reached out to American Whitewater and zippers, and flows that can be notoriously Lake Whatcom, the City of Bellingham’s Rich was tasked with assembling a team difficult to forecast. For those who make primary water supply. Dam construction to investigate the Middle Fork Nooksack. the commitment however, it is a magical did not include fish passage facilities, but Michael Deckert was volunteering on the place where forest health is improving and STS Hydropower Ltd. had ideas for adding Nisqually project that was undergoing a dam has recently been removed. It’s an fish passage at the Middle Fork Dam and relicensing at the time and agreed to go opportunity to reflect back on some of generating hydropower at the site as part of check out the Middle Fork Nooksack. the history over the past 30 years and our their Heisler’s Creek Hydroelectric Project. community’s connection to this place. Michael’s team, including Tom Wolfe, As planning for the project got underway, Gary Korb, and Shawn Wickstrom, set out Hydropower Proposed American Whitewater’s then National to explore the river on May 29th, 1993. The early 1990s saw the subsiding wake of Conservation Director Rich Bowers Michael can’t say for certain if it was the the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act remembered it as the first time a developer first descent but “we didn’t know anything of 1978 that fueled a veritable gold rush reached out to the whitewater paddling about it.” They put in near the Clearwater for independent power producers trying community to inquire about instream and paddled down to the dam to stake a claim on sites for hydropower flow needs for recreation. Through the site where the river enters a dramatic gorge development. Dozens of sites were advocacy efforts of American Whitewater, with one of the more challenging on considered in the Nooksack River basin and resources agencies, including the National the run where the walls constrict the river; dreams of putting this river and its major Park Service and Washington Department they named it Icebox Paradise. The take- in pipes were hatched by those of Ecology, were becoming increasingly out was at Mosquito Lake Road. On that looking to profit from the new developer- aware of the need to evaluate instream exploratory trip they found breathtaking friendly provisions that had been enacted flow needs for recreation. In a 1992 scenery and classic whitewater. Michael

6 americanwhitewater.org STEWARDSHIP remembers that day, nearly three decades It’s Time to Remove the Dam Traditional Cultural Property. Removing ago, reflecting, “that was a really great Since 2002, the City of Bellingham, WA and the dam would open more than 26 miles of run.” The group returned for another run fishery co-managers had been seeking a habitat for threatened salmon, steelhead, on July 11, 1993. Shortly thereafter, interest solution to the dilemma of how to restore and bull trout but would also be a healing in hydropower development waned as the fish passage at the Middle Fork Nooksack act for the river itself. reality of the poor economic prospects of Diversion Dam as a result of an agreement the project became apparent. between the city, the Lummi Nation, the Various solutions were considered from Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Washington 2002 - 2016, including variations Dreams of hydropower development die Department of Fish and Wildlife. American and building hardened infrastructure in hard, and soon developers were at it again, Whitewater joined the conversation with the river at the dam site so that exploring the potential of the Clearwater, a letter to the city that same year. While water would flow into the existing diversion a major tributary of the Middle Fork we saw a conservation opportunity, the tunnel by gravity. Nooksack for hydropower development. Tribes saw the river itself as a bridge to At the time, it was becoming one of the their ancestors. The Middle Fork Nooksack American Whitewater and Conservation more popular creek runs in the Middle (Nuxwt’iqw’em) and its salmon relatives Northwest met with the city over several Fork Nooksack drainage. Planning for are a significant part of their cultural years in support of the effort to remove a proposed hydroelectric project was identity, and the river is recognized as a the dam as the Tribes and fish management undertaken. Despite objections from the local tribes and the State Department of Natural Resources, which had adopted a new Habitat Conservation Plan to better protect the forest along the Clearwater, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission continued to move forward with an Environmental Impact Statement that recommended development of the project as a “dependable source of electrical energy” with “extensive environmental mitigation measures” that would “minimize or avoid impacts.” As the developer began to miss deadlines, it became clear that the whole effort lacked the necessary finances. American Whitewater worked with local tribes and state and county agencies, and then filed a Motion for Dismissal of the ill- advised project. A month later the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission indeed dismissed the project.

Having successfully defended the river from new hydropower development, it became apparent that we had an opportunity not only to protect the drainage, but to restore the river.

The Middle Fork Nooksack Dam (above) and the site shortly after dam removal (below), with channel restoration work underway in the summer of 2020. Photo by April McEwen

Mar/Apr 2021 7 8 americanwhitewater.org Evan Stafford enjoying the whitewater of the Middle Fork Nooksack in the gorge downstream of the dam site. Photo by Leif Embertson

Mar/Apr 2021 9 STEWARDSHIP

removal program in the Pacific Northwest as a unique opportunity. She interviewed from New Zealand, accepted the job offer, and began work in Seattle on July 5, 2017.

April held a project kickoff meeting with American Rivers and City of Bellingham leadership a month later. At that time, the already aggressive project timeline proposed under the grant agreement was approximately eight months behind schedule. It was emblematic of a project that had languished for nearly two decades, despite being a top priority in the region. Skepticism among the original key partners April McEwen on the first descent of Six Amigas, the new rapid at the site of the former was high that someone new to the region Middle Fork Nooksack Dam. and new to the tight club of salmon Photo by Wilson Survey recovery engineers and advocates could actually make the project happen after so agencies continued to push fish passage and opportunities for river restoration their many years of inaction. The project was at the site. The City proposed a previous removal presented. high-profile with many stakeholders, and design alternative in 2016 for the Puget had real constructability challenges: it Sound Acquisition and Restoration Shortly after viewing the film, Microsoft was located in a remote and hazardous Program, a statewide program to fund large co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen Class V river setting and also required capital projects, through the Puget Sound approached the team at his foundation innovative river restoration and water Partnership. That funding application was to see what he could do to accelerate the infrastructure engineering and technology ranked 11th in priority for a number of pace of removal of outdated dams. He was to meet coequal goals of providing fish reasons, including proposed design and inspired by the film and had a long interest passage and maintaining the city’s water lack of expertise needed to carry out the in ocean health and Pacific Northwest supply from the site. In addition, the new project. Despite the fact that the project ecosystems. American Whitewater joined private foundation was investing in a new was the number one priority action in the a meeting with other river conservationists program area and required the project to Salmon Recovery Plan for the watershed, hosted by the Paul G. Allen Family reach implementation under a seemingly a design that would allow dam removal Foundation. In late 2016, American Rivers impossible timeline to achieve a national and maintain the city’s water supply had received a grant to hire a Project Manager record for a project of this complexity. not been yet developed. Despite years of and seed funding for technical planning In April’s words it was an “awesome meetings and conversations, it seemed the work to begin on the Middle Fork Nooksack challenge” that required evaluation of project would never get underway but it Dam removal project. the socio-political and environmental just needed the right spark to light the fire. factors to develop a well-informed project With funding in hand, American Rivers management plan. The adaptive strategies Paul Allen Takes a Personal put out the job announcement and found developed would effectively leverage Interest the right person to start making things new partnerships and their skill sets or Patagonia has long supported American happen. April McEwen, an accomplished funding to overcome major challenges in Whitewater and many other groups to Class V kayaker who grew up on the famed getting from stakeholder re-engagement prevent dams and remove those where Chattooga River in the Southeast, had put and project initiation through a science environmental and social costs outweigh her career working on fish passage and based design process, federal/state/local any benefits. Founder Yvon Chouinard dam removal in California on hold and had permitting, and fundraising to reach project made the initial investment that provided moved New Zealand to work for a year as a implementation and completion in less the resources for our engagement in safety kayaker on the Rangitata River. As an than two years. hydropower licensing over 30 years ago, interdisciplinary river scientist and project and in 2014 he produced the film Dam manager, April saw the job announcement Project Planning Underway Nation, highlighting the impacts of dams and recognized the challenge to manage The first step to getting the project the project and build American Rivers’ dam underway was all about development:

10 americanwhitewater.org developing relationships with original species resiliency. Ultimately, efforts were steelhead, and the people of the Nooksack project partners, developing new rewarded when the project was scored as Indian Tribe and the Lummi Nation who relationships, and developing a project the highest ranked Puget Sound Acquisition have depended on the resources this river management plan that would guide the and Restoration Fund capital project in provides since time immemorial. Sadly, project in meeting its partner coordination Washington State to receive $10.6 million. Paul Allen did not live to see the project needs, technical design and permitting The seed funding of $2.9 million from the completed, but this removal effort and timeline, and would make it highly Paul Allen Family Foundation was leveraged his investment in watershed restoration competitive for public funding that could to secure salmon recovery dollars from that continues are part of his legacy to only be acquired in a certain timeframe state and federal sources, investment the region. with a fully supported and shovel-ready from the City of Bellingham, and to secure design status. As a scientist and kayaker the $23 million in funding required for the The Future: Wild and Scenic who understood both the engineering work project to be completed. The dam was Proposed behind fish passage and the aesthetics of removed and the river restored by August Looking to the future, American the Middle Fork Nooksack, April worked 2020. In describing her relationship to the Whitewater has led an effort with American with the consultant design team to use a river, April stated “the [Middle Fork] river Rivers and local community members to geomorphic-based design approach that gives me beauty, happiness, adventure permanently protect the Nooksack River would remove the dam and restore the forever. All I have to do is use river logic, and its major tributaries from hydropower river to a natural self-maintaining condition apply everything I have learned, and work development under the Wild and Scenic without the use of hardened engineered with others to take the concrete out so she Rivers Act. Our vision is a river system that structures for fish passage. The City of can be free forever.” can be protected and enhanced for its fish Bellingham’s Project Engineer, Steve Day and wildlife, recreation, and community oversaw development of the water supply Now that the dam is gone, April reflects values. Our projects can take many years aspects. In collaboration with the partner back on an experience that is a testimony to complete, but we are proud of what we Design Review team, the project targeted to the effectiveness of partnerships and have accomplished in the Nooksack River more than fish passage but also innovative commitment to the outcome so many watershed with our partners as we reflect water supply infrastructure that would folks wanted in “the most beautiful place back on our 30 years of involvement in substantially reduce environmental impact I will ever get to work.” The Middle Fork these conservation and restoration efforts. to achieve environmental sustainability Nooksack is indeed a spectacular setting and allow for greater community and for whitewater kayakers, salmon and

Tom Wolf finds the line in the Middle Fork Nooksack Gorge as Gary Korb waits in the eddy on an early descent to explore the recreational potential of the Middle Fork Nooksack River when it was considered for hydropower development in July 1993. Photo by Michael Deckert

Mar/Apr 2021 11 STEWARDSHIP WATER RIGHTS TO KEEP WATER IN COLORADO’S RIVERS: PROTECTING FLOWS FOR RECREATION, WILDLIFE, AND LOCAL ECONOMIES BY HATTIE JOHNSON

This naturally occurring wave on the Yampa is not eligible for legal right to the water that creates it. Photo by Bethany Overfield

s soon as the snow starts to melt This law made it possible to protect river protect recreational flows. Without that in the , paddlers are eager flow by building a whitewater park, called legal right to the water, future users of to enjoy Colorado’s technical Recreational In Channel Diversions (RICDs). water could continue to deplete river flows. Acreeks, high volume rivers, and desert However, tying water rights to these man- . However, as the climate changes made features does not recognize existing Economies are shifting throughout Colorado and the state’s population continues to recreation and building whitewater as the country shifts away from extractive boom, Colorado is faced with diminishing parks is economically infeasible for many industries. Many communities are turning water supplies. The outstanding communities. The law needs an to their rivers as a sustainable resource recreational opportunities flowing rivers update to ensure there will be water in our and valuable alternative economic engine. provide are central to a vibrant and growing rivers for future generations. Updating RICD water rights will allow for economy. Many Colorado communities are broader protection of recreational flows increasingly reliant upon the businesses, River recreation provides Colorado with and create certainty that recreation can quality of life, and public health that are nearly $19B in economic output, $2.7B in tax continue and support the local economy bolstered by healthy, flowing rivers. revenue, and provides 131,000 jobs¹. There built around it. are 6.7M recreationists who provide key Our water resources must be shared economic diversity to small communities ¹Business For Water Stewardship, & and protected for many important uses. around the state. The next evolution of Southwick Associates. (2020). The Economic In 2001, the state legislature recognized RICD water rights would define naturally Contributions of Water- related Outdoor that recreation—whitewater paddling, occurring features and rapids as “control Recreation in Colorado (Tech.). Fernandina specifically—was one of those uses and structures’’ and provide communities with Beach, Florida: Southwick Associates made it legally eligible for water rights. the ability to own water rights that would

12 americanwhitewater.org Glenwood Wave on the , a man-made feature, is eligible for water rights under current law. Photo by Mike Harvey

Mar/Apr 2021 13 DAY-ONE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND WHITEWATER RECREATION BY AMERICAN WHITEWATER STEWARDSHIP TEAM

The unbelievable water quality of the Chetco River’s Magic Canyon (OR). Photo by Zachary Collier

n January 20th, the first day rivers projects. Recent changes to rules Some states and environmental groups of Joe Biden’s presidency, the governing implementation of the law have already challenged this rulemaking new administration released significantly undermined the Act’s efficacy. in court, however, this executive action Oa far-reaching decree, the “Executive The previous administration released new has the power to restore public input in Order on Protecting Public Health and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) federal land management decisions and the Environment and Restoring Science rules that shortened the time frame for establish NEPA environmental reviews for to Tackle the Climate Crisis.” The order completing environmental studies, limited projects where they should be required, covers a number of priorities American the types of projects subject to review, in a more timely manner than the courts. Whitewater has been advocating for, and no longer required federal agencies Revisiting this rule guidance from the CEQ including reinstating Clean Water Act to account for a project’s cumulative is a priority for American Whitewater and protections, bringing back environmental effects on the environment, such as climate many other river stewardship, public land, reviews and public input in major federal change. The rules, exempting a significant and environmental justice advocates. projects, restoring national monument amount of projects from environmental boundaries, returning power to states to review, not only led to worse ecological Projects with significant effects to regulate water quality below hydropower outcomes, but severely restricted public whitewater rivers regularly are subject to projects, and much more. The new input on federal management decision- the NEPA review process and this process, in administration’s executive actions will making. NEPA environmental reviews are many cases, is the main avenue in by which affect whitewater recreation in a number the main opportunity for the public to American Whitewater and our community of significant ways and we’ve decided to find out about and comment on federal can intervene. Projects like the recently outline here these effects and what work projects, even if their concerns are more halted Oro Vista dredge mining proposal will still need to be done to make sure they shaped by recreation issues, such as near the put-in for the classic Numbers run benefit boaters and people who love rivers. maintaining access. on the Arkansas River (CO) are regularly altered through the environmental review Restoring Public Input and The new administration through the January process when there’s an outpouring of Strong Environmental Reviews 20th “Executive Order on Protecting concern from the public. Sometimes to Federal Projects Public Health and the Environment and the agency reviewing a project may be The National Environmental Policy Act Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate unaware that boating is a valued activity (NEPA) is the essential law outlining Crisis” has ordered a review of these on an affected river and public input can environmental review for public lands and changes to the CEQ NEPA regulations. help detail not only how detrimental the

14 americanwhitewater.org STEWARDSHIP potential effect of a project may be, but order and that the implementation of the boundaries of both monuments should also enlighten them as to how cherished a National Environmental Policy Act will be be restored. river stretch may be for its myriad values, restored to its proper place as one of the including recreation, scenery, solitude, main safeguards for our country’s public In December of 2017, the previous wildlife, etc. Take the currently proposed lands and waters. administration shrank those monument gold mine in the headwaters of the South boundaries by nearly 85%, just one year Fork Salmon (ID), for instance. With Bears Ears and Grand Staircase- after their original designation. At that over 3,000 comments from the paddling Escalante Monuments on the time, American Whitewater analyzed the community alone (over 10,000 all together) Path to Restoration number of river miles affected by this in their initial public input process, the As a part of the day one executive order on reduction. Bears Ears lost protections Forest Service is now well aware of how “Protecting Public Health and Environment for 28.4 miles of the original 34 miles of significant a whitewater resource they are and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate the San Juan and Colorado Rivers in the managing and of the potential impact were Crisis,” the new administration directed change. In Grand Staircase-Escalante, all the mine allowed to go forward. the Secretary of the Interior—along with of the Paria River (5.5 miles) was removed the Attorney General, Secretaries of from protection while all of the Escalante The NEPA review process is a critical law Agriculture and Commerce, the Chair of remained covered. This loss in protected that must be applied broadly to federal the Council on Environmental Quality, river miles along with the loss of designated management decisions. Adequate time and Tribal Governments—to review the lands opened this incredible landscape up frames for completing studies, robust boundary changes made by the previous to resource extraction such as mining for guidelines for projects subject to review, administration of Bears Ears and Grand coal and drilling for oil and natural gas. and accounting for cumulative impacts to Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. This map illustrates how the changes in the environment, such as climate change, A report will be provided to the President monument boundaries affect whitewater are in the boating community’s—and the with recommended appropriate actions. paddling and other outdoor recreation. public’s—interest. We hope that these This review and subsequent report will rules will be reviewed and revised in short determine whether or not the original

Upper Colorado River near Dotsero, Colorado. Photo by Evan Stafford

Mar/Apr 2021 15 STEWARDSHIP

Those lucky enough to float the Goosenecks national monuments. We will keep paddlers 2019) that began a rulemaking process of the San Juan know how stunning this informed of the review process and how under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. river is. The petroglyphs and ancient you can speak up for these rivers. We are actively working to encourage the dwellings provide a small glimpse into the administration to begin a new rulemaking lives of a people who lived by the ebb and Protecting Whitewater process that would rescind the recent EPA flow of this amazing river. For many of the Releases Under State Water Section 401 regulations and restore the members of the Bears Ears Tribal Council, Quality Standards vital role of states in protecting our rivers. these archaeological sites are sacred, and Clean water advocates are buoyed by provide a source of food and medicine the recent Executive Order, issued on the The Federal Power Act requires that and a direct connection to their ancestors. first day of the new Biden administration, hydropower projects seeking federal Lasting, permanent preservation of these which revokes a prior executive order that licenses first obtain certification from rivers and lands is not without conflict. Utah resulted in regulations limiting the ability the state that its generation will meet leaders have long opposed protection of of states to require that hydropower dams state water quality standards. Recent these landscapes, however, recently local meet state water quality standards. The EPA regulations that went into effect on governments have supported and asked new Executive Order (“Protecting Public September 11, 2020 limit the ability of the Biden Administration to reestablish the Health and the Environment and Restoring states to prevent hydropower dams from original boundaries. Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,” issued harming aquatic habitat, recreation, and January 20, 2021) revokes Executive Order other resources. These new regulations American Whitewater will remain engaged 13868 (“promoting Energy Infrastructure seek to undermine landmark Supreme and supportive of the restoration of these and Economic Growth,” issued April 10, Court decisions affirming the critical role

16 americanwhitewater.org HEADLINE Reinstating the original boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah would protect significantly more of the San Juan River and its incredible surrounding landscape. Photo by Evan Stafford

Mar/Apr 2021 17 STEWARDSHIP of states in protecting water quality at AW, along with other environmental Clean Water Act Headwater federally-licensed energy projects. advocates, tribes, and 21 states Protections On Path to and territories, filed suit against the Restoration American Whitewater is spearheading Environmental Protection Agency in July, Within its day-one executive orders, one efforts to protect our rivers from challenging the new regulations under the of the first things the new administration harmful impacts from hydropower Clean Water Act and other laws. Industry did was to start the process of restoring dams by advocating for measures that groups, including the National Hydropower more robust Clean Water Act protections protect aquatic habitat and recreation Association, joined the EPA in defending to our nation’s rivers that were weakened opportunities, including scheduled the new regulations. The EPA is currently under the prior administration, which is whitewater boating releases on scores of in the process of reviewing the recent 401 good news for rivers and paddlers. This iconic whitewater runs. These efforts have regulations and we expect that it will seek first-day executive order signals that a resulted in healthier rivers with sufficient to restore the critical role of the states in new rulemaking is coming that will restore flow and public access throughout the 30- protecting our rivers from harmful effects protections to many headwater and desert to 50-year license term. of hydropower dams. streams, in particular, which will certainly

Flow releases, like the ones on the Bear River in Idaho, support whitewater recreation and its coinciding economic impacts, while also helping to meet ecological goals and state water quality standards. Photo by Hannah Harris

18 americanwhitewater.org restore protections for many downstream whether and which headwater streams and of rivers that any American can paddle, river reaches and their communities, wetlands are covered. Court decisions have fish, and swim in without fear of pollution too. Rulemaking often takes two or more caused as much confusion as clarity over poisoning decades ago. We’ve largely years and has multiple opportunities for the years, Congress has failed to resolve accomplished that goal while allowing all public input. the matter, and administrations are left the industry and economic growth we enjoy to fill the void with rules that take years in our country today. The Clean Water Act is The Clean Water Act regulates pollution to produce and are then replaced by the as important today as ever, and headwater discharges into waterways in order to next administration. streams need basic protections restored. protect public health, recreation, and the environment. It is largely responsible for American Whitewater has a long track We’ll be tracking this issue and keeping boaters being able to paddle rivers without record of supporting science-based paddlers informed so that we can speak up fear of pollution harming our health. While implementation of the Clean Water Act for the incredible value of the clean healthy most people agree that the Clean Water that accomplishes the goals of the Act. rivers we all know and love. Act covers large rivers, there is debate over As a nation, we are committed to a vision

Mar/Apr 2021 19 WILDERNESS PACKRAFTING = EXTREME INNER TUBING STORY BY LISA RONALD PHOTOS BY BEN SCHUBERG

Start of the Meadow Creek Gorge

20 americanwhitewater.org WILDERNESS PADDLING

Youngs Creek offers views of Montana’s largest wilderness

f it wasn’t for the adrenaline and days earlier at the headwaters of Youngs hike to reach its floatable headwaters. In the giggle-factor, I’d be freezing,” Creek, which forms the South Fork Flathead late June, at what is still considered high my boyfriend and paddling partner at its confluence with Danaher Creek. water for this drainage, Youngs Creek is “Isaid, as we made our way down the White floatable for about five miles. This truly River, deep in the heart of Montana’s Bob In 1965, American Whitewater organized natural stream—sinuous and woody Marshall Wilderness. The temperature was its first trip down the South Fork Flathead with upwellings, rocky constrictions, and dropping, and it was raining steadily. My River (AW members can search our online log jam —flows through two numb hands weren’t sure they still held the archive at: americanwhitewater.org/ distinct past burns that afford expansive paddle, but as each ice-cold, milky wave content/Journal for page 9 of the Spring views of Montana’s largest wilderness. It’s splashed over my bow and right down my 1965 issue). Unlike back then, when 30 impossible not to feel small in this place. middle section, I giggled and shrieked with horses carried a 300-pound, 10-man raft, the unbridled glee of a teenage girl on a three lighter rafts, and four foldboats, The lower reaches of Youngs Creek float by rollercoaster. Extreme inner tubing is the modern packrafters can access the South the massive hole-in-the-wall escarpment only way I can describe this wilderness Fork Flathead River if they’re simply willing and then through the lower gorge. Its packrafting adventure. to shoulder a heavy pack for several days remoteness and possibility of wood make of hiking. Use has increased so much in the lower gorge a fast Class IV scouting- A remote, continuous Class II run, the White recent years that the U.S. Forest Service required section raging between rock River’s milky turquoise water, colored by is currently considering permits and cliffs. The trail running all the way along limestone, joins the South Fork Flathead regulations to reduce impacts during the Youngs Creek and the South Fork Flathead Wild and Scenic River as its largest tributary. short summer season. Even so, this river provides easy access to this Our journey had actually started several is hard to get to, requiring an 18-plus-mile whitewater section.

Mar/Apr 2021 21 SURGE [ surj ] A sudden powerful movement through the river.

HI-VIS BLADE CHALLENGING RUN CONFIDENCE #healthywaters WILDERNESS PADDLING

Once Youngs Creek joins Danaher Creek, the South Fork Flathead Wild and Scenic River officially begins. Later season boaters must trek all the way here for water deep enough to float, but later season fishing for cut-throat and bull trout is considered optimal.

Add to natural wonder the rich historical significance of the area. Three historical cabins are still used by the Forest Service. Big Prairie Historic Ranger Station was established in 1904 and moved to its current location in 1912. It is accessible only by trail or water and serves as a work center for summer crews that continue to maintain trails using crosscut saws and pack strings. Rangers and volunteers happily give a 15-minute tour of the existing historical buildings.

After passing Big Prairie, the White River joins the South Fork Flathead via a large, braided cobblestone . A six-mile hike up the White River provides lofty views of Needle Falls, a unique with underground channels that cause eerie intermittent bellowing to echo against the canyon walls as the water builds and flushes within the channels. Runnable only in the early season, the lowest four miles of the White River, from the confluence with its south fork to the confluence with the South Fork Flathead, was a rowdy, splashy highlight of our trip.

Additional side hikes include Big Salmon Lake, the largest lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and Mud Lake Mountain Lookout. For only the most adventurous of cavers, and for the rest of us who might only watch this sort of thing on YouTube, the Tears of the Turtle cave entrance sits

Above: Big Prairie Ranger Station, a fix- ture in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1904 Middle: The South Fork Flathead offers seasonally excellent fishing opportunities Below: The White River is the SF Flat- head’s largest tributary

Mar/Apr 2021 23 2021GOESVIRTUAL npff.org NATIONALPADDLINGFILMFESTIVAL

2020 Still Image Winner "Snowy Descent" by Charlie Munsey VIRTUALLIVEEVENT: 4.20.2021 SHOW US YOUR BOOFS TICKETS $35 FILM & STILL IMAGE purchase/details: npff.org ENTRY DEADLINE: 3.10.2021 npff.org VIEW ALL SUBMISSIONS LIVE EVENT the WEEK PRIOR and the features door prizes, guest host WEEK AFTER LIVE EVENT appearances & film debuts ALL PROCEEDS benefit river conservation & access WILDERNESS PADDLING high above the river’s edge. At nearly 1,700 Meadow Creek Gorge. Runnable at very eight-day trip left ample time for side hikes, feet deep, it is the deepest limestone cave high or very low flows, the river narrows to as well as blister recovery and an unplanned in the United States. less than four feet wide in places and has inclement weather layover. Both of the undercut rocks, potential river-wide logs, latter are always possibilities in Montana’s This trip began with a lot of hiking and ended steep drops, and powerful hydraulics that backcountry, but the wet, splashy giggles with, well, more hiking. Approximately three make scouting difficult. Most packrafters of extreme backcountry inner tubing are miles above the Meadow Creek Trailhead, choose not to run this section and instead a certainty. which is the first access point when exiting hike out along a well-used stock trail. While the wilderness, is the beginning of the this entire trip is doable in five days, our

Crossing Youngs Creek near the end of the hiking

Mar/Apr 2021 25 EXPLORING SAINT MARY’S RIVER BY ADAM GOSHORN

Adam Goshorn running Saint Mary’s Falls on Saint Mary’s River. Photo by John Howard

e were in trouble. Brandon at the time (now wife) that my interest probable first descent on our way to Saint missed the eddy and started was really piqued. First, we hiked upstream Mary’s. The East Fork of Elk Creek was getting worked in a hole. Not from the bottom of the and made it shorter, less difficult, and had easy access. Wknowing what was around the next bend, I as far as Saint Mary’s Falls. The section we It didn’t take us long to complete the run, started to head for shore, thinking I should had seen included several slide sequences, but the result was that we didn’t even start get out my rope. Just then, he flipped a few boulder gardens, and the falls itself. hiking in to Saint Mary’s until around 1 p.m. again, and as his boat surfed upside down It also seemed clear that hiking up from the in the hole, his head popped up five feet bottom with boats would not be the best When we arrived at the river, it was downstream. I franticly peeled out to give option. After getting a tip from a friend, the clearly high. In front of us was a torrent chase as he washed out of sight around second hike was much more fruitful. From of water moving quickly downstream with the corner in continuous, pushy water. I the parkway, an easy two-mile, downhill few eddies. The level was much higher paddled hard, trying to catch up. I knew hike along Mine Creek brought us to than we expected and we had no idea a badly placed log could be dangerous for its confluence with the river and the two what it would be like downstream where both of us, but to do anything else would miles between there and the falls looked the river squeezed between the walls of be to leave Brandon to fend for himself. really promising. Saint Mary’s River had just the gorge. Since there were no exposed moved to the top of my exploratory list. rocks or river banks, we had to smash Saint Mary’s Wilderness Area is composed our boats down on top of bushes just to of the entire watershed of the Saint Mary’s In September 2006, as Virginia was getting launch. Despite this section of the river River, which drains the western slope of pounded by heavy rains, Brandon Hughett having relatively mild gradient, it moved us the Blue Ridge Parkway in central Virginia. and I drove late into the night, arriving at quickly downstream with its fast currents Because it is just over the ridge from the my parent’s house around 2 a.m. After a and wave trains. After dodging a few trees, classic North Fork of the Tye run, it had few hours of sleep, we got up early, hoping we managed to eddy out on the left at the been marked on my topo map for years. to take full advantage of this biblical rain entrance to the gorge. We bushwhacked However, it wasn’t until I had completed a event. At this point, I got a little greedy. I through the rhododendron to scout couple of scouting hikes with my girlfriend talked Brandon into going to run another the first few larger rapids and it wasn’t

26 americanwhitewater.org WILDERNESS PADDLING looking good. There were huge holes with impressive backwashes, surging eddies of floating debris, and no end in sight. So, the portaging began and we hadn’t run many rapids by the time we reached Saint Mary’s Falls.

The falls itself was raging and we were in the edge of the water, getting sprayed in the face as we passed our boats down to a ledge on the right. It was an intimidating spot, but the only option seemed to be: slide into the runout of the falls, punch a hole, and paddle hard for the left bank, assuming there would be an eddy just out of sight around the bend. I went first and it turned out to be easier than we expected. I got out of my boat and walked back upstream to signal Brandon and watch him make the same move. From there, we paddled downstream, skirting holes and moving one eddy at a time—that is, until Brandon’s beatdown became a swim.

I paddled hard to keep Brandon in sight. He disappeared into a steep, river-wide hole about 40 feet in front of me. I drove all the way right and managed to ramp up on the wall to boof over the hole and as I landed, he resurfaced downstream. Thankfully, a recirculating eddy on the right reunited us and allowed us to get out of the water. The trail was on our side of the river at the moment and we used it to hike downstream as we looked for for Brandon’s boat. A quarter mile later we were able to recover his boat from a pair of logs spanning the river. With nightfall approaching quickly, we decided to stay on the trail and hike downstream as fast as we could, just using our boats to cross the river when necessary. It was getting darker and

Above: John Howard on one of the many low angle slide sequences on the success- ful, low water, second attempt. Photo by Adam Goshorn Middle: Adam Goshorn squeezing by the boulder at the bottom of You Go First Photo by John Howard Bottom: Adam Goshorn on his second run of St Mary’s Falls that day Photo by John Howard

Mar/Apr 2021 27 The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would permanently protect the Dosewallips River (pictured) and 18 other rivers and their major tributaries for a total of 464 river miles on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The bill was recently reintroduced in the House and is expected to be packaged with other Wild and Scenic legislation in a big push for new river and public lands protections this Congress. Photo by Chris Korbulic The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would permanently protect the Dosewallips River (pictured) and 18 other rivers and their major tributaries for a total of 464 river miles on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The bill was recently reintroduced in the House and is expected to be packaged with other Wild and Scenic legislation in a big push for new river and public lands protections this Congress. Photo by Chris Korbulic WILDERNESS PADDLING

Brandon Hughett running Finders Keepers on the successful, low water, second attempt on Saint Mary’s River. Photo by Adam Goshorn

darker, almost too dark to see. I was setting low-angle slides and boulder gardens. Soon side at the bottom, but this time I braced my boat down to dig a headlamp out of my the walls began to tighten and we reached up and paddled away, all smiles. drybag when I saw the moonlight reflecting the four-foot ledge that signaled the off Brandon’s truck, parked less than fifty beginning of the gorge. Just downstream Below the falls we continued to enjoy the yards away. We were out. of what we dubbed “Entrance Ledge” was slides and boulder rapids that remained. a sweet 10-foot drop I couldn’t resist calling We took special note of the rock that likely After being flooded out on our first try, “Finders Keepers,” in honor of the time and formed the hole where Brandon swam, Brandon and I talked frequently about effort that went into finally getting to run as well as the slide into a deep pool that going back at a more reasonable water this river. After a few more rapids, we came had created the enormous hole he swam level. Six months later, in March of 2007, to an interesting slide that tried to squeeze through while I was chasing him. Brandon we got our chance. Most of the river the paddler under an overhanging boulder was quick to point out that he was in front gauges in the region had peaked the day at the bottom, earning it the name “You at that rapid, while swimming, so he had before, so we were confidant we would First.” Soon we arrived at the main event, the perfect name. “I Hope I Go Deep,” he have lower water this time. Now we just Saint Mary’s Falls. After scouting, I decided said, “because that was exactly what I was hoped for enough water to run most of to give the left side a try, even though it thinking.” From there the walls of the gorge the rapids. Joined by Dustin Bunch and almost certainly involved an off-angle began to recede and after negotiating a John Howard, our party of four met, hiked reconnect on the way down. The bounce number of logs in the runout, we made it to in, and arrived at the river before noon. sent me over the handlebars and I landed the end. This was a special day, on a special It was a much different scene from the upside down at the bottom, disorientated run, in a remote and rugged place. We previous attempt. Brandon and I agreed and floundering on a shallow shelf. I pulled had hiked two miles, paddled four miles, that the water level at the put-in seemed the skirt and stood up. Embarrassed, I portaged a number of trees, and run all to be at least a foot lower than last time, a passed my boat back up the river right side of the drops. Upon reaching the take-out difference that likely translated to multiple of the falls in the same spot Brandon and there were smiles and high fives all around. feet in the constricted gorge downstream. I had passed our boats down on our first Then, as is all too often the case with This flow was going to be minimal, but we attempt. On my second run, I angled a few paddling friends, we had to hit the road and were there, committed, and just happy to degrees further right as I went over the lip. drive away from our river lives and back to be putting back on this beautiful river. We The reconnect still pitched me onto my left our jobs and responsibilities… hoping to be worked our way downstream through some reunited by the next rain storm.

30 americanwhitewater.org

STAFF HIGHLIGHT STAFF HIGHLIGHT BETHANY OVERFIELD MEMBERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR BY EVAN STAFFORD Bethany enjoying some quality river time with the rest of some quality of rest the enjoying Bethany with time river Yampa. on crew the AW the Photo by Thomas O’Keefe

How did you get introduced to a love for moving water regardless of the What’s your most embarrassing paddlesports? difficulty and a keen eye for observation. I paddlesports moment? I didn’t start until I was 30 years love paddling with folks who will stop with My most embarrassing moment is also one old. I was feeling lost—my mother had me to check out rocks and bugs and flowers of my favorites. I was at a swiftwater rescue just passed away the year before and I and trees. Rivers are natural highways training on the Russell Fork River and we had just emerged from a long relationship through stunning landscapes—there are were doing strainer exercises in fast moving that wasn’t fueling me. I’d always been so many things to observe! water. I properly got on the correct side an outdoor enthusiast but hadn’t spent of the strainer and was holding on but my much time on whitewater. I saw a flyer for River craft of choice? neoprene shorts were stripped away by a clinic on the Nolichucky River and for roll I’ve had multiple shoulder dislocations the current, the result of which was me sessions at a local pool to prep students and a shoulder surgery, so my kayaking bare-assed in front of the whole group. for the clinic. I didn’t know a soul but just has suffered a great deal from recurring There wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it showed up and the rest is history. I didn’t injuries. At this point, I don’t have a craft but laugh. miss a roll session for months after that and of choice, I just love being on the water. spent the next few years traveling every It is fun to try brand new modes of river What’s your ritual before weekend to kayak. It was a glorious release transportation after kayaking for many running an intimidating rapid for me. It was the fuel I needed. years—taking an OC-1 down an easy stretch for the first time? makes a familiar river seem new, which is I visualize where I want to go and come Who has influenced you the always super fun. I mix it up now more than up with a plan. Just kidding—I find a place most in your paddlesport I used to. to poop! career? I can think of so many people. I prefer not Tell us something that few to single one person out but each of my people would know about you. heroes share similar traits that encompass I’m terrified of balloons.

32 americanwhitewater.org What was the first AW project Favorite river snack? What’s something you wished you engaged with? Peanut butter on anything. more people knew about AW? I did a lot of volunteer work for the National Paddling Film Festival and was the Director How long have you worked for We have a small but mighty staff of 13! I’m for a few years. The focus of NPFF is to AW? always so amazed at the amount of work highlight the best in paddlesports videos For just over two years. I was a research we get done. Lots of folks don’t know that and still images but it’s also a significant geologist for around 17 years and we have volunteers who help propel much fundraiser for organizations like AW decided to mix things up quite a bit in of our work. From grants to IT to festival that are dedicated to river conservation my professional life when I saw that parking lot help—we couldn’t do what we and access. During my work with NPFF, I AW was looking for a new Membership do without our super volunteers! developed a great relationship with Mark Director. I genuinely love working with Singleton. NPFF wasn’t technically an AW people, and after talking mainly only to project but it opened the door for me to rocks for so many years, the transition peek inside of the organization. seemed like a fun idea. And it has been!

Mar/Apr 2021 33 REMEMBERANCE MEMORIES OF STEWART GREENLEAF, PADDLER AND LEGISLATOR BY CHARLIE WALBRIDGE

first met Stewart Greenleaf at a Stew was at the meeting, and was very “Well, I wasn’t getting answers,” he Philadelphia Canoe Club meeting in the interested! “Send me a proposal,” he said. said, “so I went to the Chairman of the fall of 1976. I’d been given the file built I took what I had written for State Parks, Appropriations Committee and we put a Iup by several PCC members who were polished it up, and sent it in. A week later hold on the State Park budget.” This is a trying to arrange whitewater releases on I was contacted by Eric Pauley, Stew’s useful tactic for dealing with stonewalling Tohickon Creek, a wonderful Class III-IV legislative assistant. “Stewart has a few bureaucrats, and it got him a meeting with run. The river was dammed upstream, questions.” I wrote out the answers and the Director of State Parks and his key creating Lake Nockamixon, so the potential sent them in. These was in the bad old days people. Stewart assured them that the was there. I wrote letters to the Director of (snail mail; no email, no faxes, even!). And release could be done safely. They were State Parks, who managed the lake, dam, I waited. skeptical, but agreed to allow it. and river access. They denied my request, citing various fisheries issues in late spring Three weeks later I got a phone call from A week later I met those DNR conservation and early fall and insufficient water in the Stew. “We’re going to get the releases,” he officers. We visited a golf course owner summer. I wrote again, asking for a single said. “State Parks wants to send two guys to who was asked if he was worried about weekend in late March and early November. scout the area, and I want you to go along the releases. He was not, but his problem I never got an answer, and my phone calls with them to make sure they don’t start was that during big rains the dam kept were not returned. I was bemoaning this to making things up.” the creek dry and a flooded side creek a fellow club member who said, “I need to across from the 16th hole was flushing introduce you to Stew Greenleaf. He’s just “Stewart,” I exclaimed, “How did you across the dry streambed and eroding the been elected to the legislature!” do it?” shoreline. When was the State going to pay to reinforce the shore? Then we spoke with

34 americanwhitewater.org a roadside homeowner, asking if he was the valves” by releasing 8,000 cfs the day worried about increased traffic. He wasn’t, after the river had been stocked with trout! but he wanted to know when the State was going to fix a drainage problem that ran Stew worked with the area’s congressman water off the highway into his basement. to sponsor a federal bill to relocate the road That was enough! The first scheduled to the top of the dam, greatly increasing whitewater release on Tohickon Creek its capacity hold extra water. Then he was in November 1977, and these releases worked with the area’s state and federal have continued to this day, except during representatives to make the Corps of extreme droughts. Engineers more responsive. This allowed more consistent flows for the fishery and A few years later a Pennsylvania Fish more reliable whitewater releases in late Commission Waterways patrolman spring, summer, and fall. Using “project started harassing Philadelphia Canoe Club purpose” legislation passed a decade members running Flat Rock Dam on the earlier but previously ignored, he was able Schuylkill River. Club members knew the to work out a summer release schedule. dam well and had been paddling it without The river is just two hours from New York incident for over 25 years. I was at Stewart’s and Philadelphia, so these release days Willow Grove office for a rather testy became extremely popular. They also meeting with the officer, who was pretty revitalized a commercial industry uncooperative. But Stew didn’t give up! The badly hurt by unpredictable flows. following New Year’s Day, a flotilla of PCC paddlers was approaching the dam when Stewart was a practical, results-oriented the stealthy patrolman popped out of the Republican who knew how to get things bushes to stop the run and issue tickets. To done. He served in the Pennsylvania House his surprise, Stewart was there. He pulled and Senate for 40 years, sponsoring 490 out a special use permit and presented it to bills that later became law. Discussing his the ranger. After some back and forth and strategy with me, he said he always focused study of the permit, the ranger reluctantly on the issues and never, ever let a political waved everyone through. We weren’t the fight get personal. “You never know when only people this troublesome lawman you’ll need to get that person to help with harassed, and he was eventually sent to something else,” he said. As a legislator, another part of the state. he wanted to assist anyone who came to him looking for help, but there were limits Years later, Stewart turned his attention to to what he alone could do. Some things Francis Walter Dam, above the Lehigh River took time; others were so controversial Gorge, a popular Class II-III whitewater that nothing could be done. Building run in the Pocono Mountains that he support often takes time and persistence really enjoyed. The situation there was and, I might add, help from an experienced frustrating. The dam had been built with a legislator who knows the ropes! road across its upstream face, just above summer pool level. It flooded whenever Stewart and I enjoyed many runs down the the operators tried to hold back water, Tohickon together and a few trips to West angering local residents who needed to Virginia on the Cheat and New. He was use it; however, not holding back water dedicated to his legislative career, and as cut storage capacity to almost nothing. time passed, his paddling time diminished The Philadelphia Corps of Engineers was greatly. I later got to paddle with his sons, extremely uncooperative, cancelling spring which was a special treat! He passed away releases with little warning or releasing on February 9th, 2021. Paddlers lost a water all week and cutting it back on special friend who will be sorely missed weekends. Paddlers weren’t the only ones by all who knew him. affected. Once, the Corps decided to “test

Mar/Apr 2021 35 SINCE 2001 KAYAK SESSION HAS GIVEN AW OVER $160,000 TO SUPPORT IT’S TREMENDOUS EFFORT. LET’S MAKE IT EVEN MORE THIS YEAR! GET YOUR GREEN CARD TODAY! SUBSCRIBE TO KAYAK SESSION MAGAZINE, CONTRIBUTE TO AW EFFORTS EVEN FURTHER AND SAVE MONEY! Here‘s how: As an AW member, you save money when subscribing to Kayak Session. If that’s not enough, your purchase awards another 5 bucks back to AW’s e ort to change the world. If that doesn’t change the world, it can at least make it a little sweeter…

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American_WhiteWater_KS_ad_2.indd 1 07/06/12 11:47 SAFETY LOGJAM RESCUE BY JULIE TITONE

The logjam on the Lower Sauk River, Washington, shown at lower water than the incident Photo by Julie Titone

here would you prefer to while the main current carried me toward had been during a commercial rafting trip die? I’m a longtime canoeist, river left. 20 years earlier, and it didn’t take long to so the question brings to figure out that inflatables aren’t so easy Wmy mind a place like Washington’s Sauk “Watch out for the logjam!” he shouted. to maneuver. I’d taken the most daunting River. I imagine the sound of rushing water, But I was either too far into the current unplanned swim of my life that day. But and final breaths of clean, cool air. I let or too inexperienced with the inflatable since then, the best brands of duckies go of life quietly, beneath snow-capped to stay out of harm’s way. Before I knew have been so improved that they deserve mountains, on the riverbank – definitely it, my boat was rushing toward a tangle of a better nickname. Inflatables, AKA IKs, on the riverbank. timber and brush. Then I was up against it. usually bounce safely through waves, so If the logjam had been a house, I could have I decided to try again. With retirement on But even though it could happen on a river, been looking into a second-floor window. the near horizon, I thought that adding an never would my end-of-life preference inflatable to my paddle boat collection involve drowning, which was a real The kayak slipped out from under me might extend my years of enjoying Class possibility one sunny June afternoon on and boogied downstream. My left hand II-plus rivers. the lower Sauk. clawed at the slick top of the log and my right hand grabbed, with a better hold, “Help me!” I yelled. “Somebody, help me!” My new inflatable kayak had slammed into the stub of a branch. I was pinned to a a house-sized logjam, leaving my torso textbook “strainer.” I knew no one could hear me above the pinned against a slick, centuries-old log. rush of water. The current tugged at my legs, intent on Along with my fear of the trap, I felt pulling me into a complex underwater trap. dismay for not avoiding it. During 25 years I assumed David would circle back when I It was a paddler’s worst-case scenario. of paddling canoes, I’d always steered didn’t emerge past the logjam. But I didn’t clear of this hazard. But when it came to know how far he might have gotten, how A moment before, kayaker David Hablewitz blow-up boats, I was a newbie. My only long it would take him to reach me, or had passed me. But he stayed river right experience in a so-called rubber duckie if I could hold on until he did. The other

Mar/Apr 2021 37 SAFETY

Then I expressed concern about the fate of my expensive new paddle. David looked puzzled. He must have thought I was nuts—given that I’d just narrowly escaped death—to be thinking about something so replaceable.

He walked over the logjam, back toward its downstream end where he’d parked his kayak. I followed, at first scooting along on my derriere, afraid of losing my balance if I stood. I didn’t want to escape drowning only to break a leg.

When I caught up with David, he was looking down at my inflatable and the paddle that floated beside it. A strap in the boat had caught on a branch. He managed to work the boat free, then held it while I climbed down into it. He told me to paddle to a midstream island. I parked there while he retrieved his red kayak. Meanwhile, I heard Julie Titone’s inflatable kayak on its maiden voyage on the Sauk River, June 2018. three whistle blows from a companion Photo by Julie Titone downstream. I didn’t know the signal to tell the others “all is well,” so there was no need to work their way upstream to help, kayak and raft in our group were farther How many minutes I hung there, I don’t so I just blew three times back. And got downstream. A few paddlers in the party know. Five, maybe? Ten? three more blows in return. already had gotten off the river, after the most exciting waves had petered out. Suddenly David was looking down on Someone asked me later how cold the We’d seen no one else on the river since me, his feet just above my head. He was water was that day. After all, the Sauk is launching at Clear Creek. I wish I could see surprised to see me. He’d fully expected fed by snow in the North Cascades. But I a video or a picture of my predicament. me to be under the jumble of logs, not wasn’t aware of the water temperature. Could I have worked my way along the log, clinging to it. I was wearing a drysuit with fleece tights hand over hand, and gotten to the end of underneath. The air temperature was in the the pile – found a place to put my feet, or “Take my wrist,” he said. I grasped it with 70s. Blue sky framed Whitehorse Mountain. a place to dive away from the danger? At my right hand. With his help, I inched along It was a beautiful day for anything but the time I didn’t even think of trying. I was the logjam. I finally pulled my chest high buying the farm. afraid to let go of my precarious hold. My enough to rest; my arms were no longer short legs swung uselessly. The best I could bearing most of my weight. Oh, the surge I’d gotten my equipment right: the do was kick against the current. of sweet relief. “I’m safe now,” I said. But immersion suit, helmet, PFD, whistle, David urged me on, coaching me through spare paddle. And I’d gone out with Part of my former journalist’s brain was getting my feet onto a submerged log and experienced paddlers. The first responders writing the news report of my demise, hoisting myself to the top. I had imagined would not have been able picturing the heavy equipment that would retrieve my body, the first responders with What did I say? I hope, “Thank you! You their ropes and litter making the most of saved my life!” I was beyond grateful. I do Opposite: Julie Titone smiles for a selfie lingering summer-solstice daylight to carry remember saying, “You got here quickly.” shortly before her altercation with out their sad mission. One of them would the logjam. grimace and say, “Third river fatality “I’m glad you think so,” he responded. Photo by Julie Titone this year.” Clearly, it hadn’t felt that way to him.

38 americanwhitewater.org to intone for reporters, “Boaters should All went well, but of course I was hyper- told two blasts. A mushroom-picking friend always wear life vests.” vigilant – which is obviously what a paddler says her hiking crowd uses one blast, and must be. Especially in a boat not easily the American Canoe Association doesn’t What I’d gotten wrong was getting swept steered with pries and sweeps. seem to have any guidance on the matter. into the main current. Paying too much The best bet would be to agree on a signal attention to the scenery, and not enough to When I think of my close call, I contemplate before your party launches. what lay ahead. And, maybe, taking a new how anatomy is destiny. What if David craft for the first time down that stretch weren’t fit and able to scramble across the If I had died that day, it would have been of river past Darrington, where American logjam to help me? If I had longer arms, a sad irony. The outing was a memorial, Whitewater cautions about logjams. Up could I have pulled myself out? Though and we had just stopped so that two young until I ran smack-dab into one, I’d had if my legs were longer, there would have people could fling the ashes of their father, no trouble avoiding them – even though been more surface for the current to grab Chris Herman, into the river. Chris was a I didn’t find that inflatable kayak easy and pull me under…. beloved river rat with a fondness for yellow to steer. Mostly, the inflatable bounced butterflies. As I was paddling to the takeout, through the Class II waves. It was great More pertinent, I think, is that human a swallowtail flew alongside me, skimming fun, until it wasn’t. I might have stayed connection is destiny. David and I only the water until it rose into the trees. out of trouble by back-ferrying out of the met that day, when I decided to take a current – a common maneuver in a canoe. first outing with folks from the Washington Julie Titone is a writer and paddler who lives It could be that I tried the technique. I Recreational River Runners. The two of us in Everett, Washington. don’t remember. carpooled. We got acquainted on the drive to the river, and we debriefed on the drive The incident gave me a mild case of post- home. He now holds a special place in the traumatic stress. Hours later, back at home, pantheon of paddling pals who have had my heart started racing. For a solid 24 my back over the years. hours, I couldn’t focus on much of anything. David had trouble sleeping, too. So I gained a friend and learned some lessons. What I still haven’t learned is an Three weeks later, I took the inflatable accepted number of whistles to signal kayak on a river less littered with logjams. “everything’s all right.” Boy Scouts are

Mar/Apr 2021 39 SAFETY

David Hablewitz on the Sauk, June 2018. Photo by Julie Titone

40 americanwhitewater.org SAUK RESCUE BY DAVID HABLEWITZ

yelled “Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!” as I Julie was flushed into this epic strainer. I At one split, the main current went right watched Julie’s inflatable kayak wash thought, “Julie is under there! This is bad. and the group took that branch. I looked sideways into the massive logjam, flip This is REALLY bad!” back and noticed Julie was near the left Iupstream, and dump her into the current. bank, drifting into the left channel by She disappeared under her boat and into It was late June and we were making a herself. At this point she would not be able the logjam. very special river trip on the Sauk River, to make her way over to the main channel Washington. Louie and his sister Michelle in her IK. Not wanting to leave her paddling Such a terrible feeling pierced my heart had put this trip together to celebrate the alone, I scrambled to get over and go down as I feared what was happening to her life of their father, Chris, a whitewater the left channel with her. As I got around underwater among the logs. The current fanatic who passed away from pancreatic the gravel that split the current, the was swift and there was no place I could cancer. We gathered to paddle one of his scene was revealed. The river curved back climb out onto the logjam. It was stacked favorite rivers and release his ashes into the to the right. In the center of the channel, over 10 feet high and covered the left bank Sauk. The day was uneventful through the a boulder split the current. Immediately for hundreds of feet as the river made a rapids on the Class II river. As we neared downstream was an epic log jam at least broad, sweeping bend to the right. The the end of the trip, the rapids were behind 10 feet high and hundreds of feet long, tangled maze of enormous logs—some as us. The final few miles were just swiftly created at high water when the flow was much as three feet in diameter—reached flowing water that weaved channels around many thousands of cfs higher. The current 30 feet out into the river from the left bank. immense gravel bars as much as a quarter flowed straight through the logjam. I stayed No one else was around to help. The rest mile long and eight feet high, a product of far to the right. of the paddling group had gone down one the of spring snow melt. of the other channels that the river had cut Looking upstream I saw Julie was still way through the gravel bars. I was alone and over to river left. Perhaps the subdued

Panorama of the logjam and the Sauk River, at lower water than when the incident occurred Photo by Julie Titone

Mar/Apr 2021 41 SAFETY nature of the river for the past few miles, 100 yards downstream from the head just above water. Her chest was against a combined with what was a long day on of the logjam. I jumped out and started log about 10 inches in diameter that was the river, contributed to her complacency. blowing three short whistle blasts over and protruding from the pile and suspended just I started yelling for Julie to paddle. But over as I climbed up on top of the twisted above the water; her arms were wrapped there was no chance she could paddle her pile of bark-stripped logs. Then with almost over the top of it. She was hanging on to boat against the current that was sweeping reckless abandon, I ran across the logs, keep from getting swept into and under the to the outside of the bend, directly into weaving my way toward the head. I kept pile. I called her name so she knew I was the logjam. She washed sideways into the repeating to myself, “Not on my watch! Not there and kept talking in a reassuring voice structure, flipped, and disappeared. on my watch!” I remembered how I used as I climbed down. to joke with paddling friends, “Don’t do My mind switched into “rescue mode” and anything to get yourself on the six o’clock “That was fast,” she responded in a calm my training took control of me. news.” This time it wasn’t funny. voice. “I knew you would get here.”

I raced downstream, scanning the debris As I reached the head of the logjam, I I had her grab my wrist. From my pile that engulfed the entire left bank as looked down over the precipice of logs. I lifeguarding experience, I know that wrist- I paddled, searching for a place I could expected to see nothing. My heart jumped grasping is much stronger than grasping grab on and jump out of my kayak without when I saw Julie in the water 10 feet below hands. I couldn’t pull her up onto the log getting caught myself. I found a spot maybe me. She was facing downstream, her head because of the force of the current. So we

David’s GPS track, showing his movements before, during, and after the rescue. By David Hablewitz

42 americanwhitewater.org At lower water, David Hablewitz revisits the Sauk River logjam where he rescued Julie Titone Photo by Julie Titone

worked together to maneuver her under In events like this, everything seems to slow the log she was clinging to, then rolled her down as your mind captures every detail up onto it from the downstream side. Now around you. But my Garmin GPS activity she was facing upstream with her chest on tracker verified it was only three and a half your top of the log. I kept giving instructions in minutes from the time she flipped until the whitewater a calm but commanding voice, helping lift time I had her safely out of the water. and guide her though the branches and logs learning until she was able to get free. We climbed The day offers plenty of lessons. It makes together to the top of the wood pile. me very thankful for the training and vacation experience I have had. While the situation I assessed Julie’s condition to ensure she was bad, everything about the rescue went was OK and not in shock, then went to perfectly. As a lifeguard in Florida years ago, retrieve her gear. Amazingly, one of the I made many rescues, but nothing was as thigh straps of the inflatable kayak had complex or intense as this. And I have made snagged on a branch just a few feet from many river rescues, but none in which the where I had found her. I was expecting her threat was quite as obviously imminent. It paddle to be gone, but it was hung up in the was all on me. Had I not been there, had same branches, hiding under the capsized I not made that conscious decision to join IK. What great fortune! I jumped in and Julie going down the other channel, and had paddled her boat to where my kayak was I not reacted quickly, the outcome would parked. Julie scrambled over the logjam to almost certainly have been different. Her meet me there. calmness in the situation also made a big difference. As we paddled away, Louie came running up on the island on river right. He had heard Finally, if you paddle the lower Sauk near my whistle blowing. The entire event was Darrington, realize that it is a Class II river out of sight from the group, obstructed by with potential Class V consequences. the island between the channels. mkc.ca

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44 americanwhitewater.org Image by: American Whitewater Communications Director Evan Stafford SAFETY WHITEWATER ACCIDENT SUMMARY JULY- DECEMBER 2020 BY CHARLIE WALBRIDGE, SAFETY EDITOR

n the second half of 2020 AW received real challenge for the boating community after a heavy rain. A group of three local reports of six kayak, two canoe, and six to educate these newcomers so they can experts who knew the river extremely well rafting fatalities for a total of 14. There paddle rivers safely. attempted what would be a very pushy Iwere two commercial rafting deaths and Class V run. Paddling cautiously, they ran two incidents in “miscellaneous craft” Whitewater a number of big rapids without incident. (a small fishing cataraft and a stand-up Two reported deaths involved very Suddenly things went bad, as this report paddleboard). The trends noted in the first experienced kayakers. The first occurred from Orion Junkins explains: six months continue. Recreational kayaks on November 3rd, in the fourth canyon of were used in four of the six kayak accidents; Mexico’s Rio Santa Maria. This is a tough “Our plan was simple. Drive off 11 of the 19 accidents reported occurred Class IV/V section filled with undercuts and Champagne…(then) run Hammering Spot on Class I or II whitewater; eight saw no life sieves. There are several very tough rapids direct and regroup in the river right eddy vests in use, and seven were solo or one- here that many paddlers choose to carry. which is present regardless of flow. We… boat trips. Many thanks to Charlie Duffy Dan Braly, a respected Texas kayaker, was opted for 5 second staggers in between our for preparing the graphs that accompany on a guided trip with eight other paddlers. peel outs so if any of us did get surfed, the this article. He failed to make an eddy and washed other two would be close enough to offer downstream into a terrible sieve, where he help. I went first, carrying my speed off The year as a whole saw 48 deaths, which flipped and pinned. The group responded Champagne all the way into the eddy below is well above average. Although fatalities quickly; ropes were deployed, and they Hammering spot…. I turned around just in among skilled paddlers declined, those were able to keep his head above water time to see Thomas skip in just behind me. involving inexperienced boaters increased for a few minutes. Sadly, Mr. Braly, 58, was (Blaine Davis, 20) followed shortly after…. sharply. This was almost certainly part of pulled under after a desperate struggle. He was further left leaving him less room the Covid-19 outdoor recreation growth The group was later able to extricate him to pull a stroke. He still got a boof, but his spurt. Kayak and canoe dealers sold out and attempt CPR, but it was too late. tail was in the curtain just enough to catch.” quickly, and lots of people got on the water for the first time. This is probably The second death occurred in Washington “As soon as I saw him ender, I jumped out…. the start of a significant growth period State on November 15th, when Canyon He (Mr. Davis) gave a solid fight in his boat…. for paddlesports generally. It will be a Creek of the Lewis River was running high He pulled his skirt and went deep. After a

46 americanwhitewater.org few seconds he popped up in the river left Two other incidents eddy near the wall…. He had a handhold involved solo paddlers, on the wall for a moment, but suddenly so we don’t know started drifting back upstream. At the top exactly what happened. of the eddy he hit the hole again and went On July 7th Sage Adams, deep…. He surfaced at the bottom end of 10, was kayaking the eddy and…swam hard against the eddy with his father on to the left shelf. Again, he began to slip back Washington’s Class II-III upstream, slowly at first but picking up Skagit River. His father speed. He was visibly exhausted so I used flipped and swam, but my bag but missed…. He was pulled into the young Sage continued hole again, going deep for the third time.” on alone. His father searched, couldn’t “Blaine popped up further out in the middle find him, and notified of the hole and disappeared again, this time authorities. His body for a long time. Frantically we waited for was found along the him to surface…. After far, far too long, river several months Blaine popped up, this time below the boil later. On November 17th, Robert “DJ” Rafting line…. He was limp and facedown. Both of Young disappeared on a Class I section of There were two commercial rafting deaths us jumped back in boats immediately and Tennessee’s Lower Chickamauga Creek. A in the latter half of this year, both the chased him…. I got through the run out just woman dropped the 26-year-old man off at result of long swims in big water. On July in time to watch him tumble over Toby’s…. a boat access; when he failed to appear at 11th Maine Fisheries and Wildlife, which I got to him just as the rapids flattened out, the take-out she called 911. Other paddlers regulates commercial rafting, reported pulled my skirt and dove on top of him, found his kayak, but his body wasn’t that Emily Fournier, 33, was unresponsive dragging him onto the bank.” The group recovered until the next day. I suspect, but when pulled back into her raft after a attempted CPR; one of them paddled don’t know for sure, that neither of these tough swim in the big Class IV rapids of the to the take-out to activate a Personal two paddlers used life vests. Kennebec Gorge. A second death occurred Locator Beacon while the other continued on September 13th after the Nolichucky resuscitation efforts. Rescue squads arrived Open Canoes Gorge rose to over 2,000 cfs. The sweep and took over a short time later. Both reported open canoe deaths boat of a guided trip flipped in Quarter involved strainers in easy whitewater. Mile Rapid and Louvella Yelton, 64, washed Both groups prepared detailed first-hand The Resurrection River near Seward, AK is downstream into a nasty hole called Hungry reports which are available in the AW glacier fed, cutting a meandering channel Jack. She recirculated several times and Accident Database. through an unstable gravel riverbed. A was unresponsive when a downstream raft river guide described it as a Class I river pulled her aboard. Guides performed CPR Recreational Kayaks with Class V consequences, dangerous log and carried her up the tracks where first The four accidents in this group involved jams strewn at random along its course. responders pronounced her dead. inexperienced paddlers, mostly without On August 22nd Richard Hoverstein, 52, life vests. Those who don’t use PFDs often did not arrive at the take-out as planned. Three of the four private rafting fatalities drown in conditions that would be quite The next day he and his canoe were found this past summer and fall told the same manageable otherwise. On August 22nd jammed in a strainer. sad story: a lone raft on easy to moderate Cleve Loney, 69, flipped his kayak in a mild whitewater, and a swimmer with no PFD. rapid on Montana’s Missouri River. He was A second incident occurred on Arkansas’ On the evening of July 7th Richard Ross, not wearing a life vest and disappeared Caddo River, a Class I-II stream where 40, was using a small raft to ferry camping underwater after a brief struggle. A few several liveries operate. According to a gear across Montana’s Middle Fork of days later, on August 30th, Brandon Chiles brief newspaper article in the Glenwood, the Flathead when he flipped and was was trying to help another kayaker on AR Herald, Rebekah Ann Bryan, 18, was swept downstream. His body was found Virginia’s Rappahanock River when his boat paddling the river below Caddo Gap when the following day. Then, on August 6th, flipped and he slipped beneath the surface. she washed into a strainer and pinned Michael Marquand was rafting with his Again, no life vest was in use. underwater. Few other details were family on Oregon’s Deschutes River when provided. Rescuers were called, but arrived his boat hit a rock and capsized in Boxcar too late to save her. Rapids. Although he had four decades of

Mar/Apr 2021 47 SAFETY

experience he wasn’t wearing a life vest! Paddleboards Newton, 62, was on the water when two His group found him downstream, floating Two stand-up paddleboarders perished small pontoon boats pinned on a rock. Mr. face down. Finally, Steve Polumsky, 62, was in another accident involving strong Newton, in a third boat, was helping out floating a Class I section on Idaho’s Selway currents, a strainer, and a snagged when his own cataraft capsized, throwing River below the falls on August 25th. Part paddleboard leash. David Schenderlein, him into the water. He was not wearing way down the run he waded out in the 60, and his daughter Sarah, 17, were on a life vest or helmet and he quickly lost river to retrieve a capsized raft, lost his Oregon’s Willamette River in Glenwood, consciousness. A friend pulled him onto a footing, and disappeared underwater. A OR when the accident occurred. No one nearby gravel bar and tried to revive him, half hour later a deputy joined staff from saw what happened on December 23rd, without success. the nearby Three Rivers Resort to search but photos show a large river with bouncy for Mr. Polumsky. He was found under eight Class I-II rapids. According to the Eugene, The Midnight Miracle feet of water. OR Register-Guard, a passerby saw the There was a truly remarkable rescue in paddleboards jammed into a strainer New River Country on September 21st. The final rafting accident was unusual and and called authorities. The boards were It began in late afternoon when kayaker tragic. On September 29th Armani Alicia, recovered with the paddlers still attached Sam Davis missed his line during a solo run 28, was rafting Tennessee’s classic Middle by their ankle tethers. Tethers lacking a of Kanawha Falls, a 15-foot ledge located Ocoee with his fiancé just two weeks before foolproof quick release system have been just below the confluence of the New their planned wedding. Halfway down the implicated in a number of paddleboard and Gauley Rivers. He ended up trapped run, his paddle blade hit a rock and the drownings in the past few years. No behind the falling water for nearly eight T-grip was shoved into his neck hard. The system is foolproof, but ankle tethers are hours! His boat flushed out and Felisha impact ruptured his carotid artery and often impossible to reach in emergencies. Coyner, a fisherman, saw it floating in the caused a massive basilar stroke. He was Tethers attached to the accessible quick pool below the Falls. She had also noticed airlifted to a hospital where he died several release on a rescue PFD are a better choice. a lone van with racks in the parking lot with days later. As a canoeist, I’ve been hit hard a note on it. She dialed 911 (twice), then in the face a few times by my paddle, but Pontoon Boat called the phone number on the note and I’ve never heard of an injury this serious A fisherman was killed on the North Fork spoke with a drone photographer who had caused by a paddle. Let’s stay alert of the Flathead River, which runs along taken footage of Mr. Davis’ first falls run. out there! the edge of Montana’s Glacier National She posted pictures of the kayak on the Park. According to the Park Service, the West Virginia Whitewater Facebook page, accident occurred on August 30th. Ronald and this drew the attention of Corey Lilly, a

48 americanwhitewater.org local expert kayaker very familiar with the “The falls is a high-volume waterfall “…We first tried to establish contact with falls. Mr. Lilly decided that he knew exactly around 15 feet tall. The river right half of Sam by tethered wading out to a high point where the paddler might be trapped. Even the outflow pushes into the undercut right of the lip of the falls…(but) this proved to though it was 10:00 p.m. he rallied several wall where a number of other kayakers be impossible….it would be impossible to local paddlers to join him in searching have unintentionally gone and successfully get a raft or motorized rescue inflatable the falls. swam out of. There is a cave or crack in the to where he was—there was just WAY river right upstream corner, where there is too much current flowing in the undercut They arrived at Kanawha Falls just as Search usually a calmer spot of approximately 20 wall…. The only options for evac would be a and Rescue was calling off their search. square feet. Many people who swim out 15-20-foot vertical extraction up the crack Steven Wright picks up the story: of the wall wash back upstream into that and onto the island. cave, where they can be rescued by a raft “We knew of a spot that would be hard or other kayakers. This is where we hoped “…a kayaker with a phone could seal launch to access or see for non-kayaking rescue to find the missing kayaker. At the flows the calmest part of the falls into a very personnel: the river right undercut wall and of [the night of the rescue] (close to 9,000 small ‘calmer’ eddy next to the cave…. It ‘cave’ next to the landing of the High Flow cfs), there was water pouring over the was dark, and we only had two headlamps. (main drop) falls at Kanawha…. We paddled entire lip all the way into the cave/crack. Corey volunteered to run the drop, as he out to the island…. I was last to the island, This completely blocked it from our line of had run this line before at these flows…. and heard the other guys yelling, ‘He’s here! sight, and it was from behind the curtain of He was confident that he could safely He’s alive!!!’ He was somewhere behind the water there that we could hear Sam yelling handle the water here, having hundreds curtain of the falls, but we could clearly for help over the roar of the falls. of runs under his belt…. He successfully ran hear him yelling. We texted our contacts the falls into the eddy, but due the mist, on shore to let them know. wind, dark, swirly and powerful currents… No more renewal notices!

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Mar/Apr 2021 49 SATETY he was prevented from seeing Sam, or before he understood that we wanted to from paddlers familiar with the area are communicating with him. He quickly peeled him clip in to the rope with his rescue PFD…. really useful. Accurate accounts benefit back out and paddled around the undercut Our group pulled on the rope over the edge everyone! While serious incidents among wall to regroup…. of rock…. After a few stop-and-goes, I saw skilled whitewater paddlers are quite rare, one arm and the top of his head come up they teach the rest of us important lessons “We determined that the only option for through the curtain of falls in the corner to help avoid future trouble, and to better rescue would be to lower a rope through of the crack. Slowly, he managed to climb, manage emergencies. These reports also the curtain of the falls into the crack, wiggle, and be pulled up and over the lip! keep malicious rumors at bay, which is vital and pull him vertically out. We needed WHAT A RELIEF!!!! in this age of irresponsible Internet gossip. more than four of us to do this. Corey They also help American Whitewater and I paddled back to shore to gather “After cheering, hugging, and doing our maintain a good grasp of the overall river more volunteers…. On arrival, we found best to quickly warm him up a little, a few safety picture. there were nearly 30 vehicles there rescuers helped him walk down to the with a ton of rescue personnel…. Matt rescue boat and he was taken back to shore To report a whitewater accident, near miss, or Jackson managed to mobilize the paddling to an ambulance…we could hear the roar serious injury, please go to the Safety page on community and many private rafters and of the crowd that had assembled on shore americanwhitewater.org, click “report kayakers had arrived…. We needed at least cheering for his safe return.” an accident,” and enter the information. 10 bodies on the island to lift Sam up and Or you can email me at ccwalbridge@ out. Several rafters, kayakers, and a few This was the most spectacular rescue cs.com or message “Charlie Walbridge” on rescue personnel came out quickly with I’ve encountered in 50 years of paddling! Facebook. Feel free to share newspaper us to attempt the extraction. This was The full report, along with links to other articles, chat room posts, or even around midnight. accounts and photographs, can be found rumors! I’m not an “investigator,” but on the AW Safety Page. I often use sketchy reports as leads to “…I set up our largest diameter spectra find out what happened. I can also help throw rope with a locking carabiner to American Whitewater needs your help you prepare or edit an accident report lower through the falls into the crack to gather accident reports to share with if needed. for Sam. I attached my headlamp to the our community. First person accounts carabiner in the hopes that he’d see it. Sam from experienced paddlers, newspaper grabbed the rope almost immediately. We articles, and on-line posts are all useful. couldn’t talk to him over the roar of the Since media articles are often inaccurate river, so it took a number of tries pulling or incomplete, clarifying comments

50 americanwhitewater.org Become a member of the American Whitewater Enduring Rivers Circle, created exclusively to honor and recognize people who have helped to continue our river stewardship eorts through a gift to American Whitewater in their estate plans.

For more information about making a bequest to American Whitewater CONTACT Bethany Overfield: 1.866.262.8429 or [email protected] AFFILIATE CLUBS AW’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE Supporting Affiliate Clubs Team Colorado Whitewater Racing Club, Longmont BY BETHANY OVERFIELD Alabama Upper Colorado Private Boaters Asso, Glenwood Coosa River Paddling Club, Wetumpka Springs American Whitewater’s original purpose Alaska since 1954 has included distribution of __Connecticut Fairbanks Paddlers, Fairbanks information among its Affiliate Clubs. We Housatonic Area Canoe & Kayak Sq, Lakeville Arkansas have over 100 current AW Club Affiliates Delaware Arkansas Canoe Club, Little Rock and they are all doing great work on your AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Oaks (PA) behalf; if you don’t belong to a club, consider Colorado Indiana Colorado Whitewater Assn, Denver joining one. Hoosier Canoe Club, Brownsburg Dolores River Boating Advocate, Dolores Ohio Valley Paddlers, Evansville Georgia American Whitewater has two levels of Iowa Georgia Association Inc, Winston Iowa Whitewater Coalition, W. Des Moines Affiliate Clubs - a Supporting Affiliate Club or Kentucky an Affiliate Club. Affiliate Clubs that choose Kentucky Bluegrass Wildwater Association, Lexington Elkhorn Paddlers, Lexington AW’s $100 annual level are recognized in the Viking Canoe Club, Louisville AW Journal, on our website club page, and in Maine New York Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, Freeport our annually published Honor Roll. In order KCCNY, Brooklyn to be recognized at this level, a Club needs Maryland North Carolina to maintain an annual $100 contribution. Baltimore Canoe & Kayak Club, Baltimore West Asheville Canoe and Kayak Organization Blue Ridge Voyagers, Rockville (WACKO), Asheville Affiliate Clubs that choose AW’s $400 Minnesota Ohio Rapids Riders, Eagan Supporting Affiliate Club annual level are Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, Columbus Missouri recognized in the AW Journal, on our website Keelhaulers, Cleveland club page, and in our annually published Missouri Whitewater Association, St. Louis Oregon Ozark Mountain Paddlers, Springfield Honor Roll as well as being listed as sponsors Oregon Whitewater Association, Tigard Montana of an AW stewardship presentation each South Carolina Beartooth Paddlers Society, Billings year. In order to be recognized at this level, Foothills Paddling Club, Greenville Nevada a Club needs to maintain an annual $400 Palmetto Paddlers, Columbia Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club, Reno contribution. A Supporting Affiliate Club Washington New Hampshire can revert to the $100 Affiliate Club annual Paddle Trails Canoe Club, Seattle Ledyard Canoe Club, Hanover level at any time. Washington Kayak Club, Redmond Washington Recreational River Runners, New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Renton Association, Contoocook An Affiliate Club that is already being New Jersey recognized as an AW Lifetime member is Affiliate Club by State AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Oaks (PA) recognized in the annual Honor Roll as a Alaska New York Lifetime member. They do need to contribute Nova River Runners Inc., Chickaloon ADK Schenectady, Schenectady either at the $100 or the $400 level annually Alabama Kuyahoora Valley Paddlers, Middleville to be recognized an as Affiliate Club in the Huntsville Canoe Club, Huntsville Zoar Valley Paddling Club, Machias AW Journal and under the Affiliate Club Arizona North Carolina heading of the published Honor Roll. Is Outdoors Unlimited, Flagstaff Carolina Canoe Club, Raleigh your club missing from this list? It might Landmark Learning, Cullowhee California Mind Body Play, Asheville have expired. Contact me at membership@ Chico Paddleheads, Chico americanwhitewater.org to square your club Gold Country Paddlers, Placerville Ohio membership away! Redwood Empire Paddlers, Santa Rosa Friends of the Crooked River, Akron River City Whitewater Club, Sacramento Oregon Shasta Paddlers, Redding Lower Columbia Canoe Club, Portland Smith River Alliance, Crescent City Northwest Rafters Association, Roseburg Colorado Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club, Portland Diversity Whitewater, Fort Collins Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club, Corvallis Friends of the Yampa, Steamboat Springs Pennsylvania Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center, Buena Vista AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Oaks (PA) San Miguel Whitewater Asso, Telluride Benscreek Canoe Club, Johnstown Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg, Harrisburg Conewago Canoe Club, York

52 americanwhitewater.org Keystone Canoe Club, Mertztown Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, Lehigh Valley DISCOUNTED AW JOIN AMERICAN Philadelphia Canoe Club, Philadelphia Three Rivers Paddling Club, Bridgeville MEMBERSHIP FOR WHITEWATER AS A Rhode Island Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association, AFFILIATE CLUB CLUB AFFILIATE! Hope Valley MEMBERS 10 REASONS TO JOIN AW Tennessee AS AN AFFILIATE CLUB Chota Canoe Club, Knoxville 1. Support river access and Clean Water Expected in East Tennessee, AW offers a discounted Affiliate restoration through the AW River Sevierville Club membership of $25, a $10 East Tennessee Whitewater Club, Oak Ridge Stewardship Team. Eastman Recreation Club, Kingsport savings. If you are renewing your Tennessee Scenic River Association, Nashville AW membership or joining as a new 2. Be part of a national voice for the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, Knoxville member, select the Affiliate Club protection of the whitewater rivers Texas Discounted Personal Membership your club values. Houston Canoe Club, Houston online at http://americanwhitewater. 3. Tap into the professional expertise Utah org/content/Membership/join-AW/ of AW staff for river issues that High Jim and the A.S.K., Salt Lake City Or, if you are renewing or joining by come up in your backyard. Utah Whitewater Club, Salt Lake City mail or telephone just mention the 4. Your club’s members can become Vermont name of the Affiliate Club you belong Vermont Paddlers Club, Montpelier to and you can take advantage of the AW members for $25. A $10 savings! Virginia $25 membership. Blue Ridge River Runners, Lynchburg A list of AW Affiliate Clubs can be 5. Receive the American Whitewater Canoe Cruisers Association, Middlebury found on our website at http:// Journal, the oldest continually Coastal Canoeists, Richmond published whitewater magazine. Float Fishermen of Virginia, Roanoke americanwhitewater.org/content/ Washington Membership/join-AW/. If you do 6. Your club is recognized in the list Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club, Spokane not see your Club listed here please of Affiliate Clubs posted to the AW Yakima River Runners, Selah encourage them to renew their website. Washington, DC Club membership or to join AW as 7. Recognize your club in the list of Canoe Cruisers Association a new Affiliate Club. Your Club’s Affiliate Clubs noted in each bi- West Virginia membership and your personal monthly AW Journal. Dbl Z! Whitewater Club, Fayetteville membership enable our staff to be Mason Dixon Canoe Cruisers, Bolivar active and engaged in the process 8. Post Club information on the AW WV Wildwater Assn, S. Charleston of river stewardship. When you join Website to help paddlers find you. Wisconsin or renew your membership your 9. Gain Club satisfaction from lending North East Wisconsin Paddlers, Inc., Neenah support is helping to meet the many support to AW’s stewardship Rapids Riders, Eagan challenges whitewater rivers face. Sierra Club/John Muir Chapter, Madison efforts. Wyoming If you have any questions about the 10. Improve your club members river American Packrafting Association, Wilson Affiliate Club membership, please karma. Jackson Hole Kayak Club, Jackson contact me. I can be reached at For more information, contact 866_BOAT-4AW or membership@ Ontario Bethany Overfield at membership@ Guelph Kayak Club, Elora americanwhitewater.org. Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers, Toronto americanwhitewater.org or sign-up on Ontario Voyageurs Kayak Club, Otonabee line at www.americanwhitewater.org/ National membership. Team River Runner

Mar/Apr 2021 53 The Strength of Our Voice is Your Membership

Standard w/AW Journal $35 Family w/AW Journal $50 Ender Club w/T-Shirt $125 Platinum Paddler w/Hoodie $250 Explorer w/Watershed Bag $500 Lifetime $1,000 Steward w/$400 Kokatat Gift $2,500

*Incentive gifts change from time to time, please check the website for the latest rewards.

Join @ americanwhitewater.org/join Donate @ americanwhitewater.org/donate The Strength of Our Voice is Your Membership

Standard w/AW Journal $35 Family w/AW Journal $50 Ender Club w/T-Shirt $125 Platinum Paddler w/Hoodie $250 Explorer w/Watershed Bag $500 Lifetime $1,000 Steward w/$400 Kokatat Gift $2,500

*Incentive gifts change from time to time, please check the website for the latest rewards.

Join @ americanwhitewater.org/join Donate @ americanwhitewater.org/donate Membership Driven River Stewardship americanwhitewater.org/join

sWhitewater River Defenders Since 1954 Salmon River, ID – By Evan Stafford Salmon River,