BY BOATERS FOR BOATERS January/February 2009 Some of the Best-known Personalities in Whitewater Weigh in on the Past, Present, and Future of the Sport A VOLUNTEER PUBLICATION PROMOTING RIVER CONSERVATION, ACCESS AND SAFETY American Whitewater Journal January/February 2009 - Volume #49 - Issue #1 COLUMNS 3 The Journey Ahead by Mark Singleton 4 President’s Message by Don Kinser 6 Outdoor Alliance Goes to the Senate for Wild Lands Funding 50 News & Notes: Is the Green Race an Accident Waiting to Happen? by Adam Herzog 59 Book Review: You Might Only Live Once by Ken Ransford STEWARDSHIP UPDATES 10 2009 Stewardship Priorities by American Whitewater Staff 46 Little Known on the Yuba Gets Tested by Brad Brewer 58 French Broad River Festival Donates to AW! 60 Local’s Favorite: Deconstructing Great Falls, Potomac River by Kristen Podolak FEATURES 16 The Great Debate Support American Whitewater through CFC or United Way All of the Federal CFC campaigns (CFC # 11351) and a few of the local United Way campaigns will allow you to donate through them to AW. Also, check to see if your employer will match your charitable contributions: double your giving . double your fun! New Bullard’s Bar Dam on the North Fork Yuba River is just the latest Publication Title: American Whitewater Issue Date: January/February 2009 California dam to begin the FERC Statement of Frequency: Published bimonthly relicensing process. Read about the AW Authorized Organization’s Name and Address: American Whitewater sponsored flow study on page 46 of P.O. Box 1540 this issue. Cullowhee, NC 28723 Printed on Recycled Paper photo by Taylor Robertson River Stewardship: EDUCATION: AW shares information with the processes, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, An Integrated Approach general public and the paddling community empowerment of volunteers, public outreach and regarding whitewater rivers, as well as river education, and, when necessary, legal action. Our mission: “To conserve and restore America’s recreation, conservation, access, and safety. This is whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities RIVER ACCESS: To assure public access to whitewater accomplished through our bi-monthly AW Journal, to enjoy them safely,” is actively pursued through our rivers pursuant to the guidelines published in its a monthly e-news, americanwhitewater.org, paddling conservation, access, safety and education efforts under official Access Policy, AW arranges for river access events, educational events, and through direct the umbrella of River Stewardship. The only national through private lands by negotiation or purchase, communication with the press. organization representing the interest of all whitewater seeks to protect the right of public passage on all paddlers, American Whitewater is the national voice rivers and streams navigable by kayak or canoe, Together, AW staff, members, volunteers, and affiliate for thousands of individual whitewater enthusiasts, as encourages equitable and responsible management clubs can achieve our goals of conserving, protecting well as over 100 local paddling club affiliates. of whitewater rivers on public lands, and works with and restoring America’s whitewater resources and government agencies and other river users to achieve enhancing opportunities to safely enjoy these AW’s River Stewardship program adheres to the four these goals. tenets of our mission statement: wonderful rivers. SAFETY: AW promotes paddling safely, publishes CONSERVATION: AW’s professional staff works reports on whitewater accidents, maintains a uniform AW was incorporated under Missouri nonprofit closely with volunteers and partner organizations national ranking system for whitewater rivers (the corporation laws in 1961 and maintains its principal to protect the ecological and scenic values of all International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty) and mailing address at PO Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC whitewater rivers. These goals are accomplished publishes and disseminates the internationally- 28723; phone 1-866-BOAT-4-AW (1-866-262-8429). through direct participation in public decision-making recognized American Whitewater Safety Code. AW is tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service. American Whitewater Journal Staff Board of Directors & Staff TOLL FREE NUMBER Editor Ambrose Tuscano Sutton Bacon 14076 Northwoods Blvd. Truckee, California 96161 866-BOAT4AW e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Atlanta, GA Assitant Editor Tim Catalano Chris Bell Norwood Scott Graphic Design/Production/Photo Editor Christie Dobson [email protected] [email protected] Mark Singleton Contributing Writers Asheville, NC San Francisco, CA Executive Director Kevin Colburn, Ambrose Tuscano, Doug Ammons, Nathan Fey, Cullowhee, NC Dave Steindorf, Mark Singleton, Paul Gamache, Carla Miner, Rich Bowers Charlie Walbridge Don Kinser, Ben Lawhon, Christian Bates, Tom Blue, [email protected] Harrison Metzger, Futureboater, Bob Wilson, Charlie Walbridge, [email protected] [email protected] Sharon Hailey Bellingham, WA Bruceton Mills, WV Dave Steindorf Photo Contributors BOARD OFFICERS California Stewardship Director Michael Ackerman, Emily Ressler, Christian Bates, Dave Cernicek Kevin Colburn, Kent Vertrees, Dave Steindorf, [email protected] President: Don Kinser Chico, CA Brad Xanthopoulos, Corey Morton, Sam Hamilton, Jackson, WY Vice President: Norwood Scott [email protected] Keel Brightman, All Terrain Images, Colin Moneypenny, Secretary: Jennie Goldberg Grant Amaral, Doug Ammons, Monte Morevac, Leland Davis, Adam Cramer Sharon Hailey Treasurer: Chris Bell Nathan Fey [email protected] At Large: Dave Cernicek Events / Advertising Coordinator Ben VanCamp Washington, DC Colorado Stewardship Director P.O. Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 Longmont, CO phone 828-713-5825 AW STAFF e-mail: [email protected] Jennie Goldberg [email protected] [email protected] Laura Blalock Safety Editor Charlie Walbridge Seattle, WA Route 1, Box 329F, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 Finance Manager Jeff Paine e-mail: [email protected] Cullowhee, NC Kristine Jackson Outreach Director [email protected] Stewarship Reports Editor [email protected] Simsbury, CT Kevin Colburn, [email protected] Rock Island, TN [email protected] Kevin Colburn American Whitewater Magazine Task Force Jeff Espy, Dunbar Hardy, Dale-Marie Herring, John Mason, Don Kinser National Stewardship Director Tanya Shuman, Ambrose Tuscano [email protected] Missoula, MT Marietta, GA Missing Copies and Address Changes [email protected] [email protected] Evie Locke American Whitewater is printed by [email protected] Carla Miner The Printing House in Quincy Florida All rights reserved. Charlemont, MA Membership Manager West Valley City, UT Eric Nies [email protected] [email protected] EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER New Paltz, NY The opinions expressed in the features and Thomas O’Keefe editorials of American Whitewater are those of Aaron Pruzan Pacific NW Stewardship Director the individual authors. They do not necessarily aaron@jacksonholekayak Seattle, WA represent those of the Directors of American .com [email protected] Whitewater or the editors of this publication. Jackson Hole, WY On occasion, American Whitewater publishes official organizational policy statements drafted and approved by the Board of Directors. These policy statements will be clearly identified. 2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 January/February 2009 January/February 2009 At the start of each year the American a broader spectrum of recreational users level, American Whitewater can shape a Whitewater stewardship team looks and resources. Outdoor Alliance allows us future that looks brighter for rivers across deep into their crystal balls and reflects to have a vastly more powerful, proactive the nation. on the coming year’s opportunities and voice in Washington, DC on the many challenges. For this issue of American important issues surrounding public land On each project we work on, we seek land Whitewater, the outcome of that reflection management. Through Outdoor Alliance conservation, public river access, stream is the Top River Stewardship Priorities efforts we build bridges with federal flow information, and flow releases that List on page 10. Thiscontains high agencies and decision makers and begin benefit the aquatic ecosystem as well as priority projects that are representative to treat the root causes of many river recreation. We have a proven track record of the nearly 100 active river stewardship conservation and access issues. For more of success with each of these goals. These projects in staff workplans. on the OA, please see page 6 in this issue of enhancements create a triple bottom line: American Whitewater. they result in healthier rivers, they provide The coming year will likely provide local communities a sustainable economic remarkable legislative opportunities to base, and they provide opportunities for protect rivers for future generations. Hydropower Reform healthy, nature-based recreation. Those opportunities will be balanced Coalition by increasing demands on the energy We hope that you’ll recognize that these front. The same high-gradient rivers American Whitewater has been a steering projects benefit you and the rivers you and streams that paddlers enjoy are also committee member of the Hydropower enjoy paddling and they are just