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Volcano Country (OR/WA)

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Washington's legendary volcanoes – Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams – are the source of wild, free-flowing rivers and streams that cascade over big drops and through deep basalt canyons on their way to the Columbia River. Rivers like the Clear Fork of the Cowlitz, Cispus, Green, Kalama, Klickitat, Lewis, Little White Salmon, Ohanapecosh, Toutle, White Salmon, and Wind are well-known for their outstanding resource values that attract visitors from around the world. From fishermen who go to challenge the winter steelhead of the Kalama, to paddlers who come to take on the big drops of the Little White Salmon, to Native Americans who dip net returning salmon from the Lower Klickitat, to scientists who study the recovery of the Toutle River following the major disturbance of a volcanic eruption, these rivers truly provide a rich diversity of cultural, fishery, geologic, recreational, scenic, scientific assets. The paddling opportunities are unparalleled with an incredible diversity of year around whitewater that attracts the sport's top athletes who call this region home. American Whitewater, with the help of our local volunteers and affiliate clubs, is committed to conserving, restoring, and enjoying these spectacular rivers. :projects:mt_st_helens.jpg

Hydropower and Water Development

:projects:cowlitz_dam_site.jpgMany of the rivers in this region have been the target of hydropower developers. While the canyons of the Cowlitz first explored by Wolf Bauer and members of the Washington Kayak Club are now buried beneath the reservoirs on this river, projects such as those on the Cispus and Canyon Creek were halted through the efforts of whitewater paddlers and others who value free-flowing rivers. More than two dozen hydropower proposals have been active for the tributaries in the Lewis and Cowlitz drainages, many of which targeted the spectacular creeking runs this region is known for. American Whitewater is committed to keeping these rivers free-flowing.

Restoring Rivers

:projects:hemlock_dam.jpgHemlock Dam, an old hydropower project on Trout Creek in the Wind River watershed has been removed. The story of this removal project is captured in the film on the Hemlock Dam Removal Story. One of our most ambitious projects in the region was the removal of Condit Dam, an effort that took over two decades of determined advocacy. Check out our Year of the River Film. These projects have restored rivers for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and whitewater recreation.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

:projects:white_salmon.jpgWashington’s legendary volcanoes — Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier and Mount Adams — are the source of wild, free-flowing rivers that rush through deep gorges and basalt canyons on their way to the Columbia River. Rivers such as the Lewis, Cispus and Green provide clean water, important fish and wildlife habitat, and outstanding recreational experiences. Sections of the White Salmon and Klickitat have been designated as Wild and Scenic, protecting them from future hydropower or water development projects. Section 13 of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act also provides some protections for the Wind and Little White Salmon. A number of other rivers have been found eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation but have not yet received the permanent protection they deserve.

American Whitewater is part of the Volcano Country Wild Rivers Coalition, which is leading an effort to protect 200 miles of rivers and streams in Southwest Washington’s “Volcano Country” under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Wild and Scenic River designation — the strongest protection a river can receive — will permanently protect the free-flowing character, water quality and special ecological, cultural and recreational values of these rivers.

Learn More: Volcano Country Wild Rivers Campaign.

Protecting the Backcountry

:projects:mccoy_creek.jpgMcCoy Creek in the Cispus drainage flows through the heart of the Dark Divide Roadless Area. Roadless Areas represent 30% of Forest Service lands, areas that remain undeveloped and American Whitewater worked to advocate for and defend the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. With approximately 50% of Forest Service lands open for development, protecting Roadless Areas is important to preserve the high quality recreational opportunities they provide. Runs like Yellowjacket Creek, Siouxon Creek, and the Wind River also have their headwaters in Roadless Areas which contributes to their spectacular water quality.

Mining Threats

:projects:toutle_hollywood.jpgA copper mine has been proposed in the headwaters of the Green River which would have devastating impacts on the river, including the fishery resources and recreational opportunities enjoyed in the Toutle River watershed. American Whitewater has coordinated with other organizations in expressing concerns related to development of this mine. Remarkably, much of the land the developer wants to lease for mining was obtained by the Forest Service in the 1980s from the Trust for Public Land with the intended purpose of protecting it from the impacts of mining. At the national level American Whitewater is a partner in efforts to reform the 1872 Mining Law to provide environmental safeguards to protect rivers along with a mechanism to address the ongoing impacts of abandoned mines.


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Title Name City
Thomas O'Keefe Seattle WA Details...
Chris Arnold Madison wi Details...
Luke Spencer Portland or Details...
The Funks Portland OR Details...

Associated Rivers

Butter Creek WA
Canyon Creek (Klickitat drainage) WA
Canyon Creek (Lewis River trib.) WA
Canyon Creek (Lewis River trib.) WA
Cedar Creek WA
Chinook Creek WA
Cispus, N. Fork WA
Copper Creek WA
Coweeman River WA
Cowlitz, Clear Fork WA
Cowlitz, Muddy Fork WA
Goble Creek WA
Green River (Toutle Drainage) WA
Hoffstadt Creek WA
Johnson Creek WA
Lewis, E. Fork WA
Lewis, E. Fork WA
Lewis, N. Fork WA
Lewis, N. Fork WA
Lewis, N. Fork WA
Lewis, N. Fork WA
Little Klickitat WA
Little Washougal WA
Muddy WA
Olequa Creek WA
Panther Creek WA
Quartz Creek WA
Rattlesnake Creek WA
Rock Creek (Columbia River trib.) WA
Rock Creek (Lewis drainage) WA
Rush Creek WA
Silver Creek WA
Siouxon Creek WA
Skate Creek WA
Stebbins Creek WA
to Washougal River IV-V(V+)
Summit Creek WA
Tilton, N. Fork WA
Tilton WA
Toutle, N. Fork WA
Toutle, S. Fork WA
Trout Lake Creek WA
Trout Creek WA
Washougal, N. Fork WA
White Salmon WA
White Salmon WA
Yellowjacket Creek WA

Associated Projects

Canyon Creek (WA)

This spectacular creek has been threatened by a proposal for hydropower development.

Cispus River Access (WA)

AW has been working to enforce requirements for public access to the Cispus River.

Columbia River Gorge (OR & WA)

Several rivers in Oregon and Washington were protected under the 1986 Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area Act.

Documents

Restore: Responsibly Reviving America's Rivers (1/7/2011)

A Special Publication of the Hydropower Reform Coalition on Dam Removal in the Pacific Northwest.

Trout Creek Restoration 24JUN2009 (6/24/2009)

Letter expressing interest in development of a new recreation site on Trout Creek

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