New York's Moose River was first run in 1977 or 1978 and was shortly thereafter threatened by a dam and diversion project. Paddlers representing AW joined forces with environmental groups and worked for several years to reach an agreement with the power company in 1984 which provided 20 days of scheduled releases on the Bottom Moose, and various other aesthetic and environmental enhancements to their planned project. Once the agreement was signed, AW filed what may have been our first formal intervention with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, regarding the Moose river. The negotiation of releases on the Moose formed the basis for future negotiations on other rivers, and protected a recreational treasure that would have otherwise been lost. A festival and race have been held on the Moose to celebrate this success ever since. We have included a chronology of the key AW Journal articles about the Moose Project. The articles, mostly by Pete Skinner, tell the story of the project in a unique and powerful way. Enjoy this piece of river stewardship history.

See a two-part Moose River Documentary on the history of American Whitewater's involvement in saving and restoring the Moose River.

1978 First descent report: Moose-back Riding

1982 Article alerting paddlers to hydro threat

1983 Moose River Update

1983 Moose Update

1984 Agreement reached on the Moose

1984 Early AW FERC Intervention, on the Moose and Black

1986 Wrap up story about AW efforts on the Moose and Black