The 5.3 mile reach of the New River that the Hawks Nest Project diverts water around is known by paddlers around the world as the “Dries of the New.” Conventional knowledge is that the Hawks Nest Project diverts up to approximately 10,000cfs around this section of river, leaving it too low to offer paddling opportunities except when river flows exceed the diversion capacity by at least 3,000 cfs.

This section of river offers paddling opportunities of sufficient quality to attract international visitation. At moderate flows the run offers a high quality whitewater descent comparable to the popular New River Gorge, and at higher flows massive waves are produced that attract paddlers from around the globe. In addition to freestyle paddling, this reach has significant potential for commercial rafting, instruction, guided kayaking, and general non-commercial paddling use.

A multi-year federal relicensing process began in 2012, that will result in a new federal license for the Hawks Nest Project. American Whitewater will be actively pursuing restoration of flows in the New River Dries through this relicensing process.