Recent Successes: American Whitewater played a significant role in securing the following river stewardship successes, often working closely with our outstanding network of affiliate clubs, volunteers, and partners.

  • Nantahala River: Negotiated an agreement on the Nantahala River that secured and improved the over 230 releases on the Lower Nantahala and provides 8 days of releases per year on the Upper Nantahala. The agreement also improves minimum flows, public access, and flow information.
  • Tuckasegee River: Negotiated an agreement that secured and improved 168 releases on the Lower Tuckasegee River and provides 7 days of releases per year on the West Fork of the Tuck, removed Dillsboro Dam, improved minimum flows, improved flow information, created 13 new river access areas, and provided nearly $1,000,000 for river conservation.
  • Tallulah River: Negotiated and support clubs in managing 10 annual releases and access on the Tallulah River
  • Cheoah River: Negotiated 18 annual releases on the Cheoah River, improved base flows, land conservation, and access areas.
  • Catawba River: Negotiated scheduled releases on multiple Class I-III+ reaches of the Catawba, numerous access areas, gages, and land conservation. The highlight may well be the restoration of Great Falls of the Catawba, estimated for 2018.
  • Saluda River: Negotiated improved 61 releases plus great flows for fish and paddling in spring, improved base flows, improved access, and flow information on the Saluda River in Columbia.
  • Ocoee River: Successfully advocated for 54 days of recreational releases on the Upper Ocoee
  • Little River: Negotiated paddling access to the Little River in NC’s Dupont State Forest
  • Chattooga River: Secured legal paddling access to 15 miles of the Chattooga Headwaters during certain times.
  • Watauga River: Purchased and manage the Watauga River Take out, and assisted with purchase of the put in and conservation of corridor.
  • Cartecay River: Assisted with the purchase of an access site on the Cartecay River
  • Pigeon River: Defeated unreasonable proposed fee system, and advocated for improved water quality on the Pigeon River
  • Twelvemile Creek: Supported removal of two dams on Twelvemile Creek.
  • Big Hungry Creek: Supported removal of two dams (one pending).
  • Soak Creek: Supported the designation of Soak Creek as Tennessee's first Scenic River in almost 2 decades.

2016-2018 Projects:

  • Protecting over 20 rivers and streams as eligible for Wild and Scenic Designation in Western North Carolina, and building support for future Congressional Wild and Scenic River, Wilderness, and/or National Recreation Area designations.
  • Ensuring the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest plans support sustainable outdoor recreation.
  • Designating additional Scenic Rivers in Tennessee.
  • Actively defending the legal right to paddle in South Carolina (South Fork Saluda), North Carolina, and Virginia (Johns Creek).
  • Collaboratively developing and implementing newly prescribed flows, trails and access on the Catawba River, including awesome playboating through Great Falls.
  • Ensuring releases in the Upper and Middle Ocoee are maintained.
  • Participating in annual planning and collaborative management of dam releases on the Cheoah, Tallulah, Tuckasegee, Nantahala, and Catawba.
  • Supporting Tennessee Wilderness Act.
  • Supporting development of the new Watauga put in, and continue to manage our Watauga take out.
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