President Obama Signs Historic Wild and Scenic River Bill Into Law
March 31, 2009.
Thank you American Rivers for your tireless efforts to see this bill through to fruition!
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designates 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers, totaling over 1,100 miles in Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, California, and Massachusetts. The legislation includes important protections for 350,000 acres of land along the rivers and also contains new Wilderness designations for over two million acres of public land.
Rebecca Wodder, President of American Rivers, the nation’s leading river conservation organization, attended the signing ceremony at the White House.
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Save the Mokelumne River – Public Hearing Tonight
March 30, 2009.
Save the Mokelumne River from EBMUD’s plan to expand Pardee Reservoir. EBMUD’s proposal would drown the Mokelumne’s Middle Bar reach and extend the reservoir nearly a mile above Hwy 49. We’d even lose the Middle Bar Bridge. EBMUD heard the complaints last week and has scheduled an additional hearing on its 2040 water plan for TONIGHT.
Come to this public hearing and tell EBMUD to keep the Mokelumne a river.
WHEN: 6:30 pm
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Know Anyone with Nature Deficit Disorder?
March 30, 2009.
Oh yeah – spring has sprung in Northern California! Our California whitewater rafting guide school kicked off our local commercial season this past week; daytime temps are reaching the 70s; poppies are blanketing the hillsides; we have daylight past 7:00 pm. It’s time to come out and play.
Kristi, our perpetually happy Marketing & Customer Service Manager – who also happens to have the greenest thumb you can imagine – shared this article with us at a recent staff meeting. The article, taken from Plenty Magazine, discusses the physical, emotional and psychological importance of enjoying nature.
If you’re looking for an excuse to enjoy an adventure travel vacation, the article has this to say: “Nature play has also been correlated with a longer attention span, and studies show it’s an antidote to child obesity. Psychological health is another benefit: Kids with more experience in nature, even if it’s just a view from their room of a natural landscape are more psychologically resilient, or correlated to more psychological resilience.”
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Whitewater Legend Lars Holbek
March 26, 2009.
Whitewater legend Lars Holbek passed away on March 13th 2009, after a fairly short battle with cancer.
Just hearing of his death… and am stunned and deeply saddened. We didn’t know each other well; in fact, barely at all. But, c’mon, he was a legend and river god! And gone from us far too soon.
I essentially memorized Lars’ book, “A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California,” and I had the opportunity to meet him in the mid-1990s.
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Historic Wild & Scenic River Bill Heads to President Obama’s Desk
March 25, 2009.
Great news for whitewater rafting enthusiasts and all fans of the Great Outdoors…
David Moryc and Caitlin Jennings from American Rivers just notified the O.A.R.S. office about 1,100 miles of rivers in 8 states that may soon be protected as Wild & Scenic.
The second largest Wild and Scenic Rivers package in history now heads to President Obama’s desk, after passing the House of Representatives today by a vote of 285-140. The bipartisan H.R. 146, the legislative vehicle for the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, will safeguard over 1,100 miles of rivers in Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, California, and Massachusetts. The legislation includes important protections for 350,000 acres of land along 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers and it also contains new Wilderness designations for over two million acres of public land. Last week the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 77-20.
“Passage of this bill is an expression of the home grown support for one of the largest environmental protection measures in decades,” said Rebecca Wodder, President of American Rivers. “Today congressional leaders established a legacy of clean water, outdoor recreation and the economic benefits of healthy rivers and wild places for our grandchildren.”
American Rivers is extremely grateful to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman Jeff Bingaman, Chairman Nick Rahall, and all the sponsors of the Wild and Scenic Rivers provisions. Without their determination to see this legislation through we could not have protected these national treasures for future generations of Americans.
A Wild and Scenic River designation protects riverside land along both sides of a river corridor, blocks dams and other harmful water projects, and preserves a river’s free-flowing nature. It helps protect and improve clean water, as well as the river’s unique historic, cultural, scenic, ecological, and recreational values.
The law was enacted in 1968 and three years ago American Rivers set the goal of designating 40 new Wild and Scenic Rivers by the 40th anniversary of the law. With passage of this package we more than double our goal by designating 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers.
“From the Snake River headwaters in Wyoming to the desert Southwest’s Fossil Creek, to the trout streams of the Rockies, and the popular fishing and paddling streams of the Pacific Northwest, local people—hikers, whitewater rafters, kayakers, hunters and anglers—pushed for these historic protections,” said Wodder. “These rivers are the lifeblood of the land and our communities and the Wild and Scenic River designations are a tremendous gift to future generations.”
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Whitewater Rafting Guide Training
March 24, 2009.
Tyler, our Operations Manager -and relative newlywed- is recently back from the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He participated in an O.A.R.S.’ sponsored Wilderness First Responder course from Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch. (O.A.R.S. whitewater rafting guides are reliable, responsible, experienced and committed to enhancing your safety. All are qualified in CPR and First Aid and many earn their credentials in wilderness first responder, swift water rescue and Leave No Trace.)
He claims perfect weather, 9000-12000 cfs, great instructors and all clean lines for 10 days from Lees to Phantom. Hard to doubt him with that grin plastered to his face.
A few of his images…
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Whitewater Rafting Photo Tips from the Pros, Part III
March 18, 2009.
Save $250 on OARS 2009 Photography Expeditions
Book by March 31, 2009, and save $250 on any OARS 2009 whitewater rafting/photography trips. You don’t need to be a photographer – or even have much interest in photography – to enjoy these trips. (All include exciting whitewater rafting, camping under a stellar night sky, hiking, lazing around camp, abundant food and drink…) However – All O.A.R.S. photography trips are appropriate for novices, budding amateurs and professionals. These adventures provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills. We put you in some of the West’s most scenic locations with access to some of the country’s most successful, creative and cutting-edge photographers so that you may unleash your creative potential. The emphasis on all trips is primarily landscape photography, and you will certainly be able to relax and savor your beautiful surroundings.
Colorado River through Cataract Canyon
6 Days, May 3rd
Featured photographer: Justin Bailie
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Act Now to Save the Mokelumne River
March 16, 2009.
California rivers need your support! Save the Mokelumne River from Pardee Expansion.
An East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) plan would drown the Middle Bar Bridge, Middle Bar reach and part of the Mokelumne Electra Run. The river is popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing and hiking.
EBMUD has released the draft environmental impact report for its 2040 Water Supply Management Plan. The plan includes expanding Pardee Reservoir. The reservoir would be enlarged by more than 1,200 acres, destroying miles of the Mokelumne River and inundating the historic Middle Bar Bridge.
The Foothill Conservancy is currently working to secure National Wild and Scenic River designation for the Mokelumne River.
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