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Getting the Junk out of the Tuck

Posted on April 22, 2008 | Filed Under Cleanup, Events, Southeast

Josh Klein
National River Cleanup Coordinator

This weekend I went down to Cullowhee, NC in to lend support to the Tuck River Cleanup organized by Base Camp at Western Carolina University. Despite crummy weather early in the day, close to 500 people came out to clean up the Tuckaseegee River.

This is the 24th Annual Tuck River Cleanup and the folks at Base Camp have got the logistical management of this event down to a science. It was really quite impressive seeing the team of close to 30 staff/volunteers pull this thing off to make sure that the hundreds of people who showed for the event had a worthwhile experience. The total haul was incredible and some interesting things were dragged out of the river (see the slide show below).

The group I went out with were mostly students at WCU and we had a great time paddling the river. But we weren’t out for some leisurely weekend float, the Tuck’s got some tricky sections of river to navigate. Of course we pulled out some incredible pieces of junk too: five tires, two buckets, discarded street signs, rusty pipes, cans and bottles, snack wrappers, one oil drum and some unknown nefarious device that we just called “the a-bomb” because we could not tell what on earth it could otherwise be (sorry no photos from the river or of the a-bomb - had to protect the camera). All told, the Tuck River Cleanup removed nearly 7 tons of trash.

Afterwards, Base Camp hosted a BBQ for all the participants with live music and a raffle. American Rivers donated a Kokotat PFD and spray jacket that were given away to two lucky Tuck River cleanup volunteers.

The Tuck River Cleanup is a shining example of a large community effort to cleanup it’s river, but not every cleanup is or needs to be this large to be effective. If you’ve got a river near you that needs some attention and cleaning strongly encourage you to organize your own cleanup event. It’s not hard to do and we’ve created a cleanup organizers handbook to help you through the process.

It was a really great experience and totally worth the 8+ hour drive. Thanks Base Camp for your hospitality and for the tremendous effort everyone put into protecting this terrific recreational river in Western North Carolina. I hope to see y’all again next year. Until then, my photos are below.

Community Tree Planting Event is Great Success

Posted on April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Mid-Atlantic, River Renewal

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

I think most will agree, one of the more exciting aspects of river conservation work is simply getting your hands dirty.

Grant it, it’s not for all, but for many picking up trash alongside a favorite river ensures measurable results (insert shameless plug for National River Cleanup). And, that kind of immediate satisfaction does indeed help to sustain those longer, and equally important, legislative battles.

As you know, a lot of our work is grounded – and enabled – by your participation. For example, some of those longer legislative battles are powered by our activists who travel to DC (insert second shameless plug for River Action Day).

But for greater localized action, we are fortunate to have many inspired field staff committed to community projects.

For example, last month Sara Deuling from our Pennsylvania Field office coordinated a “Mohnton Tree Planting Event�?. Sara recaps the successful effort (and slide show below):

When we arrived at the site before 10am, Larry Lloyd had already planted about 20 trees and had laid out a planting pattern with stakes for the trees. I provided an informational packet with photos of the evolution of the dam removal site.

The work started by planting the trees, which were segregated by the wetness desires: streamside, mid-bank, and upland. Once the trees were planted, about 20 feet on center, Larry identified all of the shrubs and directed the volunteers where to distribute them. Particular care was given to their wetness desires, shade preferences, mature heights and distribution across the site.

The shrubs were filled in between the tree species, with a final planting density of approximately 5’ on center. The group planted 365 trees and shrubs in total.

Once the site was cleaned up, the volunteers agreed that the site had undergone a major improvement and everyone headed home after a long day of hard work.

The site looks very natural and will provide substantial habitat benefits to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms. Some of the species planted included, Swamp white oak, Pin oak, Silver maple, Tulip poplar American sycamore, and 10 others.

A great deal of thanks and appreciation go out to Larry Lloyd, Berks Conservancy, Andrew Strassman, PA Natural Heritage Program, John Buzzar, PA Fish & Boat Commission, Fay & Molly, friends of John Buzzar, Jeremy Trexel, URS Corp., John Pittenger, URS Corp., and Chase Kelch, friend of John Pittenger.

NW dam removal update, and the breach of Montana’s Milltown Dam!

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

An article I wrote for Open Spaces magazine about dam removal in the Northwest, “Ringing in new life for rivers” is now posted on their web site. Enjoy!

In recent dam removal news, the coffer dam at Montana’s Milltown Dam site was breached last Friday.

Check out the Milltown Dam Cam on the Clark Fork Coalition’s web site. American Whitewater also has a little video about the event.

Paddling for a purpose

Posted on April 2, 2008 | Filed Under Blue Trails, Clean Water, Events, River Heritage, Stories

Jamie Mierau, Director
River Heritage, Blue Trails

KUAM (Guam) - March 24: One couple has made a three-year commitment to promoting clean water awareness. Whether by foot or by kayak, Beachwalk Project is taking Bob and Evelyn Weinman around coastlines on the U.S. mainland to raise awareness for the protection of everyone’s right to clean water.

During two and a half weeks this month the pair is making their way around Guam, with the first part of their paddling tour here having taken place this past weekend during the East Side Relay put on by the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation. Guam is the second stop on the Weinmans’ journey. Last summer they traveled 1,600 miles up the Atlantic Coastline from Miami to Manhattan Island.

The Things I Learn from Watching the Colbert Report

Posted on March 26, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Technology

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

One of the cooler aspects of living in Washington, DC, is definitely the museums.

I suspect there is not a person in town who feels otherwise. From the 19 Smithsonian museums to the International Spy Museum to the obscure lobsterdom monument, our nation’s capital has it all.

So, having said all that, I’m sure you can only imagine my guilt for not actually taking better advantage of DC’s historical attractions (and most are free too). Yes, it’s a shame, and a known deficiency that I’m working on.

Well, to add insult to injury, I learned last night - from the Colbert Report of all places - that our very own American Museum of Natural History was showcasing an exhibit called “Water: H2O = Life“. Grant it, I can be pretty slow on the uptake, but how did I miss this one (fist in air: darn you City Paper!)?

I know, I must go…and I will, but has anyone already been? Well, if you haven’t and are in town visiting or just live here and need an afternoon out, please let me know.

Btw, this was the second time in recent months that Stephen Colbert was town. If you haven’t seen the National Portrait Gallery’s video on the Colbert portrait hanging in the museum you’re missing out.

Enjoy great wine - and support American Rivers!

Posted on March 17, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Northwest

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

American Rivers celebrates its 35th anniversary this month, and what better way to celebrate than toasting you — our supporters — with award-winning wine?

So, it is perfect timing that we are announcing our new partnership with Waterbrook Winery, based in Walla Walla, Washington. Waterbrook is donating a portion of every sale to American Rivers.

Visit www.americanrivers-waterbrook.com to buy wine from our wine shop, or join one of our great wine clubs!

Waterbrook is Walla Walla’s 4th established winery, and is committed to preserving the environment that surrounds it –after all, Walla Walla means “many waters” to the Nez Perce and Walla Walla tribes indigenous to the region.

For those of you in the Seattle area, don’t miss our wine-tasting on April 30! It will be at the Lakeside Events Center on Lake Union - more details coming soon!

A successful event in Seattle!

Posted on March 14, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Northwest

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

Last night we held our annual dinner and auction in Seattle, and it was a great success! Thanks to everyone who attended and who generously supported our work. We had a special guest — author, photographer and conservationist Tim Palmer, who gave an inspiring slide show and shared many of his wonderful river stories.

The event highlighted the 40th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and our efforts to protect the Pratt River - a wild river in Seattle’s backyard.

Here are some photos from the event. For more, see our set in Flickr.

Video: Increased flows give new life to Skokomish River

Posted on March 14, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Hydropower, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

Exactly one week ago today, more natural flows surged down the North Fork Skokomish River when Tacoma Power released water from its Cushman hydroelectric project.

For over 50 years, the company had left just a trickle of water in the river below the dam — this harmed the entire river ecosystem and the well-being and culture of the Skokomish Tribe.

Here is video from the March 7 event — watch the restoration of the river’s flows.

National Trails Symposium’s Call for Presentations

Posted on March 3, 2008 | Filed Under Blue Trails, Deep South, Events, River Heritage

Jamie Mierau, Director
River Heritage, Blue Trails

Got something to say about water trails? American Trails is now accepting presentation proposals for the National Trails Symposium in Little Rock on November 15-18, 2008. Water trails is one of the symposium’s key topics! Submit your presentation ideas that introduce new ideas, convey useful strategies, identify lessons learned, and strengthen participants’ existing skills and knowledge - in the spirit of the symposium’s theme: “Innovative Trails: Transforming the American Way of Life.” The submission deadline is April 18, 2008.

New Video to Help Organizers Register & Promote Cleanup

Posted on February 28, 2008 | Filed Under Cleanup, Events, Technology

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

Though registration for National River Cleanup is currently underway (100 cleanups registered to date!), we launched yesterday afternoon a screencast that explains the registration process using our new tool.

Created in partnership with OmniStudio, the “how-to�? video helps National River Cleanup organizers understand how to best use the website, promote their event and recruit volunteers to participate.

Using Convio’s Personal Events module, we are excited to offer all 2008 organizers the ability to recruit and communicate with volunteers as well as create and customize a personal web page. Interested in learning more about organizing a cleanup or volunteering at a cleanup near you? Please visit National River Cleanup to learn more, www.NationalRiverCleanup.org or www.AmericanRivers.org/Cleanup.

If you have thoughts, comments or questions, please let us know with a comment below. We value your input and hopefully, as more eyes are on this year’s event, we can continue to make improvements to the site.

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