High Country River Rafters

River users, landowners, lawmakers revive contentious, decades-long debate of river access in Colorado Paddling groups hope legislation will provide clarity for boaters and private property owners over public access on Colorado waterways

Glenwood Canyon weekend!

NOTICE: Rabies found in bats in Empire

Clear Creek County Public Health is alerting residents about two bats collected last week that tested positive for rabies. Rabies is a serious, often fatal disease. These cases remind us to take precautions to protect ourselves, our families, and our pets.

Here's what you need to do: Please do NOT touch or approach wild animals, especially bats, skunks, foxes, or raccoons. If an animal seems sick or acts strangely, do not go near it. Call Clear Creek County Environmental Health at 303-679-2428 if you see an unusual or sick wild animal, particularly bats on the ground.

It's crucial to protect your pets. Make sure all your dogs, cats, and ferrets are up-to-date on their rabies shots, and keep pets leashed or supervised outdoors. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, even if vaccinated, contact your vet and Clear Creek County Animal Control at 303-980-7300 immediately.

You can also help by sealing openings to prevent bats from entering your home. If you find a bat indoors, call Animal Control; please don't try to catch it yourself. Finally, if you or a family member are bitten or scratched by any wild animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water right away and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Notify your healthcare provider about the potential exposure.

For more information, visit our website: www.clearcreekcounty.us/1443/Rabies-Information

Ducky Day on Deckers - 2025

✨📝🌊 American Whitewater is now accepting nominations for volunteer positions on our Board of Directors. Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of river conservation, access, and safety while giving back to the boating community. We welcome nominations from members and affiliate clubs who are passionate about protecting rivers and have skills and experience that support our work.

In particular, we're seeking candidates with: Demonstrated commitment to river conservation and recreation, experience in areas such as nonprofit governance, fundraising, finance, law, marketing, or organizational leadership, interest in supporting American Whitewater’s mission through personal engagement and outreach, and the ability to reflect the geographic, demographic, and professional diversity of our boating community.

For nominations to be considered for terms beginning in 2026, the deadline is August 15th, 2025. For more info and to submit a nominee, please click the link in the comments below 👇

Low Head Dam Safety Be Dam Aware Low head dams are common on rivers, providing a controlled flow within communities. Found on rivers and streams across the country, these dams are small but powerful reminders of America’s industrial and agricultural roots. Typically less than 15 feet tall, these dams were originally ...

Indigenous Youth Kayakers Complete Historic First Descent Of Klamath River | On June 11, 2025 a team of Indigenous teenagers from the tribes of the Klamath Basin began a historic first descent of the undammed Klamath River. The 310-mile route winds through southern Oregon and northern California and descent celebrated the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, now free-flowing for the first time in over a hundred years. The Klamath River dam removal project was the largest dam removal in history.

The team arrived at the mouth of the Klamath River on July 11, and is made up of eighth through 12th graders who have trained on the McKenzie, Salmon, Smith and Trinity Rivers as well as the Bio Bio in Chile. Training was completed as part of the Paddle Tribal Waters Academy, a collaboration between Rios to River’s Paddle Tribal Waters program and World Class Academy, and training included developing whitewater kayaking and river safety skills while carrying full-class loads and studying an Indigenous-informed curriculum. Preparation for the trip took three years.

“I feel so proud to have completed this trip, and am feeling grateful for the support of my family and the fact that I got to honor my grandma’s legacy in her fight for dam removal,” Ke-Get Omar Dean V, 18, a member of the Yurok Tribe, shared in a press release from Rios to Rivers. “We got to complete this journey because of the people that came before us and ensured a free-flowing river.”

Continue reading: https://bit.ly/3Hx2vbz

✍️: Maddy Marquardt
📷: Paddle Tribal Waters youth carry a tribal flag at the mouth of the Klamath River on June 11. Feature Image: Courtesy Eric Boomer / River Roots

HAZARD ADVISEMENT NOTICE Royal Gorge Rock Fall btw Sunshine Falls & Sledge Hammer

IMPORTANT HAZARD NOTICE

Today, May 8th, sometime in the afternoon, a major rock fall with very large boulders landed in the river between Sunshine Falls Rapid and Sledge Hammer, creating a new river channel between large boulders with potential navigable challenges.

Please take every precaution to scout, investigate the new route through the rockfall.

AHRA will update after an early morning investigation of the river status.

If you have any information, please contact AHRA. Thank you, John

John P. Kreski
Rationing and Agreement Coordinator
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

LavaBox Portable Campfire - The Original Ammo Can Fire Pit The best portable propane campfire boasting over 180,000 BTUs of radiant heat & a sub 3 minute setup time. Load up your LavaBox Portable Campfire and bug out for fire ban compliant fun with all the nostalgia of a wood-burning fire (minus the smoke).