JUMP INTO SUMMER 2018

Courtesy of Deborah Ann Klenzman

Brace yourself, place yourself and pace yourself! Summer is upon us. Memorial Day Weekend, the Official Unofficial Start of Summer is here. Load up the boat, pack your swimsuit and get outside for a summer of adventure and fun. Not sure where to start?  We have some great tips on ways to make this summer unforgettable. So as Dr. Seuss said,“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way.”

 

Make Memories
Social media essentially took over our lives and the selfie is now part of every outside outing. But, shooting a good Instagram photo with your camera phone is harder than it looks. Photographer Deborah Ann Klenzman suggests shooting from different angles. "Don't settle for just an ordinary shot," said Klenzman. "Try a photo from above looking down on your subject or lie on the floor and shoot up. Experiment with your filters on your camera phone or on Instagram.  She also suggests catching all the events of your vacation, even the difficult moments. "If your car breaks down and you have to hitchhike, take a photo of the guy who gave you a ride. If your ride from the airport falls through and you end up on a city bus take some pictures of the unexpected adventure. These are memories we don't normally think to take pictures of,  but they can be fun things to share and look back on." Progressive Portraits

 

Kayaking 101
What's not to love about gliding across a glassy stretch of the lake as your kayak knifes through the water as you escape the hustle and bustle. It's true anyone can rent a kayak and begin to paddle right away. However, most don't even bother to take a class to learn the basic skills needed to bravely and safely paddle a kayak.
"By the end of the 3-hour class after we learned the basics," said Current Adventure Kayaking School & Trips student Joyce Molthen, "I was confident in my basic skills, so much so that I wanted to go right out and buy a kayak and go to the lake every day. The complete serenity of the kayaking experience and enjoying nature in the midst of a large city is a dream come true for me. I’ve already signed up for another class." Current Adventures

Ride A River
From big water rapids to calm lazy flow, a river experience is a summer must for those seeking adventures, recreation and wildlife viewing along a watery trail. It's said, you cannot step into the same river twice, so expect something different each time.
"I love river paddling so much because it is never the same experience," said Aqua-Bound's and Bending Branches' Brian Boyea, "Because of all the variables that change from trip to trip (weather, water levels, scenery, paddling buddies, etc.) Each trip out on the river is a new and exciting adventure." Aqua-Bound, Bending Branches, American Rivers.

Courtesy of Dave Gieseke

Time Travel
 You don't need a time machine to take a blast in the past. By visiting State Historic Parks and National Historic Sites you can charge at Gettysburg, head westward along the Oregon Trail or look for gold in Calfornia. Understanding history is best done by walking the ground of where it happened. "History isn’t always pretty. In fact, America’s past is pockmarked with warts" said My National Parks Project blogger Dave Gieseke, "But if you really want to know why life is how it is today, go to a historical park. Every time I visit a historical site I learn something new, something that has a direct influence on today’s world." My National Parks Project, US Park Service 

Pedal Off The Path
"It's very exciting and kind of intimating," said Any Mountain's Richard Chapman when you turn your bike off the pavement for the first time. You’re on a bicycle riding now on dirt and rocks and over all types of terrain which can be nerve-wracking and terrifying all at the same time. "But it's always fun," added Chapman, "You can increase your fitness, lose some weight and live a healthy lifestyle." So brush on your bike repairs in case of an untimely flat, strap on your helmet and hold on tight, it's going to a bumpy ride. Any Mountain


Rock The Rock
Looking for fitness, fun and along with a rush of adrenaline? Look up and never look down. Rock climbing is a perfect fit. Rock climbing or bouldering as some of the daredevil climbers call it is enjoyed by clans of everyday adventures across the country.  "Climbing is not only an exercise for the body but an excellent exercise for the mind." said climber Chris Waller-Bennett, "Not only do you have to climb, you have to create a plan in your head executing a sequence of moves you want to make. It's like piecing together a puzzle"

Courtesy of Bayside Adventure Sports

Waller-Bennett says the best way to get started to try out at your local climbing gym where you will get outfitted with the proper equipment and instruction. GRAGS 


Walk To A Waterfall
"Twisting through the thorn-thick underbrush, scratched and exhausted, one turns suddenly to find an unexpected waterfall, not half a mile from the nearest road, a spot so hard to reach that no one comes. A hiding place, a shrine for dragonflies and nesting jays." is how American poet Michael Dana Gioia described his trek to a hidden waterfall. Whether on a long hike or a short walk there is no better reward at the end of the path than the spectacular sight of a waterfall. State and national parks from the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains to Yosemite offer beautiful and inspiring views of cascading water. Stay on the trails and observation decks, watch your footing rocks can be slippery and never lean over the ledge at the top of the falls. Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Explore Minnesota, Tahoe

Snack On S'mores
Don't rough it. Glamp it by topping of your campfire with the perfect s'more. "S'more are crucial for any campout. What's a good good camp out without the best dessert?" said camping mom Christy Harris Bryant, "You have three ways to go with your marshmallow combinations, (Graham cracker, Hershey's Chocolate Bar or get wild and crazy and use Reese's Peanut Butter Cups) raw, toasted, or the third option is where you can put on all of the combinations together in a foil packet, put it on your campfire and cook it up. But you have to pay close attention because the golden rule with s'mores is. Never burnt, never burnt, Nobody wants a burnt s'more." Canoeroots 

Get Star Struck
Staying up late sprawled out on the ground and taking in the night sky has become increasingly harder to do from the comfort of our own backyards. It’s estimated that two-thirds of the country can’t see the Milky Way anymore. Only wilderness areas offer the luxury of stargazing with boundless dark skies to truly see the constellations,  The Northern Lights and Perseid Meteor Shower.
"Experience the Perseid Meteor Shower and a glowing Sierra Full Moon from your kayak." said Current Adventures' Dan Crandall, who offers an annual trip to California's Loon Lake during the August peak of the meteor shower,  "No light pollution, no crowds, only nature’s sounds and a huge sky above you." Current Adventures

THE WATER KING: EPA'S Pruitt places himself in charge of all decisions reguarding the nation's waterways.

The Trump administration's attack on the Clean Water Act intensified earlier this week after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt placed himself in charge of all decisions regarding the nation’s waterways.

Scott Pruitt

According to a memo provided to CNN by the group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility dated March 30, states that Pruitt will be making all final decisions when it comes to on the protection streams, ponds and wetlands tossing aside the input of the agency’s regional administrators and scientists.
"With this revised delegation, authority previously delegated to regional administrators to make final determinations of geographic jurisdiction shall be retained by the administrator," the memo states.

EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman downplayed it, saying the memo is meant to deal with "significant issues or technical difficulties" that could arise while determining wetlands and waterways as the agency begins revamping the Obama-era water regulations.

"Regions will absolutely be involved in the process and work closely with the administrator's office when doing the work to assess jurisdiction for very select, and often rare, cases," Bowman said an article from the Washington Examiner.

The move is being seen by environmental groups as a way to change the approval process and lessen the role of EPA employees and scientists when it comes to evaluating whether projects have a significant negative environmental impact on waterways or wetlands. In the past, EPA scientists reviewed the requests for permits and determined whether a project was detrimental to the local environment waterway or wetland. In the memo, Pruitt notified EPA staff that he would now be in charge of those decisions.

Environmentalists are sensitive to these changes because they say waterways, streams and wetlands are critical to the drinking water supplies, fisheries, wildlife habitat or recreation areas.
"We're concerned about Administrator Pruitt's industry ties, and his moves to toss critical safeguards for our clean water supplies and rivers," American Rivers Amy Kober wrote in an email to Outside Adventure to Max.

In response Sierra Club's, Dalal Aboulhosn, Deputy Legislative Director for Land and Water, released the following statement, "The last person who should have decision making power over our drinking water is Scott Pruitt, who has a corrupt record of getting favors and marching orders from the same corporate polluters who want to dump their toxic pollution in our water. Pruitt’s dangerous power-grab would strip local scientists and experts of their ability to fairly judge whether or not America’s streams and waterways fall under the Clean Water Act’s protection will be disastrous."

Pruitt, who has also drawn scrutiny and calls for his resignation in recent weeks over alleged ethics violations, suspended the Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS) in January after the Obama-era rule was stayed by the courts with a clear plan of significantly reducing the scope of the Clean Water Act.

So far 11 states, in conjunction with Natural Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation have filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York to prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from delaying implementation of these regulations.

TROUBLED WATERS: STATES & ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CHALLENGE EPA OVER CLEAN WATER DELAY

The Trump administration has formally discontinued a major Obama-era clean water regulation. Last week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the suspension of the Clean Water Rule for two years, while the administration works to repeal and replace the rule with their own, industry-friendly version.

The Waters of the United States (WOTUS), the rule was designed to limit pollution in about 60 percent of the nation’s bodies of water, as put forth by the E.P.A. and the Army Corps of Engineers in 2015. It expanded the protection of headwaters, streams, and 20 million acres of wetlands including large bodies of water, such as the Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound and the Mississippi River under the 1972 Clean Water Act. It held farmers and real estate developers accountable for runoff pollution in streams running through their property. because these tributaries can carry fertilizer discharges and other kinds of contamination from agriculture and fossil fuel extraction into the larger bodies of water.

Under fierce criticism, over 100 parties have since challenged water regulation including business groups and some Republican officials, arguing that it was an overstep of government power, prompting President Trump to take aim against the regulation, calling it “one of the worst examples of federal regulation.”
Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order directing the EPA and the Department of the Army to rescind and replace it with less burdensome regulatory requirements on how farmers, ranchers, real estate developers and industry must safeguard the streams and tributaries.

Last week, Pruitt took a major step toward completing that task, by filing legal documents requiring to suspend the water regulation rule for two years. The rule was set to be implemented in the coming weeks, following a Supreme Court decision that said legal challenges to the regulation should be decided in federal district courts. That ruling will result in the lifting of a stay issued by an appeals court blocking the 2015 rule from going into effect.

“Today, E.P.A. is taking action to reduce confusion and provide certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers,” Pruitt said in a statement. “The 2015 WOTUS rule developed by the Obama administration will not be applicable for the next two years, while we work through the process of providing long-term regulatory certainty across all 50 states about what waters are subject to federal regulation.”

Republicans cheered the administration’s move saying the regulation was an infringement on property rights for farmers, ranchers.
“The Obama administration’s outrageous Waters of the United States rule would have put backyard ponds, puddles, and farm fields under Washington’s control,” said Senator John Barrasso, the Wyoming Republican who is chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in an interview with the New York Times, “Today’s action will give Wyoming’s ranchers, farmers, small businesses, and communities clarity."

Dozens of states and environmentalists groups have rallied to fight the move. This week, attorneys general from states including New York, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for delaying enforcement of the EPA rule meant to protect waterways saying it wrongly applied to lands far from traditionally “navigable waters.”

"The Trump Administration’s suspension of the Clean Water Rule is clearly illegal, threatening New York’s decades-long efforts to ensure our residents have access to safe, healthy water," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is leading the coalition, "We will fight back against this reckless rollback and the Trump administration’s continued assault on our nation’s core public health and environmental protections.”

In conjunction with the 11 states, Natural Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation also filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York to prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from delaying implementation of the regulations.

“The Clean Water Rule protects the bodies of water that feed the drinking water supply for one in three Americans,” said Jon Devine, NRDC senior attorney told The New York Times, “E.P.A. Administrator Scott Pruitt is racing the clock to deny protections for our public health and safety. It’s grossly irresponsible, and illegal."
Environmentalists predicted the rewrite will let polluters off the hook and say the delay is an obvious attempt to make it easier for corporate and agricultural interests to pollute waterways by allowing them to sidestep stiffer regulations.

“This reckless decision by the Trump Administration to suspend the implementation of the Clean Water Rule will put the drinking water for one in three Americans in danger, all so Trump and Scott Pruitt continue to pander to polluters intent on spewing their noxious waste into America’s waterways without accountability." Dalal Aboulhosn, Deputy Legislative Director for Land and Water for the Sierra Club said in a statement released by the environmental organization.

American Rivers, President Bob Irvin also critical of the White House's move says the move undercut water protections against dredging and filling will make innumerable small streams and wetlands that are essential for drinking water supplies, flood protection, and fish and wildlife habitat vulnerable to unregulated pollution.

"Healthy rivers and streams are vital to our communities and economy, and the health of millions of Americans. President Trump and EPA Administrator Pruitt want to throw away carefully crafted safeguards that were based on strong economic arguments, sound science and broad public support," stated Irvin.

EPA's Pruitt has been targeting WOTUS for years, even before he was in Washington; as Oklahoma attorney general, in 2015 where he lead a multi-state lawsuit against the rule, is expected to roll out his own version diminished of the rules this spring and finalize new rules this year.

18 WAYS TO PADDLE INTO 2018

So what’s on your adventure horizon for 2018? As we stride into the new year, here are 18 ways improve your paddling life in the next year and beyond. Onward.

Enjoy a winter activities
For some winter fun, hit the local slopes and trails. It's time to find a good hill for  your toboggan or trek off to a ski resort for some downhill or cross-country skiing. It won't cure your need to paddle, but it will help while waiting till next spring to paddle again. Those who like to hike will love snowshoeing, crunching down through the snow a great form of cardiovascular exercise. Just duck those snowballs from the person behind you. Snowshoeing

Take indoor rolling session
Don't let the ice and snow limit your ways of improving your skills on the water.  Certified instructors in heated indoor pools across the country are offering classes covering safety, paddle strokes and rescue techniques. After that build your confidence with a rolling session. wisconsinpaddlers.org.

Buy a state park pass
Explore the beauty and history of your own state. Many states offer some sort of pass that allows you unlimited entry at most state parks, while other offer park passes on a park-by-park basis. Find your state, order an entrance pass, and enjoy unlimited access to the natural beauty and paddling venues your state parks offer. US State Parks

Attend a Kayak Symposium
Whether you are an experienced kayaker or just beginning these instructional gathering aim at advancing your paddling skills. Offered on each coast and on the Great Lakes. These courses allow the paddlers to refine these skills and paddle in more challenging conditions with an accomplished sea kayaking coach with the goal of advancing your abilities. Lumpy Waters, Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

See a paddling film
Sure you can watch your old wore out VHS copy of 1972 Deliverance over and over again, but this year get some popcorn and embrace the paddling lifestyle and wild places of the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour. Since 2006, the World Tour has screened in more than 120 cities around the world showcasing the very best paddling films. Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour 

Take a wilderness canoe or kayak trip
Did you know, the average canoe trip 20 years ago was nine days. Today it’s only three. Clearly, we need to reset our priorities. A wilderness trip via canoe is an experience few will ever forget so grab your paddle and head to the wilderness.  The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park, The Buffalo National River

 Paddle with a group
An African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." So while many love the solitude of a solo paddle, most people like to make it a social activity by bringing friends and family along with them to share the experience. Paddlers say, that by kayaking together they build stronger relationships between loved ones and enhanced their friendships with other boaters. Kayaking Meetups

Kayak amid an urban sprawl
Our local water trails provide recreation in river towns across the country with hiking and bike paths, restaurants and interpretive centers, campgrounds and most important access to the water.  These urban waterways prioritize tourism, economies, and increase environmental education impacting your community. American River Parkway, Urban Kayaking 

Take a kid paddling
In this day and age of 'nature deficit disorder' due to overexposure to video games, computers and the Internet, paddling in the outdoors can be a great activity for kids. And while kids have short attention spans and aren't always focused on learning the technical aspects of paddling, the key to having a good time is to keep the paddling exercises fun, interesting and always bring plenty of snacks. Kayaking with the family

Take a white water class 
In a whitewater kayaking class, you’ll develop the foundations and skills along with overcoming any of those fears about being upside down underwater. By the end the session you’ll amaze even yourself as you paddle through the eddies and currents with increased confidence and boat control as you weave and glide down a new stretch of the river. Current Adventures Kayak School & Trips

Hang out in your local paddling shop
Kayaking is not just a sport. It’s a lifestyle. Hanging out in your local shop is a great way to get to know other paddlers in your area. Whether you’re looking for a new boat, paddle, or whatever else, talking to the other people in the store is a great way to get the scoop on what gear works for them. And just stopping in is also an easy way to keep informed on festivals, competitions, community gatherings and river cleanups in your area. The River Store, Rutabaga PaddleSports, Midwest Mountaineering

Paddle in the moonlight

With 13 full moons in 2018, you'll have plenty of chances to paddle in the moonlight. On January 31st, Earth will experience a blue moon (as in the saying, “once in a blue moon”). This means that it will be the second full moon in the span of a single month. Bring that special someone along for a romantic voyage or the whole family for a moonlit kayak adventure. Many outfitters and local state park across the country offer sunset and full moon paddling sessions providing all the gear for at a reasonable price. currentadventures.com

Take part in a river cleanup
Be a river hero by volunteering to participate in the thousands of cleanups across the country to remove litter and debris from out local waterways. In Sacramento last year, volunteers pulled two bicycles, a motorcycle frame and some 1,500 pounds of debris from the 6-mile stretch along the American River. National River Cleanup

Visit a whitewater park
In the movie Field Of Dreams, they said, "If you build it they will come." Over the past several years communities that have constructed whitewater parks as a way of providing a dynamic recreation facility for the community. These parks have used dam removals projects to build artificial whitewater courses opening the river to paddlers as well bringing bringing communities together great river festivals.  Truckee River Whitewater Park, Great Falls Park,  Buena Vista River Park

Get involved with activism by Supporting American Rivers
Join American Rivers to protects wild rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserves clean water for people and nature. Guided by five core values: Passion, Integrity, Teamwork, Commitment, and Balance this organization works to achieve a vision of a nation of clean, healthy rivers for everyone. American Rivers

Paddle a SUP
It's a common scene across the beach of the US and Canada, long sleek colorful boards and even sleeker paddlers ever so graceful gliding across the water. All you need is a board to join the SUP revolution for a refreshing view and escape. SUP Magazine

Read a paddling book
Who doesn’t enjoy a tale of high adventure with raging rapids, stormy seas and paddling great rivers? These stories both fiction and nonfiction will inspire us all winter to go live your own adventure. Ron Watters Barnes & Noble 

 Update your PFD
Time, use and the sunlight has taken its toll on your PFD. Experts say you should replace it every five years or after 300 days considering how much you used it. Loss of buoyancy and UV damage are the red flags telling us their due to retire.  RapidMedia

A MAN, HIS CANOE AND ALL FIFTY STATES

Photos by Eric Straw

BY OUTSIDE ADVENTURE TO THE MAX GUEST BLOGGER ERIC STRAW

I already miss the rivers. It’s true, even after just returning from paddling a natural body of water in every state. Fortunately, as I discovered on my Canoe 50 Campaign, I don’t have to venture far to find a river. None of us do. From Delaware to the Dakotas and from Mississippi to Montana, every state in the union has a place to paddle, explore, and discover nature anew.
From Delaware to the Dakotas, every state has a place to paddle, explore, and discover nature. I have a multitude of stories and takeaways from my half-year excursion. Fresh off the water, here are a few that stick out. First off, I believe, more than ever, that our riparian areas are proper focal points for protection and barometers for overall ecosystem health; they are worth seeing, they are worth protecting and they are — along with our diverse population — what makes our nation exceptional.

Pine Creek Canyon, Pennsylvania black bear.

Despite being from the suburbs, I grew up with a love for the outdoors. As a kid I collected wildlife sightings like baseball cards. For me, the only thing akin to finding a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie in a pack was seeing a rare animal in the wild. Both occurrences put me in a state of bliss only rivaled by an unguarded bowl of candy. Along this canoe trip, I remained enamored by chance encounters with wild animals; my first bear sighting is a prime example.
Paddling down Pine Creek Canyon, Pennsylvania, I floated under passing white clouds, above the glinting water and between the steep canyon walls cloaked in green. The evening set in with a warmth only a fine summer day can provide. Then I saw it — 200 yards down river — the unmistakable shape of a black bear. Trying to calm my excitement, I put on my zoom lens as the bear began crossing Pine Creek. In silence, I canoed downstream as the bear reached the opposing bank and began walking along the shore, towards me. Soon, I was only 30 feet from 300 pounds of fur, teeth, and claws. At a loss for creativity, I called out “Hey bear!” The lumbering creature stopped, turned and looked right at me before disappearing behind a wall of shaking leaves. I passed over the next riffle, dumb grin plastered upon my face. While the spell of baseball cards wore off long ago, I doubt the spell of wildlife ever will.

Eric paddling around the Florida Keys.

I didn’t plan this quest with the goal of reinvesting faith in the American People, but after the 2016 election, it became an enduring part of my canoe trip. In every state, I encountered strangers from all walks of life. After meeting hunters, vacationers, bikers, immigrants, fishermen, kids, and retirees, I came away with one thought — people are complicated, but mostly good.

In six months of driving back country roads, leaving my car overnight and camping alone, no one ever stole from me. On the contrary, the people I met offered kindness. Countless individuals provided help, rides, meals, beers, etc. On four occasions, strangers gave me cash out of the blue. One kayaker in the Florida Keys put a hundred-dollar bill in my hand. “Go get yourself a good meal and have a great trip,” were his only conditions. I’ve long touted the kindness of the American People, but even I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of kind gestures during the course of my long paddle.
Now, like most of us, I have many frustrations with our political climate and the normalization of viewpoints that trend in frightening directions. On the nature side alone, I think it’s a shame that the mere word environment has become so polarized. It’s a shame professing a love of nature might somehow instigate a vicious political argument. It’s a shame people feel they need to be either on the side of the economy or the environment, as if improving either inherently destroys the other.

Cormorants at the mouth of the Mispillion in Delaware.

But, after meeting with a broad swath of America and canoeing with people of all political persuasions, I can say this: we all don’t boil down to a choice between, what many regarded as, two poor options. Red state or blue state, I found that the American People, on a whole, do care about how they’re going to leave this land for their kids and grand kids. Whether it’s a turkey hunter in rural Virginia, an outfitter in Alaska, or a Paiute Tribe member in the high deserts of Nevada — people give a damn about their natural world. That should give us all hope.

Along with all the human interactions, the memories of the waterways I canoed will endure. Setting out, I was almost more excited about visiting the unassuming, low tourism budget states than the postcard destinations. Instead of finding mundane, unattractive water bodies, I was floored by the scenic rivers and unsung wilderness areas in states rarely noted for their natural beauty. In April, I swam in the clear black water stream on a Wild and Scenic River in Southern Mississippi. In May, I saw thousands of arctic migratory Red Knots gather by spawning horseshoe crabs at the mouth of the Mispillion in Delaware. In June, I surprised a family of river otters, playing in a shallow riffle, in the hills of Ohio. So on and so forth. My canoe quest was a never-ending showcase of American splendor in places you would and wouldn’t expect.

Classic beauty isn’t the reason our rivers deserve our respect and stewardship. Ecosystem health, human well-being, ad an array of non-aesthetic factors are as essential. But, boy does it help to stir hearts and open wallets when you realize how stunning our rivers are to behold. I’ve raised money for American Rivers throughout my journey because I believe our nation needs this kind of organization to raise the profiles of endangered waterways and protect natural places, from the unassuming to the majestic. I believe America’s rivers and wild lands are what make us exceptional and they’re worth protecting — grab a paddle and go see for yourself.

Eric Straw in a Texas based paddler on mission to canoe a body of water in all 50 states over 2017. He started last April on Brazos River and according to his November blog post has only 6 states left after paddling on Pyramid Lake in Nevada. You can catch up with Straw on his blog and read more of his state by state adventures at www.shamelesstraveles.com.  and on Instagram @ericstraw.
You can also help Straw reach his fund-raising goal for American Rivers by donating here.

Outside Adventure to the Max is always looking for guest bloggers. Contact us at Nickayak@gmail.com if you are interested.

MAKE A RIVER CLEANUP PLEDGE FOR EARTH DAY 2017

Choosing to save a river is more often an act of passion than of careful calculation. You make the choice because the river has touched your life in an intimate and irreversible way because you are unwilling to accept its loss. --David Bolling, How to Save a River: Handbook for Citizen Action


Back along the Red River separating downtown Fargo, N.D., with Moorhead. Minn there is a section of river near the First Avenue Bridge where bottles, crockery and other remnants from bygone days can be found when the river's fluctuating water levels uncover them from the bottom or riverbank.

It was the era before landfills and the river was a convenient disposal site. During the community's settlements, after the arrival of the railroad in the early 1870s, saloons began to proliferate on the Moorhead side of the river because Dakota Territory was "dry" and alcohol was prohibited. Thirsty North Dakotans filled the Red River bridges as they flocked to the Minnesota side for a legal drink. A thriving saloon district quickly sprang up on the banks of the Red. To be as close as possible to North Dakota side, several saloons were built on piers and actually hung out over the river.

Many of the empty bottles found their way into the river as local legend suggest, many would drink up before crossing the bridge into Fargo, and tossing their bottles into the inky depths of the Red River midway. It was the case of out of sight, out of mind for many as the saloon business boomed until 1915 before Minnesota's Clay County finally went dry.

Of course, I like to say it all ended there for the Red River being used as a dumping site for garbage. I would like to believe all people today are more environmentally conscious, but as we all know, our rivers are just vulnerable today as they were back then. Trash can be still found today in and along the banks of our rivers.

So on this Earth Day 2017, Outside Adventure to the Max and American Rivers are asking for you to take action and clean up and protect the rivers in our own backyards. We need your pledge.The premise is simple. Every year, National River Cleanup^® volunteers pull tons of trash out of our rivers, but by picking up trash you see around you every day, you can prevent it from getting into the rivers in the first place.

Will you pledge to pick up 25 pieces of trash in 25 days? Let’s prevent litter from making it into our local streams and rivers. Add your name here:

Make the River Cleanup Pledge, and share your work on social media with #rivercleanup to help grow our movement.

You are the key to protecting our rivers by setting an example for your community. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do for our rivers together.

National River Cleanup® is a key initiative for American Rivers. Since its inception in 1991, they have engaged more than 1.3 million volunteers who have participated in thousands of cleanups across the country, covering more than 252,694 miles of waterways and removing more than 25 million pounds of litter and debris.

PROTECT, PADDLE & PETITION

In the spring of 2015, hundreds of activists in kayaks and small boats fanned out on Puget Sound to protest Shell Oil Company to resuming oil exploration in the Arctic. The paddle-powered environmental groups vowed to disrupt the oil company’s efforts to use of Seattle as a home base for their rigs returning from Alaska's northwest coast, saying that drilling in the remote Arctic waters could lead to an ecological catastrophe. Kayakers paddled around the rigs yelling “Shell No.” and unfurled banners for “Climate Justice.”

And just like that, the term "Kayaktivism" was launched. Ever since paddlers have rallied in places to protect on nation's waterways. In North Dakota, canoeist and kayakers gathered on the waters of the Cannonball, a tributary of the Missouri River to battle to stop the construction Dakota Access Pipeline.

Others groups spoke out against the dismantling of the stream protection rule, a safeguards streams from pollution created by mountaintop removal and surface coal mining. The bill was eventually signed by President Trump.

Lake Michigan

While in the Great Lakes region of U.S. and Canada many are sounding the alarm against potentially drastic cuts to an ecological recovery initiative for the Great Lakes. The Trump administration's potential cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative reported by the Detroit Free Press would slash annual funding for the $300 million program to $10 million.

“Lake Michigan is our Yellowstone,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told Chicago Tonight, “That is our Grand Canyon. We have to treat it with that same type of respect and investment in the future"

So in an aim to protect wild rivers and public lands, Outside Adventure to the Max is joining in the efforts of American Rivers, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2018. We are teaming up to ask Congress to protect 5,000 new miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers and one million acres of riverside lands. This then ensures that wild rivers flowing through public lands remain unharmed by development and pollution.

Otter Tail River

"As you probably know, fresh water is one of the big issues of our time. It is essential to our health, wealth, and security." Jeff Wiedner, American Rivers' Director of Online Community, wrote in an email, "But our rivers the main source of water for most Americans are under tremendous pressure. Too much water is being pumped out, too much pollution is being dumped in, too many dams block our rivers, and too much pavement is smothering riverside habitat."

He continued by saying that there are many challenges ahead but success depends on people getting involved.

"We believe every community deserves a healthy river," he stated, "Because communities with healthy rivers will enjoy ample clean water supplies, economic opportunity, and a high quality of life."

St Croix River

Sign the petition to Protect Wild Rivers
Support Protecting 5000 New Miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers

“In celebration of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, we urge you to defend and protect our nation’s 208 national Wild and Scenic Rivers and the public lands through which many of them flow. Join us in calling for additional Wild and Scenic protections for 5,000 miles of rivers and 1,000,000 acres of riverside lands across the country. At a time when we should be celebrating nearly 50 years of wild river protection, some of our best rivers flowing through public lands across the country are at risk. We urge you to oppose any efforts by Congress or the Administration that seek to weaken existing protections or transfer our treasured public lands and Wild and Scenic Rivers."