April 2024

Volume # 25, Number # 4,

April, 2024

The Oregon Whitewater Association brings private boaters together for the enjoyment of whitewater boating. Our vision is to promote whitewater safety and training for all of our membership in an effort to provide safety awareness and confidence when executing river rescue skills. OWA is the community of choice where fun and river adventures thrive and where people and rivers connect.

River Safety Training

Thank you to Will for supplying this months picture. This is a photo of last years River Safety training. Looking forward to this years RST.

If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to vicepresident-newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org. You can also submit pictures through Instagram or the OWA Facebook group.

Contact Information

Your OWA Officers and Volunteers

OWA Board of Directors

Scott Harvey, President

Meredith Brezinski, Vice President - Events

Jason Davis, Vice President - Newsletter

Steve Kasper, Secretary

Doug Smith, Treasurer

Steve Herring, Membership Director

Jason Urasky, Technology Director

Will Brezinski, Training Director

OWA Volunteers

Scott Harvey, Trip Editor

Cary Solberg, Advertising Editor

Scott Ogren, Webmaster

Bruce Ripley, Safety Auction Lead

President's Corner

Presidents Corner

The Spring Boating season has finally arrived!! Especially here in our corner of the Northwest with decent snow packs in the mid to higher mountain elevations. Several club members have already been getting an early start to the multi-day river floats by getting out on the Lower Deschutes club trip, the secluded North Fork John Day River and Eastern Oregon’s…

Do you know of a speaker for one of our monthly meetings?

Do you know someone engaging, entertaining, and full of knowledge who you would like to hear speak at a club meeting? Any club member who successfully connects OWA with a speaker for one of our meetings will be entered into a prize drawing for a $75 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. Club members who give a presentation will also be entered into a prize drawing. To discuss a potential speaker, email VicePresident-Events(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Trip Reports

Leave your Device at Home and Let's Go Boating

There have been questions circulating for whom The Wilson River is named; those true to Seahawks football think it was…

River Trip Resources

Hydrologic Forecast for Regional Western Rivers

Western States & Regional River Flow Data

Snowpack Data for Western States

Stay safe and healthy on the river and be prepared for emergencies.

Do you have a trip coming up? OWA has two extensive Wilderness First Aid kits and AED’s that go on all club trips and are available for club members to take on private trips. You can check them out by sending an email to firstaid(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Special Feature

American Whitewater Launches New Initiative to Remove Deadbeat Dams

This article is from the American Whitewater website. The author Robert Nasdor wrote a great article regarding dam removal.

Gear Corner

DIY Cup Holder

Krista shared directions for cup holders that perfectly hold a can shaped beverage on your raft - as long as you don't flip.

Recipe of the Month

ROTM: Russ' Power Bars

Russ Pascoe is sharing his homemade power bar recipe. This bar includes some protein powder for an extra power boost on the river.

Knot of the Month

KOTM: Figure 8 on the Bight

Do you have something to share with the OWA community through the newsletter?

Do you want to share the tale of your latest multi-day rafting adventure or just the basics of your recent day run? Do you have a recipe your river friends must try? Is there other river-related content you want to share? Any club member who submits written content published in the newsletter will be entered into a prize drawing for 1 of 2 $75 gift certificates to one of our sponsors. Submitting photos gets you a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 gift certificates. To submit newsletter content or photos for our social media accounts, email VicePresident-Newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

OWA has a Facebook group exclusively for members. It is a great place to connect with other members to meet up at the river or exchange gear tips. Anyone can follow the OWA Instagram page.

OWA is an affiliate member of American Whitewater. OWA members receive a $10 discount off of individual membership. American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501©(3) river conservation organization with a mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. Click the Logo to visit the AW website and learn more.

Note about additional photos here.