March 2025
Volume #26, Number #2
March, 2025
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.
Photo of the Month
This month's photo is that of club member and OWA President, Brenda Bunce on the Kalama River in Washington. Photo taken next to Little Kalama Creek falls just below The Leader Rapids.
The Kalama River is a forested River Canyon that is a class 3 river with one class 4 boulder garden rapid called The Leader. There is no gauge on the Kalama River, but it's normally boated in the Winter and early Spring after a couple days of rain.
There are two rapids that need scouting on your first run down this river. From the locked gate at the launch site, What's That Falls (class 3) is roughly 2-1/2 miles below the put in and is scouted on the left. Two miles further is a class 4 boulder garden called Leader Rapids that's scouted from the right bank.
Takeout is either at the Hatchery or any place that's convenient along the roadway, upstream of the Hatchery.
Photo by Scott Harvey.
If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to . You can also submit pictures through Instagram or the OWA Facebook group.
Contact Information
Your OWA Officers and Volunteers
OWA Board of Directors
Brenda Bunce, President
Meredith Brezinski, Vice President - Events
Karl Mitsch, Vice President - Newsletter
Justin Richard, Secretary
Doug Smith, Treasurer
Tom Riggs, Membership Director
Jason Urasky, Technology Director
William Brezinski, Training Director
OWA Volunteers
Scott Harvey, Trip Coordinator, Newsletter Editor
Cary Solberg, Advertising Editor
Scott Ogren, Webmaster
Steve Oslund, First Aid Kits
Bruce Ripley, Safety Auction Lead
Matt Saucy, Boating 101 Lead
Jared Linkhart, Safety Training Associate
President's Corner
Next OWA Meeting
Event: Safety Skills Practice (March Club Meeting)
Location: North Clackamas Aquatic Center, 7300 SE Harmony Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222
Date: Wednesday, March 12th, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Gear: Everyone in the pool must have the following gear to participate: (if you don't have it, you can't get in the pool)
- Helmet
- PFD
- River Shoes or Sandles (such as Chaco, Keen or Teva's)
Description: This is a great time to bring your families out, update skills and get some refresher training from some extremely knowledgeable folks who have graciously donated their time. This is a club meeting and there is no cost associated with this event, however you must be an OWA club member to attend. The Pool Session will begin promptly at 7:00PM and run to 9:00. Please arrive early enough to be changed into your swimming gear and ready for the meeting to start at 7:00 pm. We will divide into groups and then rotate through the stations.
Schedule looks like this:
7:00pm- Introductions
7:30pm- 1st rotation
8:00pm- 2nd rotation
8:30pm- 3rd rotation
9:00pm- Gear breakdown and packing
Due to overwhelming participation by our volunteer instructors, and because of our limited time, there will be more stations than time permits for rotation. We will attempt to get everyone though the stations they'd like to get through and I expect that there will be some interim floating between stations. The stations will be:
Station 1 - Knot Tying - Railing walkway
Station 2 - Throw Bagging/Swimmers - Wave Pool
Station 3 - Light Cat Flipping - Dive Pool
Station 4 - Raft Flipping - Wave Pool
Station 5 - Mechanical Advantage - Deck Area
If you have questions prior, please contact .
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 $150 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. To discuss a potential speaker, email .
Trip Reports
Special Features
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 .
Recipe of the Month
Knot of the Month
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 a $150 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. To submit newsletter content or photos for our social media accounts, email .
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.