May 2025
Volume 26, Number 4
May, 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 featured photo was taken by Tara Malmquist at the River Safety Training at Dodge Park this past month.
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: May Club Meeting
Location: Flying Pie Pizza - 7804 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
Website: http://www.flying-pie.com/locations/portland
Date: Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Schedule:
- 6:00 – 6:30 Social Time with Pizza
- 6:30 - 7:15 Club Business
- 7:15 - 8:15 Presentation
- 8:15 - 8:30 Clean-up
Topic: The New Klamath: Whitewater, restoration, and new reasons to visit this renewed river.
In 2024, dams were removed from the Klamath River, opening up miles of spectacular whitewater. The renewed Klamath River offers a unique opportunity to visit sections of river that had been inaccessible for decades. Through advocacy and determination, whitewater recreation was mandated by FERC to be included in the scope of the largest dam removal project in history. Today, the combined efforts of American Whitewater and local outfitters have led to the opportunity to explore the “New Klamath.”
Speaker:
Will Volpert
Owner & Operations
Indigo Creek Outfitters
Speaker Bio:
Will Volpert lives in Southern Oregon and is the co-owner of Indigo Creek Outfitters, a whitewater rafting company on the Rogue and Klamath rivers. He was involved in recreational advocacy throughout the Klamath dam removal project and has spent recent months exploring what he calls the “New Klamath,” the section of river most impacted by dam removal.
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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 .
Trip Reports
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 .
Special Feature
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 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 .
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.
Here are some photos from the OWA Annual River Safety Training at Dodge Park
