Summer 2025

Volume #26, Number #5

Summer, 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 photos were taken by Travis Decker during the May Klickitat OWA Trip. Are there any new OWA members in the photo? We had 20 people in 12 boats, fantastic weather and plenty of good whitewater fun.

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

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

Presidents Corner : Summer

I hope your summer has been full of thrilling rapids, sunny days, and good company on the water. As the season begins to…

Next OWA Meeting

Event: September Club Meeting & Gear Swap

Location: Willamette Park, West Linn OR

Date: Wednesday, September 10th, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Topic: Social Evening Get Together and Gear Swap with Fellow OWA Members - Gift Card Door Prize - Pizza and Refreshments Served

Meeting Details: Hey OWA club members, rain or shine, we'll be kicking off the September Club Meeting this month at an outdoors location at Willamette Park in West Linn. The meeting area will be at the Willamette Main Shelter near the corner of 12th St and Volpp in West Linn. This will also be a used Gear Swap, so bring your used boating and camping gear that you no longer use. Buy, sell or trade your used boating gear with or donate your used gear to other club members. You can also just come out and browse through the items being offered from other club members. There will be no formal speaker for this social gathering. Bring your own camp chair if you'd like and join the end of summer with fellow club members. There will be Flying Pie Pizza and refreshments such as bottled water and soda provided by the club. Note: West Linn Parks do not allow alcohol. So please use good judgement when bringing your own refreshments.

Speaker: No Speaker for this Event!

Business: Up-coming River Trips and Events

Wilderness First Aid Training

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

Trip Report: May 2025 Grand Ronde

Back again in 2025, the OWA Minam to Heller Bar 3-day, 90-mile "float ’till you don’t" trip entrapped 9 boaters in 5…

Aintry? You Can’t get there from Here!

In the early days of rafting we cherished every dollar and if we did our own shuttle there would be more cash for…

Special Features

Special Feature: AWA - Chiwawa River Survey

Do you paddle the Lower Chiwawa River outside of Leavenworth, WA? Your input is needed. Chelan County has launched a survey to better understand how people use the Lower Chiwawa River for recreation–especially whitewater boating.

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.

Recipe of the Month

ROTM - 30 Minute White Bean Chili

Camping, Main Meal Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Servings: 18 servings (Scaled 3x)

Knot of the Month

KOTM: Water Knot

A knot that lays flat when tying together 2 ends of webbing.

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.