Hi Everyone,

         I am writing you about a proposed modification to the Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River. If you are not familiar with the river reach, check out: http://www.chasingrain.com/surfguide/Holtwoodguide.pdf. The proposal will eliminate about 55 of the 95 annual days of boatable flows (on average) out at holtwood, build another small dam that could mess things up, and excavate additional bedrock in the channel. They are doing this on the fast track a few years prior to relicensing in order to take advantage of some major tax benefits in the new Energy Policy Act. They want to amend the license and get a long extention on the current license.

         This project could significantly improve the passage of shad at the dam, which last year passed only 3% of the shad that passed Conowingo Dam downstream. This would be a very good thing. The project would also add 132 megawatts of power to the dam, which is ALOT of power for a hydro dam. This is actually a pretty smart thing environmentally (more power for similar impacts) - except for the impacts on whitewater recreation. My take is that this is going to happen, and that we need to make sure our interests are met. There will be losses, it will be hard for those that love this resource, but there are at least opportunities to soften the blow. There is a serious potential for a whitewater park with flows every day, flows everyday in a couple natural features, scheduled releases, improved access, etc - but we have to make it happen. The dam owner has thusfar ignored whitewater boating almost entirely. For more info: http://www.pplweb.com/holtwood2010.

          There will be public meetings, there will be negotiations, there will be filings with the FERC. We need the paddling community to play a strong roll, since we are the biggest losers in this deal. We need to represent shared interests and act as united as possible. We need to empower the local boaters that know and love Holtwood. I am happy to help, and have drafted up an initial letter to PPL, the dam owner, which is attached. I would like to send this letter within the next few days, and call the project manager to chat. I would like to help a local group get started, help them get the resources they need, and I can help file FERC comments when that day comes.

           SO - if you would like to sign on to this initial letter - or have comments on it - please send me your full contact information and a paragraph about your organization/business. We can have a conference call soon to discuss this too. So far I have:

Conewago Canoe Club



Lehigh Valley Canoe Club



Kayak and Canoe Club of New York



Stark Moon Outfitters



Monocacy Canoe Club



Greater Baltimore Canoe Club

Blue Mountain Outfitters


Springriver Corp



Canoe Cruisers


     Who am I missing? Thanks for your interest.

Kevin Colburn

National Stewardship Director
American Whitewater
328 N Washington St.
Moscow, ID 83843
Office: 208-882-2711 (pacific)
Cell: 828-712-4825