water (wilderness adventure ecology and reasearch)

Running head: WILDERNESS ADVENTURE TEAM ECOLOGY AND RESEARCH1

Wilderness Adventure Team Ecology and Research (W.A.T.E.R)

Matthew Moritz

Prescott College

Abstract

WILDERNESS ADVENTURE TEAM ECOLOGY AND RESEARCH 2

The nature of inquiry for Wilderness Adventure Team Ecology and Research (W.A.T.E.R.) is

comprised of scholarly studies that focus on the degradation of river systems. Trends regarding

dams and dam removal will be surveyed, in addition to the role that the National Wild & Scenic

River System plays in preservation of our waterways. Statistical and informational materials are

provided on the Wild & Scenic River System, dams and the oldest river vessel; the canoe.

Canoeing experts and authors are examined to determine ecologically sound practices for river

travel. Leave No Trace techniques (LNT) are analyzed and adjusted for modern river tours. The

canoe is the primary river boat addressed in the research yet most of the information can be

borrowed for kayak or raft travel as well.

Keywords: Riverine (Of or pertaining to river areas), Northern Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Leave No Trace (LNT)


Wilderness Adventure Team Ecology and Research (W.A.T.E.R.)

Water blankets approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface, with the oceans accounting

for 96.5% percent of all of the Earths water. The other 3.5% of the water on this planet is fresh

or non-salinated (Perlman, 2011, “How Much Water,” para. 2). Most of the fresh surface water

of the world has been explored, harnessed, and controlled over centuries; civilizations have

thrived and vanished from the waxing and waning of water; continents have been explored and

people have migrated through the use of fresh waterways. Rivers are the ancient arteries of life

which transport, feed, and energize the people and land inhabiting our blue planet. Wilderness

Adventure Team Ecology and Research (W.A.T.E.R.) addresses ways humans can act in an

environmentally conscientious manner while using and/or being in approximation to riverine

areas. Presented first is a historical look at the boat that changed water transportation as we

know it, the canoe, followed by a macro level analysis of dams with corollaries to Wild and

Scenic Rivers of the United States. Finally on a micro level, conservation practices are offered

to suggest ways canoe paddlers can help to preserve and appreciate our waterways.

The oldest known boat in the world, the Pesse dugout canoe, is housed at the Dents

Museum in the Netherlands. The wooden boat has been carbon dated to between B.C. 8040 and

7510 (Unknown, 2011, “Introduction,” para. 1). Although the materials to construct canoes

have been modified over centuries; from dugout logs, to North American birch bark, to

aluminum, and even Kevlar ©; the basic shape has stayed the same. Regardless of their

simplistic shape, canoes have provided humans with the ability to hunt and fish, the opportunity

http://www.drentsmuseum.nl/index.cfm?pid=159


to access resources, and the capability to migrate over thousands of years. Laurie Gullion

(1994) continues, “When European explorers arrived in the New World in the 1600’s they

discovered the canoe to be the primary form of transportation” (p. 4). Gullion (1994) expands

further by stating that in the 1700’s explorers and fur traders penetrated the Canadian and

United States wildernesses with canoes creating a liquid road to transfer lucrative furs back to

Europe (p. 4). As time passed and technology advanced, the canoe became more of a

recreational vehicle instead of a transportation medium. Today, “the canoeing experience can

provide unlimited satisfaction: exploration of new places, peaceful relaxation, lifetime

recreation and fitness, wildlife watching, a renewed understanding of the cultural and economic

importance of our waterways” (Gullion, 1994, p. 2). The simplicity and functionality of the

canoe is main the reasons for the crafts ability to stand the test of time, yet even before the

canoe was born, untamed rivers flowed freely through our planet.

Just as land and fire were used to meet the needs of mankind, the element of water has

been used for our benefit for thousands of years. “Landscape engineering— the alteration of the

surrounding environment to meet human needs— has a long history. As early as 2800 B.C.,

Egyptians dammed their rivers to reduce floods and store water for human use” (Whol, 2004,

pp.222-223). River control increased for centuries as populations grew throughout the world and

the demand for fresh water increased. When America was colonized and its population

expanded the need for fresh water grew exponentially. In 1901 part of President Theodore

Roosevelt’s inaugural address included the initiative; ‘“[G]reat storage works are necessary... to

equalize the flow of streams and to save the flood waters”’ (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 1). This


idea led to the passage of the National Reclamation Act and opened the flood gates on Americas

control over all fresh water systems. A new mindset established the United States’ entitlement

to control rivers to benefit our nation’s economic and social advancement.

The conceptual view of water development that has dominated up to the present time

considers freshwater ecosystems to be resources that should be exploited for growth of

the human economy – to deliver more water to agriculture, cities, and industries, for

example, and to enable the shipping of goods and the generation of electrical power

(Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 37).

Dams were and are part of the means to the end. Dams fostered regional economic growth by

producing a lot of cheap power, they prevented floods, they created recreation areas upstream

(normally in the form of lakes or reservoirs), and they allowed boaters controlled water releases

below the dam (Rapp, 1997, p.96). In addition to building dams, civil engineers perfected

techniques to dredge shipping channels, they built reservoirs for irrigation, and installed dykes to

control potential floods. These same U.S. engineers aided many other countries of the world

which followed the United States policy of fresh water control and harnessing (Postel, Richter,

2003, p.1). More than sixty years of river modification passed before another United States

President and congress limited our nation’s ability to harness all of our rivers for self-serving

purposes.

An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today. Their flow and vitality have

been harnessed by dams and too often they have been turned into open sewers by


communities and by industries. It makes us all very fearful that all rivers will go this way

unless somebody acts now to try to balance our river development (President Lyndon

Johnson's remarks on signing the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968).

The purpose of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, created by Congress in 1968 “...

(Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), [is] to preserve certain rivers with outstanding

natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present

and future generations” (Unknown, 2010, “Index,” para. 2). Dams although important to

humans, can and have had detrimental impacts on river ecosystems. John D. Echeverria (1989)

concurs, “...except for cases of extreme damage from pollution, the least reversible form of river

alteration comes from dams” (p. 4).

In their natural state, healthy rivers perform a myriad functions – such as purifying water,

moderating floods, droughts, and maintaining habitat for fisheries, birds, and wildlife.

They connect the continental interiors with the coasts, bringing sediment to deltas,

delivering nutrients to costal fisheries and maintaining salinity balances that sustain

productive estuaries (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 2).

Dams prevent rivers from cycling through their normal patterns that support life from a rivers

beginning to its terminus. Dams also inhibit the natural hydrological process of water moving

from sea, air, and land (Postel, Richter, 2003, p.5). Presidents Johnson’s intuition to safeguard a

portion of our rivers in the United States was highly insightful, and it is anyone’s guess as to how


many of the free-flowing rivers protected under the act would have been altered in the last forty-

three years if not for the system put in place.

As of 2008, the 40th anniversary of the Act, the National System protects more than

11,000 miles of 166 rivers in 38 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; this is a

little more than one-quarter of one percent of the nation's rivers. By comparison, more

than 75,000 large dams across the country have modified at least 600,000 miles, or about

17%, of American rivers (Unknown, 2010, “Index,” para. 8).

Laurence Pringle (1975) describes the three classes for a river to be designated as Wild and

Scenic:

‘“Wild river areas are vestiges of primitive America. They are rivers or sections of

rivers that are free of impoundments, and generally inaccessible except by trail, with

watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted.”

‘“Scenic river areas...are free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still

largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads.”’

‘“Recreational river areas...are readily accessible by road or railroad... [they] may have

some development along their shorelines, and ...may have undergone some impoundment

or diversion in the past (p. 109).”

All Wild and Scenic waterways must meet one or more of the above criterion, to be eligible

for designation. The state of Arizona has designated two waterways as Wild and Scenic, the


Verde River and Fossil Creek. Both waterways are free flowing and therefore are not impeded

by any dams. In a southwestern state where perennial flowing water is rare, the riparian oasis of

the Verde River is critical to the ecology of the surrounding area. In addition, the Verde River is

recognized for its outstanding recreational opportunities including boating, hunting, fishing,

birding, hiking, picnicking and photography. Some people may ask, why should they care about

rivers that are not adjacent to where they live or rivers that they do not use? The answer is river

alteration affects all of us. Astonishingly, in higher altitudes in the Northern hemisphere severe

human hydrological impacts have slightly altered the tilt of the earth’s axis and increased the

speed of the earth’s rotation (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 15). Therefore, turning localized dam

debates into global issues.

On a smaller scale, “In April 1999 the environmental group American Rivers announced that

the most endangered river in the United States was the Snake River in Washington. Specifically

they blamed four dams— Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite—for

bringing salmon runs to the brink of extinction on the river (Kline, 2007, p. 147).” Fragile river

ecosystems are forever altered when dams are installed. Fish and other species are inhibited

from traveling freely and this is especially detrimental for species that spawn upriver.

Consequently, the reduction of fish such as salmon can effect populations of many other carbon

life forms including bear, insects and other riparian natives. “In the Pacific Northwest, over 100

stocks and subspecies of salmon and trout have gone extinct and another 200 are at risk due to a

host of factors, dams and the loss of riparian habitat being prime factors” (Unknown, “River

Facts”, 2010, para. 57). As fish decline so does the rest of the ecosystem. Furthermore, “the


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimate[s] that 70% of the riparian habitat nationwide has been

lost or altered [due to the imposition of dams]” (Unknown, “River Facts”, 2010, para. 48).

Moreover, species that depend on the clean flowing oxygenated water such as aquatic insects

like caddis flies, mayflies, and stoneflies can be greatly reduced from river alterations. When

plants and insects are diminished the entire food chain is reduced; from fish, to mammals, to

birds, and reptiles which ultimately affect us, Homo sapiens.

In concert with other human-imposed changes, especially those realized through river

engineering and land use alterations, dams have contributed to the loss or change of

riparian and aquatic habitat, including ecological systems that support endangered or

threatened species of plants, animals, birds, and fishes (Unknown, “Dam Removal,”

2002, p. 11).

Human impact on rivers has led to more than 123 species of freshwater fish, crayfish, mollusks

and amphibians becoming extinct since 1900. The rate in which extinction of North American

fresh water species is occurring actually surpasses the comparable extinction rates happening in

tropical rain forests (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 27). The devastation of fresh water species is

irreversible when species are pushed to extinction. Dams, levees, dykes, and water pollution are

all factors that contribute to the degradation of our rivers and water ecosystems.

With increasing concern over the number of species becoming endangered or extinct,

Americans are realizing how closely the species present in any community are linked to

the physical landscape and to one another by numerous chemical and physical exchanges.

We cannot save an endangered species of trout without also saving the river and


floodplain habitat in which that trout evolved, as well as the plants and insects that form

the food web in which that trout exists (Wohl, 2004, p. 3).

All of these alterations are directly correlated to human use and our impact on our waterways.

Yet hope still exists.

We now have a narrow window of opportunity in which to redirect the ecological

trajectory of the planet’s rivers toward improvement rather than decline. The good news

coming from restoration efforts now under way around the world is this: when given a

chance, river systems often heal. Reconnect a river with its floodplain, and fish and

riparian plant communities will rebound. Remove a dam, and species long gone will

return up river (Postel, Richter, 2003, pp. 201-202).

Likewise, in the past few decades a trend has formed to dismantle many dams that are outdated

and/or are not producing sustainable amounts of hydropower. According to a 2002 report by The

H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment:

An unknown number of dams already have been removed, likely more than 500 mostly

small, run-of-river structures. Many of these removals were the products of decisions by

individual owners who sought a variety of economic benefits, although the environmental

reasons for dam removal are numerous and often supported by local or state governments

(“Dam Removal,” p. 16).


Dam removal and river preservation are just two parts of the battle for natural river

ecology, the other part of the fight involves our actions while using and/or being in vicinity to

rivers. Whether a river is designated as Wild or Scenic, impeded by a dam, or if none of the

criteria are applicable, it is our responsibility to act with the upmost appreciation towards

riverine areas. “The condition of our rivers, more than any other natural resource, reflects our

attitudes toward the world around us, and ultimately our attitudes toward ourselves. The society

that does not protect its rivers destroys its own lifelines (Wohl, 2003, p.2).” If we do not act in

an ecologically conscientious manner we will continue to lose riverine species and eventually

run out of unpolluted fresh water. A large step we can take is to practice modified Leave No

Trace (LNT) techniques and share them with others. The seven steps to “...Leave No Trace

(LNT), also known as [the] new wilderness etiquette” (McGivney, 2003, p. 10), are essential to

the recipe for ecological conservation while canoeing or just being in approximation to rivers.

Many of the steps designed for backpacking or camping overlap directly to canoeing and a few

have been modified. Here are the seven steps adjusted for canoe travel (McGivney, 2003, pp.

30-32):

Plan ahead and prepare.

To minimize waste some authors suggest that prior to your put-in you take all food out of

standard boxes/packages and place the ingredients in use reusable containers. This is a great way

to assist you with organizing food and has numerous other benefits. First, the ecological

advantages are great; the boxes and containers left behind will not have a chance to ‘fall out of

the boat’ and end up floating down river or become a snack for local critters if dropped at camp.


Second, the containers can be reused on other trips and, unlike cardboard or paper, they will not

have the opportunity to absorb water and become wet trash to cart around for the duration of the

excursion. Heaven forbid you have a yard sale and your boat is swamped on the first rapids of

the trip; the food containers will provide a second barrier to keep out water other than dry bags.

Even if you are not going on a multiday trip, this strategy works for day trips or if you are just

having a picnic by a river.

Camp and travel on durable surfaces.

As opposed to backpacking, canoeing affords the tripper the opportunity to have minimal

impact on the river or lake they may be traveling on. The most noticeable signs of river use by

canoers or kayakers are the signs of ‘paint’ left on rocks that are barely breaking the surface of

the water. Besides the traces of color on the rocks there is no other acceptable reason for human

impact to be present on river ways. On the other hand, the second you step onto land,

unavoidable impact occurs. Nevertheless there is a huge difference between unavoidable impact

and needless impact. Needless impact on land includes but is not limited to trash filled fire

circles, toilet paper landmines, and un-repairable damage on the lower 6 feet of every tree within

200 yards of camp. Most texts suggest two scenarios for how to treat the camp area according to

LNT principles. The first scenario is when you are on a heavily traveled river (most U.S. rivers

fall into this category) where there are designated campsites. These campsites show signs of

considerable use including erosion and have established tent spots and fire pits. In these cases

one would want to use the tent spots and fire pits provided. Bruce Hampton and David Cole

(2003) suggest; “On most popular rivers, camping is restricted to the few highly impacted sites


that you would normally choose anyway. This serves to minimize the extent of impact and

maintain[s] most of the river corridor in a near pristine state” (p.110). The second possibility is

when you are on a remote river in an immaculate area that has no designated campsites. In these

rare cases you want to reduce your impact as much as possible. First off set up camp at least 200

feet from the water. (McGivney, 2003, p.29) Next, camp in a site that has never been used and

position tents on areas that will affect plants and grasses as little as possible. If staying in the

same area for more than one night move your tent everyday to allow for grasses to spring back.

Better yet Hampton and Cole (2003) expand: “The best river camping areas are beaches,

sandbars, and non-vegetated sites somewhere below the high-water line” (p. 111). When rivers

flood most, if not all, traces of human travel will be washed away. However dams impede

natural floods from fully cleansing riverine areas.

Dispose of waste properly.

What do you do with your number two? Whether you are hiking on a trail near a river or

on a two month long river expedition, human waste is a serious point of contention for many

outdoor enthusiasts and river trippers. Annette McGivney (2003) states that “Human urine can

brown leaves and attract animals but, generally, it is not a health hazard” (p. 60). Most of the

experts and no trace enthusiasts agree that on river trips one should urinate on rocks or in moving

water downstream of the camp. McGivney (2003) continues and suggests having a poop plan

for your number two. “First, contact the appropriate land manager and find out what the rules

are regarding waste disposal in the area you will be visiting” (p.63). In heavily populated

riverine areas outhouses or toilets are often provided and should be used exclusively. If toilets


are not provided then the remaining options are bringing a portable toilet, digging a cat hole,

smearing, or packing out the feces. The latter two options should be used if the first two are not

possible. However Hampton and Cole (2003) state:

Human waste disposal is another serious problem river traveler’s face, because both

riverbanks drain directly into the river, making it difficult to avoid water contamination.

Burial or surface disposal well away from water may suffice along remote rivers, but it is

simply inadequate on popular river float trips. Especially critical are arid regions where

rivers have cut narrow canyons, organic soils are minimal, and campsites are few. In the

Grand Canyon—the first place where this problem was directly confronted—popular

beaches began to look like latrines and smell like urinals (p115).

Regardless of the method your party uses to dispose of human waste, to prevent sickness

everyone must sanitize their hands after using the bathroom. Instead of soap, use hand sanitizer

to disinfect yourself to prevent harming the ecology around you. For all other waste (garbage,

toilet paper, feminine hygiene material, etc.), whatever you pack in you must pack out, no

exceptions! Tin or aluminum can be crushed on rocks and packed out to be recycled later. Bring

two receptacles for trash, one for recycled material and the other for rubbish. Odds are good that

you will encounter trash left behind from other parties as well. In Jim Slingluff’s (1996) book

the Verde River: Recreational Guide, he suggests to;


Take somebody else’s [trash] out with you also. There will always be selfish bastards

who go to remote areas only to leave mounds of trash as evidence that they are worthless

jerks. If you walk away from their failure, you join them (p.112).

That is an eloquent way of saying, do your part and a little more.

Just as important as securing your waste is tying down all of the items in your boat. If

you capsize in a rapid there should be zero possibility of any of your gear being washed down

river with the possibility of never finding your newly created waste.

To clean dishes, stay 200 feet from any water source and use small amounts of

biodegradable soap if needed (Dr. Bronners © works great). Use a basin to catch any remaining

food particles. Then use a strainer or cheesecloth to filter out food particles (Hampton & Cole,

2003, p.118). Next, McGivney (2003) advises to scatter the dirty water (sump) in a motion to

disperse the liquid (p.29). On high volume rivers Hampton and Cole (2003) suggest depositing

the sump directly into the river after screening it (p. 118). Again, these techniques also apply

when spending any time near rivers even if you are not in a boat.

Leave what you find.

Boats can transport fungi and algae to rivers and waterways that may not have those

species in their native ecosystems. “Many recreationists unknowingly introduce invasive plant

species. Before each trip clean your gear and boots to get rid of tiny plant seeds that could hitch-

hike into the wilderness” (McGivney, 2003, p.30). Your gear should be washed out at the end of

every trip to prevent any cross contamination.


Your party should not disturb or alter any artifacts or archaeological sites, or put nails in

trees to ‘improve’ any campsites. In many cases there are state and federal laws against

disturbing artifacts and archaeological lands (McGivney, 2003, p.30). Nonetheless, for all water

based trips you should leave campsites better than the way you find them. Follow Slingluff’s

idea and pick up candy bar wrappers or other garbage left behind from other groups. Bill Mason

also offers more suggestions for enhancing the next party’s experience, found below.

Minimize campfire impacts.

The two most detrimental impacts of campfires on wilderness canoe trips are the lack of

wood at established campsites and the contact of fires on native ecosystems. Most experts

suggest that you do not start fires and that you use stoves to do all of your cooking. On the other

hand, if your party does want to have a fire at camp, bring your own wood or use drift wood that

you gather while paddling during the day. Burning driftwood will have the smallest ecological

impact on the environment compared to any other local wood. Fire pans are also suggested but

as long as your fire is built below the flood plain (on gravel or sand) any environmental impact

will be minimal. However this idea is designed around the principal that rivers flood and the

deluges occur without dams blocking their natural flow. Despite the plea of the Northern

Outdoor Leadership School to take apart all campfires rings, expert wilderness canoe guide Bill

Mason (1992) suggests:

On the well-traveled route, there is nothing wrong with leaving a little firewood and

maybe some split kindling for the next canoeist. The stones for the fireplace should, of


course, be left in good order. I have seen people heave the stones into the lake when they

were finished with them because they didn’t want to leave behind a trace. This is

obviously a dumb idea. If everybody did this, fireplace rocks would become pretty

scarce. Some books suggest that you put the rocks back where you found them and

scatter the ashes. In seldom-traveled, remote areas, this might be sound advice, but on

major waterways it makes sense to just leave the rocks in an orderly manner. It’s better

that one spot and one spot only be used for building campfires. Finding a campsite with a

fireplace readymade doesn’t upset me, as long as the fireplace is spotlessly clean (p.192).

In addition to Mason’s suggestions, another argument is that fires occur naturally in many areas.

This is not to say that we should start forest fires; they should be avoided at all costs; yet fires

can be natural ecological events just like floods, so the idea that all signs of fires are bad is

inaccurate.

Respect wildlife.

Paddling rivers is a phenomenal way to appreciate wildlife and the exquisiteness of

nature. The more remote a river and the longer the duration of a trip, the chances of observing

wild animals increases exponentially. However, with the increase in the possibility of wildlife

encounters comes a greater responsibility, to witness from a distance. Wildlife, as the name

innately states, is unpredictable. Moose for example, although portrayed as slow and docile

giants, can easily injure or kill you if they get close enough to your canoe. Binoculars are a great

way to bring animals to the forefront of your vision without disturbing them, and while keeping a


safe distance. Under no circumstances should wild animals be fed, touched, or distressed on

purpose. Hunting and fishing are the only exceptions to these rules. In addition, proper

licensure must be obtained prior to trip departure if your party plans on hunting and/or fishing.

The monies for licenses help protect wildlife and the habitats they live in. Lastly, all domestic

pets such as dogs must be kept from disturbing wildlife as well (McGivney, 2003, p.32).

Be considerate of other visitors.

Sharing rivers with other paddlers and others in general, comes with a duty to be

respectful and considerate. Mitigate the amount of noise you make while on the river and when

in camp, especially when others are in the area. The quieter your party is the better your odds

will be in spotting wildlife. Minimize conversations while on the river and when necessary use

paddle signals instead of shouting. As in golf, allow faster moving parties to ‘play through,’ and

be open to share your campsite if another party is in need of firm ground. Small gestures, like

Mason’s suggestion in leaving small amounts tinder or firewood for future parties, are not only

considerate but will encourage others to pay it forward.

All of these modified LNT techniques are offered to suggest ways we can act as a

community of people to alter our habits when we are using or when we are in close proximity to

riverine areas. The change needs to start with us. We need to “[m]anage people, not rivers or

salmon. Rivers can heal themselves if we give them a chance (Rapp, 1997, p. 164).”

No element has such a destructive and life altering force as water. Yet we are destroying

our fresh water rivers through pollution and damming. “We forget that the water cycle and the


life cycle are one” (Jacques Cousteau). We all need to have a paradigm shift in our ideas about

how we live with our rivers. No longer is the mentality to harness rivers solely for political,

social or economic benefits acceptable. It is our duty to protect and preserve our water ways as

best we can.

“... we have realized the ecological harm from modifying and altering rivers to suit our

needs. Many of the rivers of the world are drying up before they reach their natural

destination. In addition to our native Colorado River, the five largest rivers in Asia; the

Ganges, the Indus, the Yellow, and the Amu Dar’ya and Syr Dar’ya do not reach their

respective sea deltas for large portions of the year (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 2).

“Ecologists now are warning us that stewardship of nature is not an altruistic act, but rather a

rational one of self-preservation” (Postel, Richter, 2003, p.200). Treating our rivers as part of

our human ecosystem benefits not only our rivers but us as well. “The challenge of twenty-first-

century river management is to better balance human water demands with water needs of rivers

themselves” ( Postel, Richter, p. 4).

What can you do to help? On a large scale we can encourage private citizens and states

to remove outdated or unproductive dams. We should support conservation organization such as

American Rivers, Incorporated which has a long term goal of protecting at least ten percent of

the rivers in the United States from further development (Gordon, 2001, p.191) and petition to

expand the number and length of our Wild and Scenic rivers. Contact your local congressman or

congresswomen and urge them to support the conservation and preservation of all freshwater


waterways in your state, especially ones that interest you. Donate time and/or money to

organizations such as the American Canoe Association (ACA), American Rivers Incorporated,

the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society. Spread the word

to others. Chances are that most people you talk to have no idea about the National Wild and

Scenic Rivers System and/or the devastating results dams have on riverine ecosystems. Let them

know! When canoeing the rivers of the United States and the rest of the world we need to

practice ‘Leave No Trace’ tactics. By practicing LNT techniques and through spreading the

message of how to properly care for our rivers, we can preserve and maintain our critical river

ecosystems. “As the great Albert Einstein observed, you cannot solve a problem within the

mind-set that created it” (Postel, Richter, 2003, p. 37).

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the

world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks

are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters. — (Maclean, 1976, p. 104)


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