The U.S. River Conservation Team:

Letters, Cleanups, Action!

Here are examples of actions by members of the Team from around the U.S. These people are earning points good for river gear while they work to conserve rivers. You can do similar things on rivers near you!

Darwin "Skip" Hindman, of Nashville, Tennessee, earned a new kayak and paddle for his work as a member of the U.S. River Conservation Team.

Hindman worked on several river conservation projects over an eight-month period. He urged officials to reduce animal waste pollution in rivers from corporate livestock farms in Tennessee and neighboring states. He objected to unlawful clearcut logging along Seagull Creek in Minnesota. We worked to create public access from the new Highway 96 bridge down to the Stones River in Tennessee. He urged the Director of the Arkansas Department of Tourism to oppose state legislation that, if passed, would narrow the definition of "navigable streams" in Arkansas. Hindman, who works in a Nashville law firm, wrote persuasive letters and followed up with phone calls to officials. In his letters he cited river law material that is available to the public on the National Rivers Website, www.nationalrivers.org, as well as other legal resources.

Hindman also did his own river cleanups on several occasions, as shown here, with family members and friends, on the Harpeth River, Piney River, Mill Creek, Yellow Creek, and Duck River, in Tennessee. Towing an aluminum scow behind his canoe, he collected an assortment of discarded junk from the banks and islands of these rivers, including old tires, an ice-making machine, the box springs from a bed, a plastic wading pool, and a variety of other debris. He loaded all of this junk into the back of his vehicle and hauled it away.

Hindman redeemed his accumulated River Points for a new "Swing" sit-on-top kayak from Perception, and an "Escape" kayak touring paddle from Mitchell Paddles. The kayak has an integral kid's seat, so his young son can go along with him.

William Butler, from Grants Pass, Oregon, sought clarification of his right of access to navigable waterways. In his detailed letter to the Oregon Division of State Lands and to several other government officials, Mr. Butler cited four state court findings that ruled entirely in favor of the public's right to recreate on navigable waterways, and he urged the state to educate public servants in the right of access.

Scott Phillips, of Hailey, Idaho, has mounted a campaign to improve the river permit reservation system on the Salmon River and the Middle Fork. (For more detail, see the news under Salmon River on the Idaho page.) Mr. Phillips sent a mail alert to organizations and individuals encouraging them to voice their support for a fairer and more lawful permit system. You can send your letters to Salmon-Challis National Forest; Att: FC-RONRW-SEIS; RR2, Box 600; Salmon, ID 83467. Tel: 208-756-5100.

After being ordered off Virginia's Rock Creek by a National Park Service officer, Ronald Knipling, of Arlington, Virginia, sent a letter to the area Park Service superintendent requesting an explanation of the confrontation. (Copies were sent to nine other individuals and organizations.) Mr. Knipling has paddled that stretch of the creek for years with no problems and was unaware of any new situations or problems that would preclude lawful navigation of the creek.

Al Wissinger, of Michigan, gathered river news for the state of Michigan. His news and information can be found on the Michigan pages in the River Registry.

Eddie McCalip has been gathering river news for Mississippi, to update the River Registry Mississippi pages.

For directions on how to get involved in the U.S. River Conservation Team and earn river gear, see How the Team Works.

The U.S. River Conservation Team is made possible by the generosity of the members of the National Organization for Rivers (NORS) and by the manufacturers shown on these pages. To help the team thrive, start or extend your membership by going to NORS memberships. Thank you for your support!

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