WATER (Wilderness Adventure Ecology and reasearch)

Running head: WILDERNESS ADVENTURE TEAMECOLOGY AND RESEARCH 1

Wilderness Adventure Team Ecology and Research (W.A.T.E.R)
Matthew Moritz
Prescott College

WILDERNESS ADVENTURE TEAM ECOLOGY AND RESEARCH 2
Abstract
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
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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