The River Radius Podcast (Sam Carter)
Explore every episode of The River Radius Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2021 | Source to Sea on the Saco River | 00:52:31 | |
JOE KLEMENTOVICH
RIVERS FOR CHANGE
THE RIVER RADIUS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 19 Sep 2023 | Lessons Learned from the Lost River | 00:50:58 | |
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over It Raft Covers
GUESTS Scott Armstrong with All Outdoors
EPISODE CONTENT RESOURCES Restoring the Stanislaus River THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 21 Mar 2023 | River LNT | 00:47:36 | |
River corridors are the conduits of water and beauty. And so many of us treasure our time there. How do we best leave it untrammeled? Two experts on River Leave No Trace (LNT) join me to talk through the LNT philosophy.
ADVERTISING SPONSORS GUESTS Colter Pence MacKenzie Holbrook LNT THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 30 May 2023 | River Guide Unions | 00:51:06 | |
An exploration of unions in river guiding. Why aren’t they common? Why do some guides want them? A guide forms a union. One outfitter assesses the viability of unions on multi-day rivers. A guide turned outfitter on the Ocoee River provides healthcare to her guides. A boater turned insurance agent teaches provides healthcare insurance to river guides.
EPISODE SPONSORS: Nissan Denver Area @nissanusa Dolores Area Businesses
EPISODE GUESTS: Contributing Host Greg Cairns BC Rimbeaux Dustin Ahern @idahoriveradventures Sara Beth @oarafting Carrie Soulliere On Facebook
Article about Executive Order to Raise Federal Minimum Wage for Contract Workers
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Bats & Rabid Misinformation in the Grand Canyon | 01:06:03 | |
Why have cases of reported bat encounters at the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon drastically increased in the last several years? What are the chances of contracting rabies from a bat encounter? How is the safety of helicopter crews wrapped up in the physical location of a bat encounter? What does the vaccination process look like? In this episode, we utilize the personal story of a river runner's bat bite in the Grand Canyon, the expert perspectives of 2 ecologists, a CDC rabies expert, and the woman who oversees Search and Rescue in the Grand Canyon to provide insight into that real bat encounter that played out in the fall of 2023.
Beppe Amodio
Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2022
River Management Society Denver Area Nissan Dealers
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 23 Jan 2024 | The Mountain Hydrology Lab & Future River Flows | 00:56:47 | |
The Mountain Hydrology Lab at West Virginia University has defined the density of whitewater river runs in the United States and cross referenced this data with how climate change will alter those flows, and how changes in river flows, to include low flows and floods, will impact the people living along those rivers. This episode talks at length with the Director of the Mountain Hydrology Lab, who is also a stout river kayaker, Associate Professor Nicolas Zegre about this work his students are doing, how West Virginia has the most dense collection of whitewater runs, and where students can gain excellent river based educations. EPISODE SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers
Nicolas “Nico” Zegre, Associate Professor Forest Hydrology A note from Prof. Nico Zegre about the research work:
ORGANIZATIONS FROM EPISODE Friends of the Cheat River Management Society River Studies & Leadership Certificate Climate Central Center For Resilient Communities Dylan Penick
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 28 Sep 2021 | Sh!%%y Shuttles | 00:49:58 | |
River shuttles are as important to a river trip as the boat. And sometimes shuttles are easy and when they aren’t easy, they can be horrible. This episode is a set of four stories from The River Radius listeners about their sh!%%y shuttle experiences.
RIVERS FROM THIS EPISODE Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona French Broad River, North Carolina RIVER RADIUS PODCAST THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 17 Dec 2020 | Rowing Home 5000 miles | 00:47:19 | |
The first river Ellen Falterman paddled was the Amazon, upriver in a 400 lb dugout canoe for a few weeks with her brother. But that is not the story here. The story here is that her second river trip was a run down the Missouri River from Montana to St Louis, and then her third river to paddle was the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. And she kept going, along the coastal islands and then via the Intra Coastal Waterway to Texas, to her home and her family. She accomplished this all by the age of 25. Ellen was peeling back life. She comes from a family of pilots. Her older brother, a pilot, crashed his plane into the river and did not survive. This is the story of a human digging in on her own humanity. Anointing herself with her grief and finding strength there. Ellen is a river boater, a pilot, a flight instructor and is preparing to row around the world across the oceans.
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 10 Jan 2023 | American Whitewater | 00:49:41 | |
American Whitewater is one of the oldest whitewater clubs in the United States, has become the club of clubs and is a modern leader in access to whitewater rivers and river conservation. Recently the leadership at American Whitewater shifted as Mark Singleton stepped down after 18 years, and Clinton Begley became the Executive Director. We talk with both Mark and Clinton to learn about AW, their history and their future. ADVERTISING SPONSOR AMERICAN WHITEWATER RIVER RADIUS PODCAST THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 11 Feb 2021 | River Permits | 00:40:34 | |
Do you rally up your river friends each January and coordinate your river permit dates? Do you get permits? Do you wonder who is behind the curtain of rec.gov and the permitting offices? This episode asked all those questions and spoke with the river permitting "boss" at rec.gov, and the river permit offices at Dinosaur National Monument, Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho and Grand Canyon National Park. There are people behind the curtain, they are very friendly and shared with The River Radius information to help all of us better understand the why and the how of the river permit systems. Each river office has a website with relevant information and deep statistical data that tells a story of each seasons application numbers. Here they are: Dinosaur National Monument main river info page Idaho 4 Rivers main river info page Grand Canyon National Park, River Lottery Grand Canyon National Park, River Lottery statistics
These two previous episodes listed below from The River Radius Podcast offer more and different information about the content in this episode: Hoops’ Echo 8000 Years on the Selway Contact The River Radius Podcast: hello@theriverradius.com THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 31 Oct 2020 | Freedom River | 00:16:43 | |
A local guy from Moab, Utah was ready to turn himself in for a warrant in Colorado. The jail he would spend time in was near the same river that ran through his hometown of Moab. He brought his kayak with him and planned to float home after his jail time was up. As he approached the jail, the call of the river and the "nice day" simply won out, and he floated right past the jail. Downstream that day and the next were two permitted stretches of river, Ruby Horsethief and West Water, and he did not have nor want the permits for either. He grew up on this river. That didn't matter to the beauracratic systems in place and his actions invited the River Rangers and state law enforcement to track him down. This short story gives the details and hears how this human loves this river. Colorado River THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 01 Dec 2020 | The Blue Nile River | 00:55:36 | |
The Blue Nile River starts in Ethiopia and confluences with the White Nile River in Sudan to form the Nile River. The Nile River is the longest river in the world. The Blue Nile starts in the highlands of Ethiopia and courses through deep gorges and canyons, open country and passes by many small and larger groups of people living along the river. This river is home to the Nile Crocodile and Hippopotamus both of which can pursue humans as prey. The Grand Renaissance Ethiopian Dam was recently completed and is now filling with water from the Blue Nile. This will inundate much of the river upstream of this dam, change the flows, the nature of the river corridor and the land where many people live. In 1987 Steve Stahl was 21 years old when he floated the Blue Nile. in 2019 he came back to see the river again that will soon be underwater. In this show, he tells of the river and the people that he encounters. And he explains the Croc rocks. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 12 May 2019 | Highwater, Helicopters and Money | 00:39:00 | |
As the winter of 1983 closed out in the Western United States, the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains were covered in exceptionally deep snow. Spring was warming up and rain was falling. This combination of fast melting snow and rain timed the runoff into the Green and Colorado Rivers just perfect to create record high flows well above 100,000 CFS into Cataract Canyon. It was commercial river season in Cataract and two trips were being pushed into running the biggest water in North America to ensure the company made its profit. As the river level continued to rise, trips were loosing boats and the risk was intense. Bego, Laurie Cooper and Tim Cooper were guides that season and are still friends today. 35 years later, they told that story around the campfire of running Cataract Canyon in 1983, a boss who was seeing dollar signs, and helicopters that shuttled notes and people up and down the corridor. See more at Instagram and Facebook. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 28 Nov 2023 | Klamath 1: The Origin of Paddle Tribal Waters | 01:03:45 | |
After 100 years of dams stagnating the flows of the Klamath River and killing the Salmon runs, a group of teenagers from the tribal nations of the Klamath Basin will paddle the Klamath from source to sea to usher in the post-dam Klamath. In this 1st of 2 episodes on the topic, the founders of Rios to Rivers & Paddle Tribal Waters explain how their own paddle experiences and time travel, brought the inception of this powerful passage.
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 20 Feb 2020 | 8000 Years on the Selway | 01:01:57 | |
For two summers, I have been able to row gear boats down the Selway to support this archaeology research. My view has been that of the laymen, the novice archeologist, the boater. At the end of each summer's trip, I have interviewed Jeff Adams of Interior West Consulting to hear the onsite interpretation of what was recorded over the past 8 days. The stone artifacts tell a story. The river and its perfect water add to the story. While I find it stubbornly awkward to make assumptions about a human existence a few hundred years ago to several thousand years ago, I absolutely thrive when I am able to contemplate my short life and how I am like, and am different from the humans who came before me. This show is two people sitting in an amazing place wondering about life beyond their own. https://www.facebook.com/theriverradius/?ref=bookmarks Also on Instagram at The River Radius, and https://www.theriverradius.com THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 25 Jun 2024 | Part 2: Kevin Fedarko Live | 01:18:20 | |
SPONSORS American Whitewater American Rivers High Desert Life Outdoors Free Flow Institute KSJD Community Radio
GUEST Kevin Fedarko
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 29 Apr 2021 | Pacific Ocean takeout for SacSource2Sea | 00:35:05 | |
Sacramento Source to Sea: Website, Instagram River Radius Podcast: website, instagram, facebook, email Previous River Radius Podcast episodes on Sacramento Source to Sea THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | Endless Summer 2: A Guide's Sunset | 00:51:45 | |
ADVERTISING SPONSOR GUEST SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
WHALE FOUNDATION
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 26 Jan 2020 | 2020 | 00:05:36 | |
2020 is an important push out year for this podcast. Target topics are discussed here, and an invitation for you as the listener to engage. Also, some insight is covered regarding what happened in 2019 to build this podcast. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 13 Apr 2021 | What is a River 2021 | 01:05:52 | |
For many years, I have wondered about what really makes up a river. I can see the basic features and the flows, the source and end. But how does it really work? Why does it work? What are the prominent forces creating the path of the river. This longer episode is a direct interview and conversation with Dr. David Montgomery from the University of Washington in Seattle. Dave is a geologist by training and says to understand landscape, you have to understand rivers. He is an author and appears if a few films about rivers and geology.
DR. DAVID MONTGOMERY
RIVER RADIUS PODCAST
EM RIVER, LITTLE RIVER RESEARCH & DESIGN THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 13 Dec 2023 | Heather Hansman & Teal Lehto: Conversations on their Craft & Conservation | 00:56:00 | |
There are numerous authors and media professionals doing work to explore river topics. To close out the 2023 river and podcast year, this episode hosts two of the best. Heather Hansman is an author writing books and magazine articles. Teal Lehto, a.k.a., “Western Water Girl” is a social media content creator. We talk through their respective crafts, leadership in river conservation and trending topics. SPONSORS
GUESTS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 27 Jun 2023 | Fires & Floods | 01:00:03 | |
Is there a relationship between forest fire scars, floods and debris flows? This episode will explore landscapes denuded by fire and these massive storms creating floods in the fire scar zone. Is this a normal pattern? A new pattern? Coincidence? And how does understanding this correlation further our relationship with these changing landscapes? This episode explores these questions and more through the tools of western science, personal narrative, and traditional ecological knowledge. SPONSORS
GUESTS
SUPPORTING INPUT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 21 Jun 2022 | Salmon 2: Big Dam Problems & Solutions | 01:12:01 | |
The River Radius went to Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River to learn about that dam. How do Salmon get around the Lower 4 Snake River Dams? How are the dams impacting the salmon returns? What does breach mean? What are the proposals on the table right working to avoid Salmon extinction? How do tribal treaty rights impact the salmon outcome?
GUESTS Jay Hesse, Director of Biological Services, Fisheries Resource Management, Nez Perce Tribe US Congressman Mike Simpson, 2nd District of Idaho Vice Chairman Shannon Wheeler, Nez Perce Tribe
SEN MURRAY & GOV INSLEE REPORT AND COMMENT OPTION
ARTILCES The Lewiston Tribune article on Murray Inslee Report Seattle Times article on Murray Inslee Report Tribe Taking helm at Dworshak Hatchery
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
THE RIVER RADIUS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 14 Mar 2023 | The Shocking Details of River Lightning | 00:58:08 | |
Is it true that lightning can’t strike in the Grand Canyon? How far can lightning travel through water? If it does strike, where is the safest place to be? This episode explores lightning from scientific and risk management perspectives. Grounding theory through personal narratives and best practices, this episode is a tool for any river runner’s stormy trips.
GUESTS LAURA HARRIS
John Belz's Undergraduate Seminar Power Point (it loads but real slow, and its super cool) Video: "ROCKET-TRIGGERED LIGHTNING" from University of Florida
JOHN GOOKIN, NOLS, NOAA John Gookin's research paper, "BACKCOUNTRY LIGHTNING RISK MANAGEMENT" John Gookin's NOAA Brochure RESOURCES Lightning Safety Brochure: https://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/backcountry_lightning.pdf THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 25 Feb 2022 | Cleaning Rivers by the Barge Load | 00:51:08 | |
River cleanups with excavators, barges, bigfoot and Oreos. Living Lands & Waters is an “Industrial Strength River Cleanup” organization working to clean up the big rivers of middle America. 24 years. 118,000 volunteers. 12.4 million pounds of trash. Living on barges. Meeting the small obscure river towns.
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Big Muddy Adventures, Clipper Canoes distributor
GUESTS Living Lands & Waters website, Instagram, Facebook
RIVER RADIUS PODCAST
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 31 Mar 2021 | Mile 153 Sacramento Source to Sea | 00:24:58 | |
In March of 2021, three women launched a source to sea expedition on the Sacramento River in California. In this new episode, we talk for 25 minutes with the crew at mile 153 and hear about how the river has changed once they left the mountains and was impounded behind a few different dams. They call themselves Sacramento Source to Sea. They skied on snow to get to their river launch and began paddling downriver. We interviewed them before they launched in episode 16, Mile 0 Sacramento River Source to Sea. They are now low in the Central Valley meeting river people in river towns to learn about how modern day communities engage with this river that irrigates farms and ranches that feed America. They will paddle through the capital of California, Sacramento, and switch from pack rafts to sea kayaks and continue paddling on the salt water to the Golden Gate Bridge. We will interview them again as their trip progresses. River Radius Podcast: email, website, instagram, facebook. Sacramento Source to Sea instagram.
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 16 Jun 2023 | Glen Canyon is Again Being Submerged Under Lake Powell | 01:10:26 | |
Glen Canyon was home to the flowing Colorado River until 1963 when Glen Canyon Dam closed its gates creating Lake Powell. Over the past few years, water in Powell has dropped to levels not seen since the 1960s. The River Radius went onto Lake Powell and up into the canyons to see what has returned in these canyons as they restore to their pre Powell eco-systems and to ask the questions of what is next for Powell and Glen Canyon. Guests are the Glen Canyon Institute and Eric Balken.
SPONSORS GUESTS Glen Canyon Institute
Econ Report for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Lake Powell Real Time and Historical Data
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | Cleaning the Urban South Platte River | 01:21:04 | |
The South Platte River runs right through downtown Denver and as you might imagine, this river catches a lot of trash. There are hordes of people who clean this river several times a year and have been doing so for 17 years. Today this clean up is led by Protect Our Rivers, and the South Platte is lined up for a $350 million dollar upgrade. This is a story of urban river people and the river they love.
SPONSORS Wholesum
GUESTS Protect Our Rivers
Will and Harriet’s clean up
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 30 Dec 2024 | Part 1, Dr Len Necefer, Living in the Soup | 01:13:26 | |
To move from 2024 into 2025, we have one guest in two episodes for you. Our guest is Dr Len Necefer. This is the first episode. We talk through life wrapped in intellect and self facing humor, 6th grade reading levels, native art and the modern retail market, an upriver bike ride, and river runs at the northern most reaches of the North American continent. Len is the “star” of his Outside TV show where he is riding his bike up the Colorado River from Mexico to Colorado. He is the founder of Natives Outdoors. He served the Obama Administration in the Dept of Energy. And Len is part of the founding crew of the Sonoran Avalanche Center. Len and I sat on top of a small mountain, on a park bench looking down on the deep desert river and ski town of Tucson, Arizona on a Sunday morning in the end of November to laugh and learn, and talk life and rivers.
SPONSORS Over It Raft Covers THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 27 Jul 2021 | Recycling (river) Water in Southern California | 00:51:12 | |
For many decades water has been recycled after it runs through sewage treatment plants in cities large and small in many states and countries. That recycled water is used for landscaping and industrial cleaning. Today with decreasing access to imported river water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has built a test facility to further clean treated waste water to the standards of drinking water. The plan is to learn how to do this so the water looks great and is completely safe, then return it to the drinking water system. Essentially by reusing water, they are creating a new water source for their customers. With decreasing flows in the rivers that deliver water to Southern California, this project is lining up to offset these losses, and can provide data and models for other cities to engage in the similar practices. Metropolitan Water provides water to 19 million humans through their 26 partner agencies, the cities and counties of Southern California. Join us for an onsite tour of the plant.
Regional Recycled Water Advanced Purification Center INFORMATION ON PLACES, INFRASTRUCTURE, ACTIONS AND POLICY Sacramento Source to Sea river expedition
ARTICLES (just a few, there is a lot of media on water in the Southwest this year) KUNC: Colorado River Basin Reservoirs Begin Emergency Releases To Prop Up A Troubled Lake Powell CBS This Morning: Mega Drought in the West RIVER RADIUS PODCAST "Mile 0 Sacramento River Source to Sea" "The Returning Rapids of Cataract Canyon 2021" "The Silty Byproduct of Lake Powell"
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Nov 2021 | The Gila: river, place, family | 00:52:46 | |
The Gila River and Gila Mountains of New Mexico have been home for Indigenous people for thousands of years, for colonial Spanish and Mexican people for hundreds of years, and now for all of those folks under the United States since 1912. This river along with The San Francisco River and The Mimbres River were just nominated for Wild and Scenic River protection. This is a river of families, lineages and gathering.
GUESTS Nathan Newcomer Guadalupe Cano Patricia Cano Michael Darrow Simon Sotello III US Senator Martin Heinrich
INFORMATION New Mexico
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON LEGISLATION
ORGANIZATION OPPOSED TO LEGISLATION
SPONSORED ORGANIZATION
GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 07 Mar 2023 | Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls | 00:56:20 | |
Running waterfalls in rafts is not overly common, but some rafters do it. Tony Glassman and his river crew built a film about running waterfalls that eventually lead to people following their lead, but not following their path of gaining experience and skills. Tony explains the layers of training and safety and experience and communication that he and his river crew have worked through to become competent waterfall running rafters. ADVERTISING SPONSORS
GUEST Other rafting film: Go Big Or Go Home
TONY'S BOOK LIST Water the blood of my soul
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 19 Jan 2022 | 2022 | 00:24:32 | |
| 05 Dec 2023 | Klamath 2: The Next Generation of Paddle Tribal Waters | 00:46:52 | |
The Klamath River 2nd episode. In the Spring of 2025, a group of teenagers from several Tribal Nations of the Klamath River Basin and greater region will descend the newly undammed Klamath River from source to sea. These teens began learning how to kayak in 2022 and 2023, began learning about river policy and fish science, and are bringing their family stories to the river with them. In the summer of 2023 The River Radius spent a week with these young paddlers on the water and on the microphone capturing their story. SPONSORS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | Part 2: Building Fish | 00:41:02 | |
After the genetically pure Greenback Cutthroat Trout was found above a waterfall in Bear Creek, Colorado Parks and Wildlife quickly worked to secure this fish, and to propagate it in its native basin, the South Platte River Basin. Projects have included several smaller stream areas where the Greenback has been reintroduced to its basin. Currently the largest project yet, over 30 miles of stream reintroduction, is in the works. This is a multi-agency effort, involves the Wild and Scenic Poudre River, and in the effort to restore a fish, the ironic path of eliminating other fish and possibly using dynamite to further change a stream are part of the plan. Are these too much or are they simply what is needed to bend the path of the Greenback back to its true headwaters. This episode explores fish biology, Wild and Scenic River regulations, modern river recreation, and genetic diversity. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grasslands Wild and Scenic Rivers: Cache La Poudre River THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | Dignity of Risk | 00:54:21 | |
Is there a right associated with being able to float down a river and to engage in that joy and risk? What happens when life circumstances create barriers to accessing risk? The National Ability Center (NAC) is a river rafting outfit that focuses on developing access to rivers for all people. We spent a day this summer running a river with NAC and their boats full of participants learning about access.
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers website Lavabox Portable Campfire website
GUESTS
THE RIVER RADIUS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 27 Dec 2022 | Kanawha Falls Rescue 2020 | 01:18:06 | |
In September of 2020 at Kanawha Falls in West Virginia, a river rescue at midnight occurred and was given an award and labeled the “Midnight Miracle.” A group of 13 kayakers and rafters responded late that night to a facebook post about a lone kayak floating at the falls. At the 2 year anniversary of the rescue, we went with the rescued kayaker when he ran the falls again for the first time since his rescue. He and the rescue crew tell the story.
ADVERTISING SPONSORS GUESTS ARTILCES & VIDEOS
THE RIVER RADIUS PODCAST THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | Endless Summer 1: The Guide Life | 01:04:05 | |
ADVERTISING SPONSOR GUEST SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE DENVER RECOVERY CENTER WHALE FOUNDATION
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Part 2 The Emerald Mile...Is It Lost? | 00:58:34 | |
SPONSORS Down River Equipment AED One Stop Shop discount landing page
GUESTS John Amodio Kevin Fedarko
CONTRIBUTING HOST
RESOURCES Sierra Club Oral History Project: John Amodio More Than Luck - Vicki Oazaki, Kin to the Earth Redwood National Park Expansion, Woodstock, Earth Day, and the Kent State Massacre Coming Full Circle: How Parks Are Using Conventional Tools in New Ways to Restore Imperiled Forests WILDERNESS & WILDLIFE: Leonel Arguello THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 11 Aug 2022 | What is a River 2022 | 00:59:15 | |
What is a River? What is in there, at the micro level? How does water move from the Earth’s surface through the ground, in and out of rivers? How much of the water on the planet is in rivers and how long is it there? This episode of What is a River is our annual episodic interview with an expert in their field. Dr Rebecca Neumann is a professor and researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle where she focuses on Hydrobiogeochemistry.
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers website
GUEST
WHAT IS A RIVER 2021
THE RIVER RADIUS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 08 Nov 2023 | Payson Kennedy | 00:55:36 | |
Payson Kennedy at 39 was a career academic, and with his wife Aurelia had four kids, a house, and two cars in Atlanta. After working on the stunt team for the film Deliverance in 1971 and a summer running a raft company, he and his wife decided to leave it all behind and with a good friend, started the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Today, 50 years later, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of the most important and successful river guide operations and instruction schools in the river world.
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over it Raft Covers
GUESTS Nantahala Outdoor Center, NOC LINKS Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Mar 2022 | Getting Kids on the River | 00:56:58 | |
Getting kids on the river is many things: fun, life-shaping and maybe intimidating. Lindsay DeFrates has written numerous “How to” articles based on her experience taking her 3 kids on river trips. Lydia Wing founded a kayak school that teaches young people how to kayak rivers. Their expert insights and approach to getting kids on the river is hosted in this episode. What are the key components of taking your kids on river trips? How do you know what to bring and how to pack it? Is it even fun to take kids on the river? Lindsay DeFrates provides The River Radius with a few synopsis conversations about her numerous articles on the topic of getting kids on the river. How young can a kid start kayaking? What will they learn in kayak school? Where are kayak schools? Lydia Wing reaches kids to kayak in the same places she learned to kayak and explains how she does it while listening to what the kid wants to learn. This is part of a 3-episode cluster with an overall theme of, HOW TO RUN RIVERS. The specific focus of this episode is about HOW TO GET KIDS ON THE RIVER. The other two episodes focus on SWIFTWATER RESCUE and FOOD PACKING FOR THE RIVER. All of the episodes of this cluster are available right now and it does not matter in which order you listen to this cluster. ADVERTISING SPONSOR GUESTS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 06 Jul 2021 | River Swimming and the Blue Mind | 00:56:22 | |
This past June of 2021, Matt Moseley attempted to swim 52 miles downriver in one day in the Green River of Utah. He was swimming to make a statement about the state of water in western US. The river he was swimming was at record low levels. Matt has completed open water swims in the Colorado River, Lake Pontchartrain, the Caribbean Ocean, Lake Tahoe and he does it all to bring attention to water. His "early morning job" is open water swimming. His "day job" is a PR strategist. He serves as the co-chair of the Colorado River Council for American Rivers and recently published his first book.
MATT MOSELEY MARK WILLIAMS
AMERICAN RIVERS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science | 01:10:59 | |
In September of 2024 when Hurricane Helene arrived in the mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina, it landed where the ground and rivers were already saturated and swollen with rain. The result was “the storm of record” taking out thousands of bridges, sending thousands of landslides down the mountains and taking human life. This episode hosts the National Weather Service and the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center to explore the storm and the river reaction, and then Dr Phillip Prince goes deep in describing landslides and debris flows and their impact.
GUESTS Trisha Palmer Matt Wilson Dr Phillip Prince
RELEVANT LINKS AND CONTENT Video: French Broad River Flooding 2024 - Hurricane Helene in Woodfin, NC Article: Helene deals billions in damage to infrastructure Article: Reflections on loss and opportunity in flood ravaged Western North Carolina
SPONSORS River Management Society
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Jun 2019 | 138 Days on a River | 00:55:00 | |
Jenny and Mike Fiebig took 6 months off from their normal working, shopping, daily life to get back to the land and the river. They hiked to the headwaters of the Green River in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and started walking, then packrafting and eventually they launched their custom dory on the Green River and went downstream, all the way to the Mexican border with the United States. This could be a story about all the big rapids and waves and runs....and its not. It’s a story about this married couple, these two humans and how they slowed down and went at the pace of a river for 138 days. Stereotypes fell away. New connections were made. And as they say, they met each again after many years of marriage. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 12 Nov 2024 | Is Public Access to Georgia’s Rivers Disappearing? | 00:38:49 | |
Georgia has rivers and streams running from the mountain country of the Southern Appalachians to the Gulf of Mexico, totaling about 70,000 total miles of waterways. Whitewater and flatwater. Clear water and Black water. And a long history of publicly accessible rivers and streams. That access is being debated by the State of Georgia and bills have been proposed that would curtail access for the public. We talk with Georgia Rivers to learn more about this topic and about the public meeting and comment process.
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over It Raft Covers
GUEST
PUBLIC MEETING Email your comments / Georgia Residents Email your comments / Non Georgia Residents
THUMBNAIL IMAGE Pic credit, Joe Cook, Georgia Rivers
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 08 Apr 2025 | Bots & River Permits | 01:02:38 | |
Do you ever wonder if bots are being used to acquire river permits during the annual cancellation lotteries each year? So do we. So we built a bot to see if it works to secure permits. And we tried talking with rec dot gov to get their input. Check out this episode for a tour of bots, permits, bureaucracy and access to public rivers.
SURVEY ABOUT THE RIVER RADIUS PODCAST 2021 EPISODE ABOUT RIVER PERMITS GUESTS American Whitewater Allocating Recreation with Fairness at the Forefront Rec Dot Gov SPONSORS
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| 11 May 2021 | The Book: "Rivers of Power" | 01:04:21 | |
"Rivers of Power"was published in 2020. It covers humans' history with rivers from some of the earliest civilizations to the most powerful nations today and how water is possibly the greatest natural capital. Rivers, their water and their usefulness for society has not changed. What is changing is how humans can and do move that water from source to a place of use. This episode explores great canals that are under construction, massive dams that are creating international tensions, efforts to use water over and over and over. Our human relationship with rivers is ongoing and morphing and simultaneously static. Dr. Smith seems to know this and is able to explain this through cultures and time. Dr. Laurence C. Smith was a professor at UCLA for 20 years in the Geography Department and now teaches at Brown University. He also conducts research in the northern arctic learning about rivers that form from the ice melt of glaciers. Videos and links of Dr. Smiths arctic work and research: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/27/world/greenland-is-melting-away.html
The River Radius Podcast THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 02 Jun 2020 | The Confluence of boating and writing | 00:48:47 | |
This episode digs into a key concept of waste and the philosophy of Georges Bataille that Zak Podmore uses to define waste. The authors that have influenced his writing and given him insight into challenging topics are explored to include Charles Bowden and Ed Abbey. Zak talks about the process of writing this book and the mentors that supported him: Amy Irvine, Craig Childs, Mark Sundeen. Zak also explains the power of his Mom's life on his life, and then simply enough, uses his own adventures to weave all of this knowledge and wisdom into some fresh perspectives on the pressing layers of life that recirculate through generations. Zak is writing and publishing this book in the beginning of his 3rd decade and he approaches it with frank humbleness and clarity. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 14 Sep 2021 | New Mexico's fenced off Rivers | 00:42:31 | |
New Mexico passed a law in 2015 that unintentionally resulted in two public rivers now being fenced off from public use by private landowners. A case was presented before the New Mexico State Supreme Court in 2020 looking to have the law repealed. This episode interviews Lesli Allison from the Western Landowners Alliance and Steve Harris from Far Flung Adventures to get the clear story.
GUESTS Steve Harris, Owner
ARTICLES "New Mexico Supreme Court asked to weigh in on water fight"
RESOURCES SPONSORED ORGANIZATION THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 09 Jan 2024 | Heart Attack on the River | 01:02:34 | |
In the first episode of 2024, a commercial river guide tells his story of having a massive heart attack while guiding a trip in May of 2023 on the South Fork of the American River in California. This episode is recorded with an audience of river guides and outfitters. Beyond the story is the question of the role of AEDs in commercial river guiding.
SPONSORS CONFERENCE THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 01 Feb 2022 | How to Listen to The River Radius Podcast | 00:45:22 | |
Have you ever heard someone say they don't listen to podcasts or don't know how? Have you recently learned how to listen and want to know more? This episode is all about how to listen to an episode. So, go listen to this with someone who doesn't know how to use a podcast app and help them learn. There are many people out there, many river people, waiting to learn how to listen to The River Radius Podcast. For this episode I sat down with my friend Peggy and taught her how to use her iPad to listen to the River Radius and to all of her favorite radio shows that she doesn't listen to anymore. Peggy is a retired school nurse, lives next a river and is class 4 front of the paddle boat paddle rafter. We take a step by step approach to cover the basics and a few tricks to make podcast listening easy and smooth.
BIG MUDDY ADVENTURES WEBSITE
GIVEAWAY THE GOODS THE HOW HOW WINNER IS SELECTED
PODCAST PLAYER APPS Audible Amazon Music Google Podcasts Spotify Overcast Deezer Iheart Player FM RadioPublic PocketCasts Gaana Jiosaavn THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 21 Jun 2022 | Salmon 1: Mountain Origins | 00:52:19 | |
Chinook Salmon of the Snake River begin their lives in mountains of Idaho’s rivers, live their lives in the Pacific Ocean, and return to their natal spawning stream in Idaho. This fish is on the brink of extinction. This is the summer when all pressure is focused on maintaining this fish that is millions of years old. This is the first of 2 episodes about this Chinook Salmon.
GUESTS Dr Helen Neville, Trout Unlimited Vice Chairman Shannon Wheeler, Nez Perce Tribe Russ Thurow, Fish Biologist, US Forest Service
US SENATOR MURRAY & GOVERNOR INSLEE REPORT AND COMMENT OPTION
ARTILCES The Lewiston Tribune article on Murray Inslee Report Seattle Times article on Murray Inslee Report “Second Coming” by David James Duncan
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
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| 26 May 2021 | History of the Groover | 01:02:23 | |
The groover is one of those words that has become an adjective, a noun and a verb and originally has nothing to do with the thing it defines. The groover is that portable, leakproof and reusable river toilet that gets packed on so many overnight river trips. It has become an essential tool for protecting the quality of the river corridor where humans travel for recreation. This episode is a conversation with people who experienced the rivers when the need for the groover first emerged, and these are the people who did the work to develop and spread the groover as a tool across the western United States. Selway Fabrication, sponsor of this episode & manufacturer of excellent modern groovers, offering 10% off their products for River Radius listeners until June 23, 2021. Desert River Kayak, Canoe and Float Tubes: Helen Howard’s company, a guest on today’s episode. SWCA Environmental Consultants: Steven Carothers’ company, a guest today’s episode.
BOOKS & ARTICLES “Hijacking a River” a book of the modern Grand Canyon history by Jeff Ingram, a guest on today’s episode. “Lifetime Achievement Award” for Jeff Ingram, a guest on today’s episode. 1977 Downriver Magazine article by Steven Carothers, guest on today’s episode. “Steve Carothers” in the Boatman’s Quarterly, by Lew Steiger and Steven Carothers. “Saving rivers just as they are has been good for Idaho,” by LuVerne Grussing, guest on today’s episode. “Guest Opinion: Congress must reauthorize Land and Water Conservation Fund” by LuVerne Grussing, guest on today’s episode. “Picking the Best River Toilet” from RiverBent. “They call me Groover Boy” by Kevin Fedarko, a story of carrying the groovers on commercial river trips in the Grand Canyon. “Your guide to the Groover” by OARS.
THE RIVER RADIUS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 06 Dec 2022 | Source to Sea Conservation River Trips | 00:49:36 | |
Source to Sea expeditions come with a myriad of missions. This episode explores how to leverage source to sea river expeditions for conservation. Source to Sea expert Danielle Katz breaks down the types of impacts that source to sea expeditions can have, how long expeditions take to plan, and what this kind of undertaking demands from a team.
ADVERTISING SPONSORS Jacks Plastic Welding discounted boats Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
GUEST Grand Salmon Source to Sea Expedition 2022
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| 02 Mar 2023 | Tools for the River Guide | 00:49:10 | |
River Guides have a great life working on rivers, guiding people down fun and beautiful rivers. But what makes that life hard? How do River Guides deal with stress? Responder Alliance is building tools for River Guides and OARS, an outfitter, is putting the tools to work with their River Guides.
GUESTS Brooke Edwards ENDLESS SUMMER EPISODES
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Jack's Plastic Welding
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| 26 Oct 2022 | Endless Summer 3: Guiding with a Healing Intention | 00:47:39 | |
ADVERTISING SPONSOR GUEST SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
WHALE FOUNDATION
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| 24 Oct 2024 | Source to Sea: Maine's Sandy & Kennebec Rivers | 00:43:49 | |
25 years ago the Edwards Dam was removed from the Kennebec River in Maine allowing alewives and sturgeon to return to their spawning grounds in force, revitalizing the ecosystem and delighting the paddlers and local communities with the sturgeons’ explosive breaching displays. In the summer of 2024, 2 separate source to sea trips ran the lengths of the Sandy and Kennebec in Maine. Contributing host Clark Tate was part of the Sandy trip and tells the on river story of both source to sea trips.
RIVERS FOR CHANGE
Stuart Hickey, raft guide Jessica Sterling, kayak instructor and web designer Chris Morgan Jennifer Noll Saige Purser Joe Klementovich, Photographer Matt Palmariello Amy Borch, Tattoo artist Eli Studer, Tattoo artist
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over It Raft Covers
SANDY RIVER INFORMATION Sandy River Northern Forest Canoe Trail Map Environmental Geology Along the Sandy River, Farmington Maine, Field Trip from University of Maine at Farmington. Dr. Tom Eastler, Mr. Andy Buckland, Mr. Joel Sproul Indigenous Land and Water Acknowledgement by the University of Maine at Farmington The Rangeley Area: A Geologic Tour by Emma Stattelman and Katarina Dickson
SEA-RUN FISH INFORMATION Finding the Next Sebasticook - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Map of Atlantic SalmonHabitat - Maine Department of Marine Resources Kennebec River Management Plan Diadromous Resources Amendment - Maine Department of Marine Resources Historical Fish Trap Counts - Maine Department of Marine Resources
KENNEBEC DAM RELICENSING INFORMATION Draft Environmental Impact Statement The written comments are posted on the FERC elibrary website under docket P-2322. World weighs in on fate of 4 Maine dams blocking passage of endangered salmon - Bangor Daily News by Lori Valigra Conservation groups cheer decision preserving state authority in Kennebec River dam relicensing - Maine Public by Robbie Feinberg DEP says Sandy River dredging violated Maine laws - Maine Public by Murray Carpenter 4 dams, the future of Kennebec fish runs and salmon’s survival at stake in federal licensing battle - Press Herald, Colin Woodard State agencies are reporting more salmon returning to the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers this Year (2023) - Maine Public by Robbie Feinberg We Can Turn a River in Maine into a Paradise for Salmon - The New York Times by John Waldman THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 03 Dec 2024 | Darby McAdams & Her New Film, NEAR THE RIVER | 00:49:29 | |
Darby McAdams holds many places in the river world: kayaker, film maker & instructor of both kayaking and film work for young paddlers. In November of 2024 her new film NEAR THE RIVER went public. In this episode Darby moves through her kayak path, her film path and talks about NEAR THE RIVER and its story about the people of the Zambezi River in Africa. DARBY MCADAMS
Over It Raft Covers
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 04 May 2020 | Hoops's Echo | 00:37:12 | |
In December of 2019, "The Salad Days" film was released telling a brief story of Herm Hoops's life. He landed his dream job as a Ranger at Dinosaur National Monument, home of Echo Park. He boated Desoloation Canyon on the Green River again and again and again. Possibly his last trip down Deso is documented in "The Salad Days." This interview is with Herm Hoops, his wife Valerie Hoops and film maker Cody Perry. They talk about Herms life, the concepts of this film, and rivers need the boaters to care for the rivers, and how Herm sees his life. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Mar 2025 | Part 2, Tijuana River, Source of the Pollution | 01:00:54 | |
The Tijuana Rivers courses through the City of Tijuana Mexico where 2 million people live. Several hundred thousand homes in Tijuana are not connected to the city sewage system and this leads to significant pollution of the Tijuana River. And because the city of Tijuana butts right up to the US Mexico border, the path of the river sewage and the responsibility for managing is not always clear. This episode goes into Tijuana to learn more about why the pollution exists, where it comes from and the status of various infrastructure tools that manage the pollution.
CO-HOST Ramon Chairez GUESTS Waylon Matson Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve San Diego / Tijuana Metro Area North American Free Trade Agreement United States Mexico Canada Free Trade Agreement
American Rivers Denver Area Nissan Dealers THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 19 Feb 2021 | Trailer River Radius Podcast | 00:01:59 | |
This trailer for The River Radius Podcast provides a peek into a few episodes and a has a short description from the host describing what this podcast provides the listener. THE RIVER RADIUS
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| 04 Feb 2025 | Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue | 01:27:22 | |
River runners became paramount for river rescue in many parts of Appalachia when Hurricane Helene inflated the rivers to record levels. People were stranded in buildings, bridges blew out, and houses were swept downriver. This live episode at the America Outdoors Conference hosts 3 river runners who immediately engaged in the rescue of people stranded by the floods, and, the rescue of the rivers from their own floods. They tell the stories of their work beginning at daybreak on day 1 of Hurricane Helene.
GUESTS Korey Hampton Steven Foy
RELEVANT LINKS AND CONTENT USA Today articles about Korey and Mitch running rescues USA Today New York Times, print and podcast story about Mr Tipton 60 Minutes: Families in WNC rebuild in wake of Helene: "This is home"
SPONSORS River Management Society
Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 03 Nov 2021 | The New Film "River's End" | 00:33:22 | |
Dry rivers and deserts full of irrigated nut trees. Jacob Morrisons new film, “The River's End: California’s New Water War” leans into the questions about agriculture and how rivers can be maintained. In this interview, we delve into some of the topics in the film. RIVER'S END FILM www.riversendfilm.com
RIVER RADIUS PODCAST EPISODES ON CALIFORNIA WATER Ep. 27 "Southern California's Water, Yesterday & Tomorrow"
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 19 Jul 2022 | Ben Knight: River Films & Being Dad | 00:58:12 | |
Ben Knight builds powerful films with his partner at Felt Soul Media. DAMNATION, RED GOLD, IN CURRENT, and now LEARNING TO DROWN. In the past few years, Ben also became a father. In this episode Contributing Host Greg Cairns talks with Ben about the inside of his life, some of the process of creating his films, and his path of becoming a powerful filmmaker. And, his daughter. TODAY'S ADVERTISING SPONSORS Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
GUEST Vimeo channel of Felt Soul Media The film: “Damnation” on You Tube The film: “Damnation” on Vimeo The film: “Red Gold” on Vimeo The film: "Learning to Drown" on Vimeo
CONTRIBUTING HOST
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| 12 Sep 2023 | Gauley River, West By God Virginia | 00:58:31 | |
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over It Raft Covers GUESTS David Brown American Whitewater Animal Upper Gauley Race Dylan Pennick OTHER INFO Gauley River
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 May 2022 | Part 1: No Boat No Paddle on the Big Susitna River | 00:53:37 | |
This episode is the 1st of 2 episodes. Some stories stand the test of time. This is one. 1995, Big Susitna River in Alaska, glacial melt, rains in the canyon. Three friends fly deep into the backcountry with plans of a one day trip on big water. That day their plans changed & 27 years later they all tell the story. Nissan and The Denver Area Dealerships USGS Gauge on Big Susitna River
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 29 Aug 2020 | Thirsty Growth | 00:45:42 | |
The Poudre River starts in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows through fantastic country. Immediately when it leaves the mountains it is put to work providing water for humans in many applications. This river even has its flows augmented by inputs that are diverted from streams on the other side of the Continental Divide. Today, there are several Front Range municipalities and water districts actively working to develop water rights from the Poudre for distribution and use in existing and emerging homes. One project is NISP, Northern Integrated Supply Project; the other is the City of Thornton pipeline. There is very real concern more water extraction from the Poudre will dry this river up before it flows through the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. On this show we are joined by American Whitewater, Northern Water, Diversify Whitewater, Rocky Mountain Adventures, and Larimer County. Unable to join were the City of Thornton and the City of Fort Collins. This is the story of water and humans in the west in the modern moment. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 16 Dec 2021 | Autopsy of a Post Reservoir River | 00:55:20 | |
Is it a reservoir in crisis or a river recovering? In October of 2021 a crew of river scientist and river runners and this podcast traveled down Cataract Canyon to examine a retreating reservoir and a recovering river. As Lake Powell dips below 30% of full, the Colorado River is cutting through the decades of reservoir sediment. What is in the sediment? On top of it? What is next?
LINKS MEDIA RIVER RADIUS PODCAST EPISODES
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| 11 Oct 2023 | Native Teen Guide In Training Program | 01:02:15 | |
The Native Teen Guide in Training Program held its 12th year of training teenagers from various tribal nations how to work as river guides. This year was the first year that the guide staff for this program was all Indigenous. The River Radius joined the NTGIT program at the boat ramp, campground and river warehouse to hear this story.
SPONSORS NRS Website
GUESTS Native Teen Guide In Training Program
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Mar 2022 | Swiftwater Rescue | 00:46:03 | |
Swiftwater Rescue courses are available for private river runners, commercial river guides and professional rescuers. These courses provide curriculum and instruction on river hydrology, swimming, self support, peer rescue, rescue of gear, and skills to avoid situations where rescue is needed. This episode hosts interviews with two instructors of Swiftwater Rescue courses. One instructor works on the rivers of the western United States, the other instructor works on th rivers of ten Southeast United States, Costa Rica and Ecuador. This is part of a 3-episode cluster with an overall theme of, HOW TO RUN RIVERS. The specific focus of this episode is about SWIFTWATER RESCUE . The other two episodes focus on HOW TO GET KIDS ON THE RIVER and FOOD PACKING FOR THE RIVER. All of the episodes of this cluster are available right now and it does not matter in which order you listen to this cluster.
GUESTS
VIDEO An Interview with Legendary Whitewater Safety Leader Charlie Walbridge
ARTICLES & BOOKS Finding Swiftwater Rescue Classes River Rescue by Les Bechdel, Slim Ray and Charlie Walbridge (several editions published)
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Apr 2023 | 10 Rivers for 2023 | 00:55:38 | |
Every year since 1984, American Rivers has released a report called America's Most Endangered Rivers. To be highlighted by this report, rivers must have significance to human and natural communities, face consequential threat, and have an upcoming major decision that the public can help influence. This episode is an interview with Sinjin Eberle and Amy Souers Kober on what makes this report an effective river conservation tool, the most endangered rivers of 2023, and tangible actions that we as listeners can do to engage with the most endangered rivers of 2023.
GUESTS Instagram
SPONSOR Denver Area Nissan Dealers website THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 07 Jul 2022 | Salmon 3: Fighting Salmon Extinction Real Time | 00:52:51 | |
The Grand Salmon Source to Sea crew is paddling just shy of 1000 miles following the Snake River Basin Spring Summer Chinook Salmon from the mountains of Idaho to the Pacific Ocean. These 4 women launched in April of this spring and are now nearing the west coast. Youth Salmon Protectors is a dedicated group of 2000 young people of the Pacific Northwest. Both of these groups are working to bring attention and action to the Chinook Salmon as they near extinction. This episode is interviews with 6 members of these 2 groups. SEN MURRAY & GOV INSLEE REPORT AND COMMENT OPTION
GRAND SALMON SOURCE TO SEA
YOUTH SALMON PROTECTORS
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
THE RIVER RADIUS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 07 Jan 2025 | Part 2, Dr Len Necefer, 2025 | 00:45:24 | |
Dr Len Necefer opens up 2025 for The River Radius. Len is the mind and perspective I wanted to welcome me and you both into this 6th season of The River Radius. We talk through the relationship of rivers and elections, of books for this year, the work and impact of Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and other river and life layers. Len is the founder of Natives Outdoors, the Sonoran Avalanche Center, runs rivers, is articulate and intelligently humorous. This is the 2nd episode with Dr Len Necefer and both are some of my favorites.
BOOKS
River Management Society
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | American Whitewater’s Top 10 River Stewardship Focus | 01:04:18 | |
American Whitewater published their Top 10 List of Stewardship issues in January 2024. This is a mix of dam removal projects, legislation and policy pushes, Wild and Scenic options, all encompassed in the work from American Whitewater to keep rivers clean and accessible. This episode is an interview Kevin Colburn from American Whitewater learning about each river on this list and the positive end goals.
SPONSORS Over It Raft Covers
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 May 2022 | Part 2: No Boat No Paddle on the Big Susitna River | 00:58:08 | |
This episode is the 2nd of 2 episodes. Some stories stand the test of time. This is one. 1995, Big Susitna River in Alaska, glacial melt, rains in the canyon. Three friends fly deep into the backcountry with plans of a one day trip on big water. That day their plans changed & 27 years later they all tell the story. Nissan and The Denver Area Dealerships USGS Gauge on Big Susitna River
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 30 Apr 2024 | Dam Removal Updates & Trends | 01:08:20 | |
Dams have been blocking rivers for decades. Is there a growing crack in the dam? This episode explores dam removal as an increasing trend. We talk with guests at the Chattooga River and Tugalo Dam, the Snake River and the Lower Snake River Dams, and the Klamath River and the active removal project there. And we look at the trends globally for dam construction and removal.
SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers GUESTS Grand Salmon Project Klamath River Renewal Corporation International Rivers PREVIOUS EPISODES ON SAME TOPICS Klamath 1: The Origins of Paddle Tribal Waters Salmon 1: Mountain Origins THUMBNAIL PIC THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Aug 2021 | Break & Request | 00:02:02 | |
This episode is a quick hello and a request for story input from you, our listeners of The River Radius. Do you have a story of a river shuttle that went sideways, really far sideways? We want to hear from you. There are more details in this super short episode. Thanks for listening! EMAIL: hello@theriverradius.com
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 21 Mar 2020 | From The Grand to Corona | 00:47:42 | |
While spending 25 days intentionally away from the world of technology and news and globalization, a group of friends navigated the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon building friendships, exploring the canyons, resetting their life trajectory. In that 25 day period, a virus that started at a market in inland China has caught rides in cars, on planes and trains, and has moved to 6 continents, killing people, maxing out health care systems, scaring financial markets, causing rigid governmental responses, and in many places it is ignored as nothing big. In one moment these friends are having moments of reflection and joy, and then moments of confusion, then they are welcomed back to their new paradigm. Two members of the trip tell the story with humor and heartfelt observation. They went into the canyon to take a break, and they come out of the canyon to concerns about family, uncertainty with personal employment, and wondering why there is a toilet paper shortage. THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | Part 1: Something Fishy | 00:39:51 | |
Before Manifest Destiny arrived in North America, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout only lived in the South Platte River Basin of the Southern Rockies in Colorado. This fish was beat up as it lived in the streams where Europeans first inhabited Colorado. It was then accidentally saved from extinction over 100 years ago by an unknowing entrepreneur who put it up high in a mountain stream where it was left alone for 100 plus years. In the 20th Century, fish enthusiasts and researchers began work to help this fish recover, except they lacked the absolute clarity of what fish was what in the now genetically mixed fish populations and streams of Colorado. When a PhD student decided to perform research on the historical path of the fish, many details emerged that were unexpected and that changed and corrected the path of recovery for this fish. This is a story of raising a nation, changing the natural landscape and then working to repair the harm. This is a story of the resilience of life and of the dedication of a group of people who work to bring this fish back home.
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 24 Mar 2022 | Food Packing for the River | 00:46:56 | |
How many times have you ended a river trip and said that you have enough food for 3 more days? This episodes talks with two outfitters focused on Grand Canyon River trips. Ceiba provides food for private permit river trips. AZRA provides and prepares meals for their commercial river trips. Between both companies they are packing food for about 230 multi-week river trips each year. They share ideas on how to pack food, how to keep coolers cold and how to keep the kitchen and cooking simple and delicious. This is part of a 3-episode cluster with an overall theme of, HOW TO RUN RIVERS. The specific focus of this episode is about FOOD PACKING FOR THE RIVER. The other two episodes focus on SWIFTWATER RESCUE and HOW TO GET KIDS ON THE RIVER. All of the episodes of this cluster are available right now and it does not matter in which order you listen to this cluster. While not all river trips are 2-4 weeks in hot desert heat, or deep winter cold, there is a lot to be learned from the food packing crews that provide high grade food, menus, storage and preparation of well over 10,000 river meals a year.
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GUESTS Tracy Bates Rachel Schmidt
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 28 Mar 2023 | American Rivers | 00:43:03 | |
American Rivers celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. Founded in 1973, American Rivers is a national level river conservation organization. To understand how they see the future of rivers, we interviewed their Executive Director to hear his story and what American Rivers is focusing on in the next few decades. ADVERTISING SPONSORS NISSAN DENVER AREA DEALERS
GUESTS TOM KIERNAN THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 04 May 2022 | 10 Rivers | 00:55:21 | |
Each year, American Rivers, one the largest organizations advocating for clean and healthy rivers, releases their annual report of 10 rivers in the United States that need help. This episode is an interview with two staff from American Rivers, Amy Souers Kober and Matt Rice, where they explain the report, how it has led to rivers having improved water quality in the recent past, and the 10 rivers in the “America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2022” report.
ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers
GUESTS & ORGANIZATION Report: America’s Most Endangered Rivers Video Announcing The Most Endangered Rivers of 2022 Amy Souers Kober, Vice President, Communications Matt Rice, Southwest Regional Director
RELATED ARTICLES The New York Times: Colorado River Reservoirs Are So Low, Government WIll Delay Releases
RIVER CLEAN UP ORGANIZATION
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| 14 Oct 2021 | The Dream Planter: Rafael Gallo | 00:48:18 | |
Rafael Gallo began kayaking at the University of Tennessee in the 1970s, founded Rios Tropicales in Costa Rica in the 1985, prevented the Rio Pacuare from being dammed, was inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame in 2009, taught ex-Columbian FARC soldiers to become river guides in 2018, was known and respected across the globe for his river work, and during his life helped plant nearly 31,000 trees, all to protect and support rivers. In March of 2021, he passed away. This episode is a conversation with his son, and his personal assistant/biographer about his life and his way.
RAFA: RIVERS & FORESTS ALLIANCE Go Fund Me for RAFA, IWHOF and IRF ABOUT RAFAEL GALLO A tribute to Rafael Gallo in Paddler Magazine Ex-FARC Guerrillas in Columbia train to be Raft Guides Rivers that build peace: Rafting with ex-combatants in Columbia Navigating Rough Waters with Rafael Gallo in Costa Rica Honoring Rafael Gallo: Go Fund Me Launched for RAFA, IWHOF, and IRF International Whitewater Hall of Fame International Rafting Federation
RIVER BOOK by RAFAEL GALLO
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 05 Mar 2024 | Atmospheric Rivers 101 | 00:51:14 | |
Atmospheric Rivers are bands of water vapor in the sky, sometimes a few thousand miles long, bringing winter moisture to the west coast of North America and delivering it all the way to the Rocky Mountains. The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes flies research planes above these storms all winter tracking the details and forecasting the coming storm and this episode hosts their director to learn about Atmospheric Rivers.
SPONSORS Down River Equipment Denver Area Nissan Dealers GUESTS Marty Ralph AR short video (great graphic diagram) Thumbnail pic credit: Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Jul 2023 | Re-issue: History of the Groover | 01:03:05 | |
Have been using a groover this summer? Have you cleaned one....or need to clean one? This episode is a Re-issue of our "History of the Groover" episode from 2021. For many overnight river trips, the groover has become as common a tool as the PFD. Where did this groover come from, and why is a portable river toilet called a groover. This episode finds the people who were there 50 years ago when the need for the groover emerged, and when the groover itself was created.
Wholesum
Helen Howard Jeff Ingram Steven Carothers LuVerne Grussing MORE CONTENT “Picking the Best River Toilet” from RiverBent. “They call me Groover Boy” by Kevin Fedarko, a story of carrying the groovers on commercial river trips in the Grand Canyon. “Your guide to the Groover” by OARS.
THE RIVER RADIUS
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 08 Sep 2022 | 50 Episodes; 8 Follow Up Stories | 00:56:29 | |
Our 1st episode published in 2019 and in September of 2022, we hit the 50th episode. The River Radius has covered 50 rivers, 21 states and 12 countries. Here we have 8 short follow up interviews from 8 of those episodes to learn what is happening in those ongoing river stories.
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GUESTS THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | Sexual Harassment in River Guide Culture | 01:11:11 | |
Working as a commercial river guide is one of the best jobs, day after day on rivers, helping people enjoy rivers, seeing beauty, having fun, chasing adrenaline. Creating incredible friendships, some of which might last a lifetime. And there can be a dark layer. Sexual Harassment continues to percolate, as it does in many places, in the layers of river guide culture. This episode goes there and learns about sexual harassment in the river guiding culture. We talk with Dr Maria Blevins, long time river guide, who has conducted research on this topic. We hear from guide warehouse and staff manager, Bryant Baker, about how he is working to eliminate sexual harassment from the company he manages. And we talk with Respect Outside and Jim Miller to gain clarity about sexual harassment definitions, when sexual harassment is assault, how and why it percolates in river guiding, and resources available for guide companies to shake free of sexual harassment. Denver Area Nissan Dealers Over It Raft Covers
GUESTS Dr Maria Blevins EEOC
Men's Journal: Rough Water: A River Guide Tells Her Side of the Story High Country News: Grand Canyon park's 15 year failure on sexual harassment Outside Magazine: Hostile Environment Huffpost: Out Here, No One Can Hear You Scream US Dept of Interior: Investigative Report of Misconduct at the Grand Canyon River District
SEXUAL HARASSMENT & ASSUALT IN ROCK CLIMBING New York Times: Rock Climber Gets Life in Prison for Sexual Assault Safe Outside / American Alpine Club
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 25 Jun 2024 | Part 1: Kevin Fedarko Live | 01:10:54 | |
SPONSORS American Whitewater American Rivers High Desert Life Outdoors Free Flow Institute KSJD Community Radio
GUEST Kevin Fedarko
Pete McBride THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 06 Feb 2024 | Queer River Guiding; 1 Professional’s Experience | 00:51:22 | |
The river guiding and river running world are sometimes perceived as idyllic and welcoming. When is it something different? Our guest today is an openly gay man, and he share’s his story of working as a river guide and guide company manager for the past decade and how some of that is idyllic, and other parts are full of discrimination. SPONSORS AED ONE STOP SHOP THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Nov 2022 | Part 2: Green Race 2022 | 00:51:45 | |
For the past 27 years in November, class 5 kayakers have assembled at the Green River in North Carolina for the Green Race. And a couple thousand hardy spectators hike the miles down to cheer on these rowdy kayakers. In these two episodes we tell the story of the race and we meet two of the women racing. One has won the race 12 times. The other is a first time racer, and an Olympic kayaker. Come mad bomb the Green River with us.
ADVERTISING SPONSORS
Native Teen Guide in Training Program Native Teen Guide in Training 2021 Video
Lavabox
EVY LIEBFARTH
ADRIENE LEVKNECHT
GREEN RACE
GREEN RACE ARTICLES Boofing the Green (Read this one!!!) 15 Things You Didn’t Know About the Green Race The Secret History of the Green
GREEN RACE VIDEOS Sparkle Princess (Watch this one!!!)
SARAH RUHLEN RACE DEDICATION
GREEN RACE CONSERVATION PROJECT THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 23 Mar 2021 | The silty byproduct of Lake Powell | 00:37:37 | |
The last time Lake Powell was full was in 1986; today it sits at 1/3 of its capacity and it is expected to end 2021 lower than it is today. As this reservoir drops, it exposes more and more of the sediment dumps that have been hiding below the water. As the Colorado River hits the dead current of Lake Powell, it drops its sediment load. That sediment is clogging the river way and is critical to the health of the river downstream, all the way to the ocean, and yet it can't get there. In the Returning Rapids episode we learned about the problem of the sediment first hand as we toured the clogged river way; in this episode we talk with the managers of Lake Powell, The Bureau of Reclamation, about their vision and plans for Lake Powell and for the sediment that is now in Powell's wake.
River Radius: Instagram, Facebook, website, email
Relevant Previous Episodes
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 26 Dec 2024 | Declaration of Rights for the Biobio River in Chile | 00:29:53 | |
Do rivers have rights? Should they have a set of rights that guide how they are used? In September of this year, 2024, the Biobio River in Chile was assigned a Declaration of Rights. This non binding document allows for work to be done towards making the Declaration influential and even binding at a later date. We speak with International Rivers and Malen Lebu in Chile to understand this more.
Over It Raft Covers
GUESTS Evaluna Morales Malen Lebu Declaration of Rights for the Biobio Maranon River, Peru, Declaration of Rights
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 11 Aug 2021 | Southern California's Water, Yesterday & Tomorrow | 00:49:38 | |
Southern California is home for 19 million people and imports the majority of its municipal water from the Colorado and Sacramento Rivers, moving that water hundreds of miles through humanmade aqueducts. Both rivers have decreased flows meaning less water for So Cal. This episode looks at how So Cal gained water, how they are changing their water profile, and how rivers may continue to be impacted by their extractions. COMPANION EPISODE: GUESTS REGIONAL RECYCLED WATER ADVANCED PURIFICATION CENTER
PEOPLE, POLICY, INFORMATION
BOOKS
ARTICLES (just a few, there is a lot of media on water in the Southwest this year) KUNC: Colorado River Basin Reservoirs Begin Emergency Releases To Prop Up A Troubled Lake Powell CBS This Morning: Mega Drought in the West
RIVER RADIUS PODCAST "The Returning Rapids of Cataract Canyon 2021" "The Silty Byproduct of Lake Powell"
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 18 Feb 2025 | Part 1 Tijuana River, Binational Flow | 00:44:44 | |
This episode is on site where a beautiful desert mountain river flows through an estuary and into the Pacific Ocean. Before the Tijuana River meets the ocean, it navigates through a dense urban border region with 5 million people. The outcome is a river that is carrying toxic sewage and pollution to the ocean, closing beaches and creating illness in the river and beach communities. This is the first episode in a series about this beautiful place, the epic pollution, and the incredible people who are engaged in the work to clean up this river and ocean.
Dr Kimberly Dickson Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve San Diego / Tijuana Metro Area American Rivers Denver Area Nissan Dealers THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 11 Jul 2023 | Fill Lake Powell | 01:09:45 | |
While many river runners see Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam as the leading threat to the Colorado River overall and to the Grand Canyon, there is a voice that wants to keep Lake Powell in place and full of water. To understand this viewpoint and reasoning, this episode explores this topic with the BlueRibbon Coalition and Powellheadz. This episode is the companion to our recent publication of “Glen Canyon is Again Being Submerged Under Lake Powell.”
Wholesum
EPISODE GUESTS BlueRibbon Coalition
High Flow Experiment National Park Service Mandalorian / Star Wars at Lake Powell Navajo Generating Station THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 25 Sep 2024 | What is a River 2024: Chilcotin River Landslide, Dam & Breach | 00:54:05 | |
In the summer of 2024, the Chilcotin River in British Columbia had a landslide that completely blocked the river creating a natural dam. For the next 6 days the river water backed up behind this dam until the waters finally worked over the top the of the landslide, creating a breach that would exceed the previous historical flows by 5 fold. 3 people share their experience and knowledge of the landslide in this episode.
TIME LAPSE IMAGES OF LANDSLIDE AND BREACH & other info on landslide YOU TUBE VIDEOS Short: "...helicopter view of landslide..." Short: "...building washed away..." "Water begins moving past landslide damming Chilcotin River" River Radius Instagram and Facebook has videos also.
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | 10 Rivers for 2024 | 01:05:01 | |
Each year American Rivers publishes a list of 10 rivers that hold great opportunity for river quality improvements. This year, in addition to covering the full list with Amy Kober of American Rivers, we talk with local experts to include the ocean surfers at the Tijuana River estuary in California, the river lovers at the Duck River in Tennessee, and the high desert river people overseeing the entire state of New Mexico. We hear about the unique rivers and the work happening to care for these places. SPONSORS ROCKY TALKIE
GUESTS American Rivers
Rivers of New Mexico
Duck River
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 11 May 2023 | 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow | 01:05:42 | |
As spring melt begins to fill rivers in the Western United States, the anticipation is high for big water runoff this season because of the long snowy winter. The River Forecast Centers of the National Weather Service provide forecasting for river flows across the country. This episode talks with the 3 of the Western Forecast Centers to learn about the snowpack and the coming river flows for spring of 2023.
EPISODE CONTENT LINKS 13 River Forecast Centers National Oceanic Administrative Association United States Geologic Survey Streamflow Data
SPONSORS Denver Nissan Area Dealers Dolores Area Businesses
THE RIVER RADIUS | |||
| 31 Jan 2023 | Hayley Stuart: kayaker, film maker, storyteller, river advocate | 01:08:12 | |
Hayley Stuart learned to kayak while attending an international traveling high school. Today she works with indigenous river communities in South America to prevent dams from changing their rivers into reservoirs. She is teaching these river communities to kayak, building films about this work, attends the United Nations COP meetings as a linguistics translator working to UnDam the UN, and recently earned a Masters from Oxford University in water science, policy and management.
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THE RIVER RADIUS | |||