The River Radius Podcast

Columbia Snake River Campaign
Instagram @columbiasnakeriver
Facebook

Oct 20, 2026 57 min

Kayeloni Scott: Rivers, Salmon, Return of the Matriarchy

Episode 148

Show notes

After leaving a blooming career in the world of credit unions, Kayeloni Scott is deeply involved in the work to free the dammed waters of her home river, The Snake River. Kayeloni was raised in Idaho and comes from river people and she says in this episode that a river for her is "home". Kayeloni today is the Executive Director of the Columbia Snake River Campaign and has developed the RUN Conference, Rise Up Northwest in Unity, which will have its 4th annual event this October. And Kayeloni, along with other indigenous women, is presenting in Se' Si' Le, The Return of the Matriarchy, on a tour this fall. Kayeloni talks through catching her first fish with her Dad, her valuable relationship with her Grandma, floating down the Klamath River to the ocean with her Mom and Paddle Tribal Waters, and how matriarchy weaves through all things.

"Ever Flowing" - a short film by Columbia Snake River Campaign

Nez Perce Tribe

Se' Si' Le, Seven Sisters, Return of the Matriarchy

Article at Idaho Rivers United

SPONSORS

VALLEY AUTO GROUP
Landing page at River Radius
Landing page at Valley Auto Group
Auto purchase includes $500 donation to river group
Vehicle can be shipped to you in 48 states

OUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVE
Grasstops Collective
Instagram
Facebook
Bluesky
X

THE RIVER RADIUS

Oct 1, 2026 1 hr 18 min

Riverhorse

Episode 147

Show notes

Riverhorse Nakadate is the author of a new book, "Water Lines: A Life on Marshes, Rivers, Seas, and in the Rain." He is deeply connected to fish and fishing, even as he casts his rod less and less. He has led a life of travel in pursuit of fishing and surfing that has taken him to waters in rivers, lakes, marshes and oceans around the world. It also seems he travels in pursuit of opportunities to meet people through random exchanges involving food and conversation. His book is a collection of short stories from his life exploring wild places, airports, and roadside food stands. These stories of fish and water life get mixed with his passion for music, which has led him to editing a guitar magazine, playing music and befriending some of the most legendary musicians. And this is all in parallel with his day job as a public school teacher.

Thumbnail Image Tony Czech @tczech

GUESTS

Riverhorse Nakadate
All his films are on his website above

Book: Waterlines

RESOURCES

Film: "Low and Clear"

SPONSORS

VALLEY AUTO GROUP
Landing page at River Radius
Landing page at Valley Auto Group
Auto purchase includes $500 donation to river group
Vehicle can be shipped to you in 48 states

OUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVE
Grasstops Collective
Instagram
Facebook
Bluesky
X

THE RIVER RADIUS

Chris Wood, CEO & President at Trout Unlimited

Sep 16, 2026 45 min

Roadless Rivers

Episode 146

Show notes

For 25 years, a rule at the United States Forest Service has been in place that does not allow new roads to be built. These roadless areas inside our National Forests total about 59 million acres, and they have remained without roads, without human vehicle traffic, without heavy equipment working to extract natural resources. Inherently, this has protected rivers and their headwaters, their entire basins, their narrow riparian canyons, and all the critters in the water and on the land. In August of this year, 2026, the current US Presidential administration announced in the Federal Register their intent to rescind this rule. This episode hosts Chris Wood who was working directly on the Roadless Rule when it was initiated in 1999 and completed in 2001. Today Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. He talks with the River Radius about why the rule was created, the culture of trees and forests and roads that supported this rule 25 years ago, and also how we can all engage with public comments until September 21 on this topic.

GUESTS

Trout Unlimited

RESOURCES

Original Roadless Rule

Federal RegisterAugust 20, 2026Roadless Announcement

Comment at United States Forest Service

Comment at TU

Comment at American Whitewater

Comment at American Rivers

Comment at Greater Yellowstone Coaltion

Chris Wood from Trout Unlimited in the Wired to Hunt Podcast, with great and longer history of timber sales in US
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

SPONSORS

VALLEY AUTO GROUP
Landing page at River Radius
Landing page at Valley Auto Group
Auto purchase includes $500 donation to river group
Vehicle can be shipped to you in 48 states

OUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVE
Grasstops Collective
Instagram
Facebook
Bluesky
X

THE RIVER RADIUS

Canyons Booking (Food & Wine Trip)

Sep 9, 2026 37 min

Greg McFadden: Outfitting, Expansion & Dinner Party Culture

Episode 145

Show notes

Sometime in the 1980s, after reading a hand written note telling him to come up for a river trip, Greg McFadden turned north on a rural highway in Idaho. He had no idea about river running and river culture, nor did he know, that note and river would lead him to become a lifelong river guide and eventually purchase the river outfitter hosting that very first river trip. Today Greg leads a group of 4 full time staff and 38 guides as they take their guests down guided river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho, sometimes all in one long trip. Last year they only hired one new guide, and their crew spans 5 of the named generations. Greg also travels to Washington DC advocating for rivers and river guides, he is a painter with his own downtown gallery, even if it is the size of a van, and he also guides a couple of river trips for a Grand Canyon river outfitter because it feels good and keeps him connected.

Greg McFadden

Canyons River Company

IG @canyons_river_company

FB @canyons

BIPOC Outdoor Collective

Fun Luvin' Fleecewear

Blue Moon Yurts

River Radius Episode with Canyons Founder
Les Bechdel, Apple Podcasts
Les Bechdel, Spotify

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety, 4th Edition
By Les Bechdel & Slim Ray

Aug 18, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Les Bechdel

Episode 144

Show notes

Les Bechdel is a river runner, an outfitter, an author of the first comprehensive book on modern river rescue techniques, a kayaker, a husband, a catarafter, a father, a river ranger, a grandfather, an instructor, and a soldier. In the 1980s, river rescue became a more organized and developed concept and practice, and Les Bechdel was at the center of that movement. In 1985, the first edition of the book "RIVER RESCUE" was published with Les and Slim Ray as the authors. The book is now in its 4th edition. Les was selling kayaks during the transition from fiberglass to plastic. Eventually, he moved to Idaho from North Carolina with his family and started a river outfitting company in the Salmon River system that is still thriving today. Beyond all of that, Les is a kind and open man who tells stories of a life shaped by rivers and family. AW Bio Bio article

Les Bechdel "Guidefather" 1996, newspaper article

Charlie Walbridge

Canyons River Company

Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame

Bio Bio accident report from American Whitewater, 1981

Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Apple Podcasts

Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Spotify

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

"Fierce Country" Book Tour

Aug 4, 2026 1 hr 11 min

Heather Hansman & Her New Book "Fierce Country"

Episode 143

Show notes

Heather Hansman publishes her 3rd book today, "Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild." Heather joins the River Radius as a returning guest to talk about the subjects of her book: Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle. We also get into her travels to learn about these three people, how going through the complete collection of one person helped clarify details, how writing a book is a multi-year commitment, her own feelings about the book and the nervous tension she rides as her book publication date arrives. Heather is a longtime river runner and river guide, and is the author of the recent article exposing many details about the current river permitting system. Her writing is funny and serious and deep, and our conversation lets her share with us her journey of writing this excellent book about rivers, people, boats, wild places, ecological theories, and the bias that gets in the way of understanding our natural systems.

Heather Hansman website

@hhansman

"Wreck Dot Gov" (article about the river permit system)

Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Apple Podcasts

Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Spotify

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

South Fork Salmon, Barker video

Jul 14, 2026 54 min

Devon Barker-Hicks, Idaho River Proud

Episode 142

Show notes

Devon Barker-Hicks is an Idaho born and raised river runner, growing up in the Barker family of river outfitters. She is a lifelong public school teacher, a global kayak competitor, and a dedicated advocate and protector of the waters and rivers of Idaho. Her program "Dare to Kayak," brings kayaking to the public schools of Idaho, and a film about that same program premiers on July 22nd in Riggins, ID. She grew up running rivers with her family, working as a guide at the family outfitter company from childhood through her college summers. Today she teaches kayaking through the "Dare to Kayak" program and at her brother's outfitting company. She is considered by her Idaho river peers to be a leader in the knowledge of the rivers of Idaho, and a leader in caring for the rivers and the river runners, and she serves on the Board of Directors of Idaho Rivers United. In addition to all of this, we also talk through her 2020 two-month tour of the entire watershed of the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands.

GUEST
Devon Barker-Hicks

Dare to Kayak

Writing: "The Confluence of Passions on the Canals of Amsterdam"

Writing: "The Owyhee Bruneau Canyonlands All Forks Sabbatical"

Barker River Expeditions

Southfork Salmon & Idaho Rivers United video

BOD @ Idaho Rivers United

Film Premiere
July 22, 2026
5pm MT
Potluck with films to follow
Little River Bait & Tackle
7482 US-95, Riggins, ID 83549
Riggins, ID
Facebook

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

Video of AR's MER List 2026 on YouTube

Jul 8, 2026 1 hr 4 min

10 Rivers for 2026

Episode 141

Show notes

Each year American Rivers, a national river focused advocacy organization publishes a list of 10 rivers that are beautiful rivers and rivers that want our engagement. These are the rivers of the 2026 Most Endangered Rivers List. American Rivers first published the Most Endangered Rivers List in 1984, and now 41 years later, they still bring to our attention ten rivers of elevated importance. This year's rivers run between 8 and 400 miles in length. My guest again this year is Chantel Dominguez from American Rivers. Chantel brings infectious optimism to the power of highlighting these rivers.

GUEST
Chantel Dominguez

American Rivers|

MER LIST 2026
America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2026

Support American Rivers

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

Aaron Pruzan
Rendevous River Sports / Jackson Hole Kayak School

Jun 23, 2026 1 hr

North Fork Championship 2026

Episode 140

Show notes

What happens when you invite the best river kayaking athletes from around the world to meet up for a 3-day race on the wild and rowdy Class 5 North Fork of the Payette River under the big sun and blue sky of Idaho? You get the North Fork Championship of 2026. After a multi-year hiatus, one of the favorite races among paddlers and fans is back, now with a solid foundation and strategic stability to return year after year. We talk with the founder of the race, James Byrd, and a board member of the newly established board of directors, Aaron Pruzan. These guests are deeply passionate about this race, paddling, this river, and bringing conservation of rivers to the culture of this wild race, all in a way that keeps stoke on high.

THUMBNAIL PIC
Photographer: John Webster
Paddler: Jen Chrimes

GUESTS
James Byrd

North Fork Championship

FILMS
Wild Water, Teaser, 2010 film

Several North Fork Championship short films on Vimeo

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

THE RIVER RADIUS

Jun 7, 2026 1 hr 8 min

Northeast River Forecast Center 2026

Episode 139

Show notes

This is our 5th of five episodes with various River Forecast Centers of the United States. In the uppermost northeast corner of the US, the Northeast River Forecast Center is bound on three sides by water: the Great Lakes to the west, Canada's lakes and bays to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The mountains of this region collect this moisture from various weather events and send that water down the river valleys. In this episode we talk with Bill Leatham, a Senior Hydrometeorologist with the Northeast River Forecast Center. This landscape is impacted by its regional waterscape, the hurricanes in the Southeast and even the weather patterns of El Niño and La Niña. What winter weather did they receive? When did their snow melt? Are they experiencing a drought? What type of storms do they expect this summer?

GUEST
Bill Leatham, Senior Hydrometeorologist
Northeast River Forecast Center

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

Southeast River Forecast Center 2026 - Apple Podcasts

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST

Southeast River Forecast Center 2026 - Spotify

Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

THE RIVER RADIUS

Jun 2, 2026 34 min

Southeast River Forecast Center 2026

Episode 138

Show notes

The Southeast River Forecast Center hosts a landscape that has the Appalachian Mountains in the north, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Gulf of Mexico to its south, has the Florida Peninsula jutting into those ocean waters, and lowlands between the oceans and mountains. Rain and hurricanes are powerful and important parts of the climate in the Southeast and this region has the most rivers of all the River Forecast Center domains. Did this region have a warm and dry March like much of the country did? How was their winter precipitation? What type of summer river flow do they anticipate and what happens here if El Nino is truly the emerging influence? This is the 4th episode in a series hosting interviews with five of the thirteen River Forecast Centers in the US. Our guest for this episode is Haley Stuckey, Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support Forecaster with the Southeast River Forecast Center

GUEST
Haley Stuckey, Hydrometeorological Analysis & Support Forecaster
Southeast River Forecast Center

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST
Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science - Apple Podcasts

Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science - Spotify

Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue - Apple Podcasts

Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue - Spotify

THE RIVER RADIUS

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

May 27, 2026 29 min

Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026

Episode 137

Show notes

What will the rivers of the Colorado Basin have for flow this year? Many rivers already had one peak in March during the heat dome, and a second peak is expected in May. But as spring in the Rocky Mountains is unpredictable, it is currently snowing and raining in the northern basin. This episode is the third in a series of five interviews with the River Forecast Centers of the United States. Our guest in this episode is Cody Moser, Senior River Hydrologist with the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. We talk through the soil moisture of 2025, the winter of 2026, the March heat dome, the wet spring, and what may happen if El Niño fires up a wet weather pattern for the rest of the year.

GUEST
Cody Moser, Senior Hydrologist

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST
California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

THE RIVER RADIUS

California Nevada River Forecast Center

May 19, 2026 43 min

California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026

Episode 136

Show notes

With the unique winter and spring weather events creating a mixed snowpack and melt season, this episode talks with the California Nevada River Forecast Center to learn details about the expected river flows this spring and summer in their region, and to look at what types of precipitation might load up for the summer and fall. This is the 2nd episode in a series of five episodes talking with five River Forecast Centers across the US. The River Forecast Centers are part of the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; they track all precipitation in each river basin, creating flow forecasts based on a variety of parameters. In this time of shifty weather and climate rowdiness, these experts are able to explain how the weather of the past fall and winter will impact river flows today and into the near future.

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

THE RIVER RADIUS

Northwest River Forecast Cente

May 15, 2026 32 min

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026

Episode 135

Show notes

As rivers in the west fill with spring runoff, we begin a series of episodes with various river hydrologists from four River Forecast Centers across the country. In this episode, we talk with the Northwest River Forecast Center in Oregon to learn about this past winter's precipitation and what flows will emerge this spring and summer. This episode is focused on the Columbia River Basin. Our guest is Amy Burke, a river hydrologist from the NWRFC. She explains the impacts of the Atmospheric Rivers and the March heat dome. Following this episode will be companion episodes for many of the river basins popular with river runners.

GUESTS
Amy Burke

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPONSORS
NRS

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST
2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

THE RIVER RADIUS

White paper on Wading and navigability in Colorado

May 13, 2026 32 min

Colorado State's River & Stream Access Un-Clarity

Episode 134

Show notes

In the State of Colorado, the couple hundred rivers and several thousand streams are extremely popular for fishing, boating, swimming, all the river things. And while people typically have access to these waterways, the laws on access in the state are not clear and could potentially lock up access when rivers run next to and through private property. Currently two groups are working to secure access for river users and a film, "Common Waters," explores a recent interaction between a landowner and a fisherman that is leveraging a push for legal clarity around this access. Two guests join us to talk through the topic: Hattie Johnson from American Whitewater, and Cody Perry from Rig to Flip.

GUESTS

Hattie Johnson from American Whitewater

Cody Perry from Rig to Flip

Thumbnail pic: Cody Perry, Rig to Flip

RESOURCES

Film: "Common Waters"

Article on opposition to stream access in Colorado

Donate to Colorado Access Fund

THE 2 GROUPS WORKING ON ACCESS

Responsible River Recreation Alliance (Hattie Johnson & AW)

Send a letter to your Colorado lawmaker supporting safe and legal river passage
Facebook
Instagram

Colorado Stream Access Coalition (Cody Perry & Rig to Flip)

Sign the Petition for boating and fishing/wading access

SPONSORS
NRS

New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Apple Podcast)

PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES ON TOPIC

New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Spotify)

THE RIVER RADIUS

May 6, 2026 56 min

When a River Guide Rows Across the Pacific Ocean

Episode 133

Show notes

Rowing is loosely defined as the act, or the art, of moving a boat through water with two oars, powered by a human. As a professional river guide, Kelsey Pfendler rows boats down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In early May of 2026, she will embark on a 2,500 mile row across the Pacific Ocean from south of San Francisco, California, to the islands of Hawaii. Kelsey will make this journey solo, taking about 80 days. Her vessel, Lily, is built for the task. She has a small cabin for sleeping and reading charts and weather and communicating with her land crew. Why is she rowing solo across the ocean? There are many answers. One answer is to bring attention to the Whale Foundation, a guide support organization focused on Grand Canyon guide health. The other reasons? She tells us why. This is her second Mid Pacific crossing, but the first solo. What she learned on the first crossing brings more depth to the power of the solo crossing.

https://yourowkelsey.com

@yourowkelsey

TikTok: @yourowkelsey

THE RIVER RADIUS

GUEST
Tara Shackelford
Hidden Dagger Adventures
@hiddendaggeradventures
FB Hidden Dagger Adventures

Apr 21, 2026 1 hr 11 min

Big Bend, the Rio Grande & a Border Wall

Episode 132

Show notes

The waters of the Rio Grande form the entire 1,254-mile border between the state of Texas and Mexico. Some portions of that border are open, with no physical barrier and monitored primarily by surveillance. Other sections have a full wall, with others are slated for new construction. One long stretch through Big Bend is defined by deep, rugged canyons that seem to function as a natural barrier. And it is here that survey crews are working toward the possibility of building a wall. This region is known for the Rio Grande flowing through national and state parks, Wild and Scenic canyons, and vast wildlife areas all consistently remote, powerful river country. Supporting that riverscape is a long-standing river outfitting community. A wall could cut off access to the river for outfitters, for do-it-yourself boaters and potentially disrupt the local economy built around it. River runners, ranchers, residents, and five border-county sheriffs are speaking out about the wall, standing against a wall and for the wild canyon country they call home. In this episode, we talk with Tara Shackelford, an outfitter, and Judge Greg Henington, a former outfitter and current county judge, to understand their connection to the river.

Judge Greg Henington
2020 Texas Highways article featuring Greg Henington

SPONSORS
American Rivers
@americanrivers
FB American Rivers

Valley Nissan
@valley_nissan

RESOURCES
Rio Grande
Big Bend region
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park
Black Gap Wildlife Management Area
Lower Canyons Wild & Scenic Rio Grande
Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area
Ocampo Flora and Fauna Protection Area
Maderas del Carmen
The film: "The Border & the Wall" from Fin & Fur Films
US Customs & Border Protection, Texas border wall map

GROUPS WORKING ON TOPIC
No Big Bend Border Wall
National Parks Conservation Association

REGIONAL MEDIA
Big Bend Sentinel
Marfa Public Radio

PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES
The US Mexico Border, the Rio Grande, a Floating Fence
Part 1 Tijuana River, Binational Flow
Part 2 Tijuana River, Source of the Pollution
Part 3 Tijuana River, Solutions

THE RIVER RADIUS

Valley Nissan
@valley_nissan

Apr 7, 2026 59 min

Jess Lewis & The River Running Mindset

Episode 131

Show notes

Jess Lewis started her company, Wyld Heart Co., to support river runners in the early stages of learning to run rivers. Her work focuses on mindset and heuristics that support personal growth alongside the technical skills needed to get boats down the river, and the mental skills required to grow through the challenges and “stuck on rock” moments that are inevitable for all river runners.

She teaches skills for all river crafts, and her favorite and most common teaching setting is in a raft, with her students rowing the boat. We talk through the details of the oar setup she provides, the types of boats she uses, and the various learning styles of her students.

Jess believes—and teaches—that even if a river runner has had moments on the river that scared them, or scared their kids who were in the boat, those fears can be worked through and skills can be adapted to support river running that is more prepared and more adaptable to each situation.

Jess grew up with river-guiding parents, and at 13 she hiked the full Continental Divide Trail with her family. She describes both of these early life experiences as foundational to the work she does today.

GUEST
Jess Lewis
Wyld Heart Co.
Wyld Heart Blog
@wyldheartco

SPONSORS

Down River Equipment
IG @downriverequipment
FB @Down River Equipment
Raftopia
April 6-11, 2026
In person sale April 11

THE RIVER RADIUS

Mike Fiebig, American Rivers

Mar 17, 2026 51 min

Live with The Returning Rapids Project, at the America Outdoors Conference

Episode 130

Show notes

This episode was recorded live at the America Outdoors annual conference and is a conversation with three members from the Returning Rapids Project in Utah. The Returning Rapids Project is documenting the changes and restoration happening to the reservoir-affected areas of the Colorado River and the San Juan River as Lake Powell continues to recede out of the river canyons it inundated with reservoir waters for the past several decades. The deeper focus of this episode beyond this research project is the powerful observational ability of river guides who work on rivers day after day, year after year, and how they can notice the most minute changes. In the case of the Colorado River and the Returning Rapids Project, it was this guide observation that witnessed a subtle shift to the river. This observation has developed into a powerful project that is learning how rivers recover from life under a reservoir.

THUMBNAIL PIC
Stephen Martin
@finding.stephen
@explorewithmedia

GUESTS
The Returning Rapids Project
Isabel Adler
Davide Ipolito
Mike DeHoff
Media about Returning Rapids
A Ledge in the River:New feature documented by the Returning Rapids Project

CONFERENCE HOST

America Outdoors
2027 Conference

Watch this episode on the America Outdoors Youtube Channel

SPONSORS

Giveaway: "Raft the Last Wild River Sweepstakes"
live March 9, 2026

OARS
@oars_rafting
Stillwater & Cataract Canyon Hiker
Cataract Canyon Whitewater Rafting

AMERICAN RIVERS
@americanrivers

THE RIVER RADIUS