We are pleased to announce that Becky Brown and Chris Lambiotte are American Whitewater's Volunteers of the Month for February, 2009. 

Becky and Chris are helping out AW with our work on Sullivan Creek, located in Northeastern Washington.  The owners of two dams in the Sullivan Creek watershed are giving up their hydropower license because the dams have not generated hydropower since the 1950's, and never will again.  AW is working with local and regional stakeholders to determine the fate and future management of these dams. 

Becky and Chris joined AW staff Kevin Colburn on a site visit to the Creek in October of 2008.  The trip resulted in a YouTube video of the creek which AW has used to share this beautiful place and the experience of paddling it with other stakeholders.  Subsequently a collaborative settlement process was formed to resolve the issues with the dams.  Becky, a PhD riparian ecologist with dam removal experience, has offered valuable ecological insight and information to the process.  Chris, an engineer, helped develop a survey for Sullivan boaters, and has been helping piece together the relationship between flows and lake levels based on a handful of gages.  

As if this weren't enough, they also provide lodging for AW staff during the monthly 2-day meetings in Spokane, which helps AW keep costs low.  Becky and Chris are also really fun to boat with, have a super cute kid (Nathan), and are a pleasure to work with!

Thanks Becky and Chris! In recognition of their efforts, Becky and Chris will each receive a Kokatat Outercore Shirt.

Chris is paddling the orange boat in the video below (which Becky helped shoot), and Becky is pictured above on the Lower Spokane.