Teal Lehto (@westernwatergirl) -- Water Rights Activist, Digital Content Creator & Founder/Captain of the US JR Women's Raft Racing Team

START HERE!  Follow, Interact Connect & Share on: Instagram & FacebookListen in at: Free Flow Institute PodcastSign up for a course at: Free Flow Institute.Support & Donate to: Free Flow FoundationCheck out & Support their sponsors: Yeti +Immersion Research. For the full list of sponsors, click here------------------------------------------------------------IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:Chandra's Personal & Professional Timeline, River Journey & ShoutoutsOld stomping grounds at the: Matanuska & SusitnaMentor Chuck Spaulding  Founder of Nova Alaska Guides & Trips on 6 Mile CreekDOC (Denali Outdoor Center) and the Nenana River in AlaskaEcuadorian Rivers InstituteMatty Perry & FulBright GrantJondachi FestGauley FestWhite Salmon in WashingtonRio GrandeUganda Whitewater Scene on the NileCanyon Explorations Company in the Grand CanyonMoab. Desolation Canyon & WestwaterJay Healy & Scott SolleCheck out the links below to people doing great work and protecting rivers in Ecuador:Defense of human rights + rights of Nature: Defensoría del puebloMatt Terry @ Ecuadorian Rivers InstituteDarcy Gaetcher @ Small World AdventuresAbe Herrera @ Boof SessionsDiego Robles @ Ecuador Whitewater / Jungle RootsAbby Dent @ Abby's HideawayChandra's dear friend, Ben Stookesberry has done important storytelling + expedition work down there recently, along with Willie Henkel------------------------------------------------------------LOVED THE EPISODE?  SUPPORT OUR PODCAST ON PATREON OR DONATE DIRECTLY ON OUR WEBSITEGive us a 5 star review on Apple PodcastsFollow us on social! Instagram -AND- Facebook

START HERE!  Support  on PatreonFollow  & Interact on TikTokConnect & Share in InstagramInquire on her WebsiteMessage to [email protected] (she wants to hear from you!)Listen to her Podcast: Confessions of a Western Water Girl. *shoutout to Ed Abbey Learn More about Teal & Our Western Water Crisis HERE!NPR Interview by Luke Runyon Build Cast episode with Robby SchwarzBulb Chat episode with Alexander HaizmanDigging in the dirt episode with Kevin GallagherPBS EpisodeBBC InterviewRead the Teton Gravity Article here MAKE A CHANGE!Educate yourself on where  your water comes fromUnderstand who's managing itPressure your local municipality to come up with plans for how to reduce your consumption for the future!! IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT TEAL'S:Personal & Professional TimelineRaftingRaft RacingAnimas Amazons Team  & San Juan Sirens Green Machine BoatFavorite River/Favorite RapidDolores River / Snaggletooth Rapid in 1983MentorsGrowing up- Mia & Jen Raft Racing CoachesCollege- Dr. Gigi Richard Colorado Water Congress & Faculty Advisor to H2OrgH2Org Club - Student Water OrganizationMore on the Dolores RiverProfessional Career- Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)Luke Ruyon: Reporter for KUNCJohn Entsminger: General Manager & Director of SNWAColby Pellegrino: Deputy General ManagerWriting Mentor- Heather HansmanTikTok- Armchair EngineerShoutoutsLadies of Whitewater FB PageDiversify WhitewaterRica FultonJen PelzJen's WebsiteFreeflow InstituteApply for the American Whitewater ScholarshipHighlights & In the MediaREI CO-OP Studio Film: Spirit of the PeaksConnor Ryan aka @SacredstokeNative OutdoorsCRWUA Stakeholder Meeting- (Colorado River Water Users Association Annual Conference)Teal's Post on TikTok about it------------------------------------------------------------LOVED THE EPISODE? SUPPORT OUR PODCAST ON PATREON OR DONATE DIRECTLY ON OUR WEBSITEGive us a 5 star review on Apple PodcastsFollow us on social! Instagram -AND- Facebook

FOLLOW THEM!CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITEFOLLOW THEM ON FACEBOOKINTERACT WITH THEM ON INSTAGRAMMeet & Follow the “Core Paddling” TeamBrooke Hess- Science Writer/KayakerLibby Tobey- Comedian/KayakerAlia Payne- Film Maker/Raft GuideHailey Thompson- Artist/Kayaker TAKE ACTION!SIGN PETITION GET INVOLVEDJOIN LETTERDONATE—Text the word Salmon to 53555SPONSORSHOW UP TO AN EVENTVOLUNTEERNON PROFITS SUPPORTING THE TRIP/MISSIONThey are collaborating with Rivers for Change as our lead project partner and Idaho Rivers United as our fiscal sponsor and advocacy partner. Your tax-deductible donation to IRU will help support this cause and salmon recovery advocacy.Other Volunteers supporting the missionTess McEnroe, Trent Holen with NRS, Katie Matthews, Danielle Katz with Rivers for Change and several others volunteering in Astoria, Portland, Lewiston, Ketchum and more! Also, huge shoutout to those past and present who have been fighting for the salmon and their ecosystem!!DETAILS OF THE SOURCE TO SEA TRIP1000+ miles2.5-3 months (Embarking end of April ending early to Mid July)Link to the map of their source to sea journeyPaddling the Middle Fork, Main Salmon, East Fork/South ForkEncountering 8 dams. Big focus of the Lower Snake River DamPaddling a variety of crafts.Click here to see the events taking place throughout their journey!--------------------------------------------EPISODE DETAILED NOTES AND SUMMARYSALMON 101They are a keystone speciesFemale Salmon Nest’s are called “REDDS”Salmon like cold temps. Need below 68 degrees F$17 Billion dollars has been spent to restore Sockeye Salmon river in the Snake River Basin that return to the Stanley Basinin 2021 there was a Sockeye Recovery goal of 9k returning to Stanley Basin, only 4 made itECOSYSTEMS NEED SALMONAnadromous (Return back to the river system in which they were born)Salmon are important because they help measure effects of climate changeSalmon need aeration in the water to survive.If you remove dams, salmon populations WILL COME BACK!FILM GOALSOngoing environmental story, fight and mission1st Part: Expedition driving action through social media and stories2nd Part: Film Rallying environmental story. Ode to the River!

In this episode we talk about:Jeffe becoming an Outward Bound Guide in CaliforniaWorking for ARTA on the Snake River in Idaho and the Colorado River in UtahWorking for AZRA & CAN-X in the Grand CanyonHis dory the "Sam McGee" named after the Robert Service PoemWorking for OARS Dories in the Grand CanyonHis Retirement story he wrote after his 44 year career as a river guideHis organization, the Friends of the Mitta RiverYou can Donate Here to help support their mission!Overall, Jeffe was a River guide for 44 years traveling, paddling & guiding some of the most amazing rivers all around the world. This episode is airing around his bday! Happy Belated Bday to you Jeffe! After the recording, Jeffe mentioned that he and his wife set up a foundation where their assets will be donated to the: Whale Foundation, GCRG (Grand Canyon River Guides & The Redside Foundation  after they pass. Thank you Carrie & Jeffe for all you do for our community! To good health & highwater!

--->Support the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed!!  Email Megan at [email protected] and Follow them on Social Media! @poudrewatershed--->Support the Poudre River Fest! Visit Website and click on the link "Get Involved"  and follow them on Social Media! @poudreriverfest--->Attend the Festival! Save the Date! August 21st at New Belgium Brewery!--->Shout out to Lara Smedley. The Poudre River Event Coordinator with her business Smedley Events Meet Megan Maiolo-Heath-Grew up in Monument, Colorado and always loved the outdoors-Attended CU Boulder for her Undergrad in Psychology-Attended University of Colorado Denver for her Masters in  Public Administration -Became a raft guide on Clear Creek. Where she developed her confidence, obsession and love for rivers-After working in Ecuador, she realized there that she wanted to fight for the river -Lives in Ft. Collins now MEGAN'S NON PROFIT HISTORY/CONNECTION-7 years ago Megan started working for Trees, Water & People Non Profit before landing at CPRW (Coalition for Poudre River Watershed)-2012/2013 Hyde Park Fire happened which lead to creating the "Coalition for the Hyde Park Fire" to address post fire mitigation and restoration work. Trees, Water and People was the fiscal sponsor for that until they became the official Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed 501c3.-She started as a board member for CPRW, later consulted and then at the end of 2020, she applied and got the Communications Outreach and Marketing Manager Position. GET TO KNOW THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED-Headwaters are at Poudre Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park-3 Major Tributaries but the main stem comes out of RMNP-Large area covers about 1900 sq/miles-Upper Poudre has 75 miles of Wild & Scenic River-Lower Poudre is designated as a National Heritage Area (for its importance in the development of the Western Water Law)-Flows into the South Platte Basin (Greeley,CO)-Covers so much terrain (Head waters up in the High Mountains of RMNP, to Poudre Canyon to Ft. Collins, to plains through Winsor, into Greeley and ending in the Platte River)-Hard Working River providing so much water to agriculture and 300,000 people in the front rangeStory behind the name- French Trappers caught in a snow storm back in the early 1800's. Stashed a bunch their stuff including their gunpowder...hence the name..."Cache Le Poudre". "Stash the Powder".Native American History- was a meeting place for several tribes in the west. Learn more at PoudreHeritage.orgOther Non Profits helping protect the Poudre RiverNational Heritage Area- Managed by the Poudre Heritage AllianceSave the Poudre- Focused on water infrastructure, dams and reservoirsCoalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW)- Focused on  collaborative approach to Watershed management and Forest and River RestorationCPRW-Mission to improve and maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River Watershed through "Community Collaboration" REQUEST FROM THE CPRWLearn more about your local watershed and water law!Get involved! Support CPRW with your money, time and more education!Practice Water ConservationInstall a rain barrelChange out part of your lawn for xeriscape (check in and see if you can apply for a rebate!)Low flow toilets and shower heads (check in and see if you can apply for a rebate!)Collaborate & Support the CPRW or the Poudre River with:In Kind DonationsDonateVolunteerGive Percentage of Profits for one day, one product, or a new product POUDRE RIVER FESTIVAL HISTORY & DETAILSFirst festival was May of 2014 after the massive floods of 2013. Bring people together to better understand the river, celebrate and raise funds for flood, forest and river restoration projects.3 GOALSEducationCelebrationRestorationsMeet the 6 Organizations that created the Poudre River Fest!Bird Conservancy of the RockiesNational Association for InterpretationWildlands Restoration VolunteersCache Le Poudre River National Heritage AreaCity Of Fort CollinsCoalition for the Poudre River Festival (CPRW)*Huge Shout out to all of the Breweries in Colorado taking action and getting involved!2021 HYBRID Poudre River Fest ScheduleMay 7th -- Virtual Event focused around WildlifeJune 25th -- Virtual Event focused on RecreationJuly 15th -- Virtual & In Person Event focused around Every Day WaterAugust 21st -- Big Celebration in person event at New Belgium Brewery

Follow Kate Aitchison and her AdventuresCheck out her company Terra Flags Website and follow them on Instagram and Purchase Kate's print cards hereKate's 2017 Block Print Dory Project (at the Sante Fe Art Institute) of the San Juan Watershed Kate named her Residency Boat called "Katie Lee"Meet "Katie Lee" the Completed DoryWatch a video about the real Katie Lee Listen to: Remembering Katie Lee, 'Goddess of Glen Canyon': 1919-2017Katie Lee's Obituary TributeListen to Katie Lee's "Song of the Boatman" Other Shoutouts and Links--Check out Grand Canyon Youth and see how you can contribute, support, or participate!Donate to the Alumni Scholarship FundPurchase a GCY Sun Hoody Here! 

Meet Sarah Nelson-Founder and Executive Director of Protect Our RiversFollow them on Facebook AND Instagram!Meet the Protect Our Rivers TEAM : "A collective force for river good!"Sarah NelsonCarter Freericks-Down River Equipment Environmental EducationRiver GuideMarketerLindsey Mckissick -Highlands Ranch Backcountry WildernessPreston-Good River BeerWater LawyerBeer BrewerScott CoeCultivator Ads (Denver Colorado)Protect Our River's 2021 GOAL for River Cleanups is to remove 20,000lbs of trash out of the Colorado Rivers this summer!! Thank you!!  

I myself have returned yet again from the mighty Grand Canyon where I rowed my 2nd of 4 Commercial trips for CanX or Canyon Explorations. It was warm, windy and low water but we had a hell of a time nonetheless. Our trip was so stacked with musical talent that I decided to record another live set for you all to enjoy instead of our normal interviews. The music from today’s episode is coming to you live from Mile 222 in the Grand Canyon, just 4 miles above the Diamond Creek take-out. When we arrived at that beach, which was our last camp of our 15 day trip, a few of the GCMRC or (Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research) staff were just finishing up a photo mapping project so we saw it as an opportunity to sit down and play some tunes before they had to move on downstream. The guides performing live today are, Kirk from GCMRC with his Banjo, Jed Alan (buy his music here) on the vocals, guitar & harmonica, Cricket with that amazing voice singing and playing the guitar, Wiley Green also on vocals and shredding the mandolin and even our infamous trip leader Pauly Borichevsky rounding out the last of the session with his amazing voice and talent on the guitar! Songs played are mostly originals and some covers from their favorite artists. I recorded only with my iPhone and was THOROUGHLY impressed with the quality of sound that I was able to capture.I fucking loved these tunes and know you will too…And without further adieu, a live performance at Mile 222 in the Grand Canyon... Purchase Jed Alan's Music Here!

I wanted to get her on the podcast as a tribute to her and her many accomplishments both on and off the water. In this episode we talk about how Julie’s childhood, her connection to the water, her international travels and her very successful business, Sierra Rescue. Follow Sierra Rescue on Instagram & FacebookCheck out the Sierra Rescue Courses they offer on their websiteFollow Julie and her wife and amazing partner in crime Abigail Polsby on InstagramJulie’s lifetime accomplishments include the first self-support riverboard trip down the Grand Canyon and co-owning Arctic River Journeys. She has been featured in such magazines as Outside, Paddlers, American Whitewater and Canoe and Kayak.Shoutouts from JulieMarty of Sierra MacBrice Whitmore (first guide was Martin Litton)Her dad was first safety kayaker for AZRAMarty, Chris and Steve GrovesRio TropicalesSteve Curry ExpeditionsBeth Rippins, Sue Norman, Juliet Starrett & Julie Munger (US RAFT TEAM)Paul  Nickolazo

Purchase Jed Alan's Music hereDownload Episode 24 featuring  Live Music up Blacktail Canyon.