Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC)
www.americancanyoneers.org
The CAC was one of the founding members of FIC in 2014.
The Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, member-run organization focused on promoting canyon access, conservation, education, and safety. Our organization’s membership has been paralleling the growth of this rapidly expanding sport in the USA. CAC offers a reflection of those that use and love America’s canyons. With fifteen hundred members; our network reaches thousands, if not tens of thousands of canyoneers and canyon enthusiasts worldwide via our website, canyoneering forums, Facebook, community service projects, membership in the Federation for International Canyoning and through our members’ active participation in the sport. Members of the Coalition of American Canyoneers have become action-oriented caretakers of the canyons and hope to set a standard of conservation practices to preserve these environments for future generations.
CAC began in November, 2011 with a discussion initiated by Wolfgang Schuster. Within a few days an interim board of directors was formed including: Wolf Schuster, Sonny Lawrence, Rich Rudow, Malia McIlvenna, and Bo Beck. The organization was developed as transparent, that is, the public could view how it was organized and how much money was raised and spent. Any political agenda the Coalition was involved with would be well documented so that interested canyoneers would know exactly what the position was. The board set about becoming a legal corporation. That status was obtained on April 4, 2012. Meanwhile various canyon access concerns were surfacing. The board was busy with the four goals it had set for itself: A.C.E.S. This stands for canyon Access, Conservation, Education and Safety. The board soon discovered that it needed more help. Hence in June, 2013 the board was expanded from seven members to nine.
Initially the name of the association was “American Canyoneers, (AC).” However, there was some confusion with the initials representing other associations. Plus, that name did not precisely define the group. Consequently, in November, 2013, the name was changed to the current form: Coalition of American Canyoneers, (CAC).
The status as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization was granted by the US Federal government February 14, 2014. This allows individuals to donate money to the CAC and deduct it from their income tax.
Individuals from anywhere in the world can and do join the CAC. The application is free. There are no dues. The CAC has periodic fund-raising events as needed. We often get unsolicited donations on our Facebook website.
The following are a few examples involving canyon access which CAC has been involved in:
Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Management Plan / Draft Environmental Impact Statement (plan/DEIS) This document evaluates the impacts of a range of alternatives for managing backcountry use in Grand Canyon National Park in a manner that protects and preserves natural and cultural resources, natural processes and provides a variety of visitor experiences while minimizing conflicts among various users. Canyoneering had not been considered in it. CAC was instrumental in obtaining consideration for canyoneering and packrafting in the Grand Canyon.
Punchbowl Canyon is part of the Tonto National Forest south of Horse Mesa. It is a magnificent canyon. Nearby is a significant dam that delivers hydropower and water to Phoenix. The dam has new security requirements since the terrorist attack of 9/11. In the past, canyoneers have accessed the canyon without permission. There was an incident in 2011 that left a negative impression with the land manager. Fortunately, the CAC was able to get past this and worked with the Salt River Project to allow canyoneering access.
Eaton Canyon is a popular wet canyon in Southern California. Hundreds of canyoneers have enjoyed it for over 25 years. However due to non-canyoneer accidents at the last waterfall of the canyon, the US National Forest closed the canyon to everyone. CAC was able to create and install a permit system with the National Forest, allowing continued canyoning despite the canyon being closed to the casual visitor.
The following are a few examples involving canyon conservation which CAC has been involved in:
Frye Canyon is a wonderful canyon in Southern Arizona. The Coalition of American Canyoneers arranged a massive cleanup project. About twenty CAC members and volunteers from Arizona, Colorado, and California came out to help in the effort. Two other groups joined the CAC in this effort: Southeastern Arizona Clean and Beautiful (SEACAB) out of Graham County and Gila Watershed Partnership (GWP) working with the BLM. CAC’s new portable pressure washer was used for the second time ever and performed flawlessly. The obnoxious graffiti at the canyon exit was erased as well as the graffiti at the far end of the Frye Mesa Dam. A heaping truck full of trash including over 1000′ of black piping was picked up and removed from the area around the reservoir, the canyon exit, and the canyon mid-entry/exit point.
Toroweap Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park sits on top of the Esplanade sandstone layer with four distinct limestone or sandstone layers above. Below are eight layers before getting to the river. Not far downstream of the overlook is Lava Falls. It is one of the largest and most difficult rapids in the Grand Canyon. Over the years, tourists have tossed trash over the edge, landing 800 feet below. The CAC, partnered with the San Bernardino Cave and Technical Rescue team from Southern California, set up a technical rope system to haul the trash up. Besides the five Cave team members, there was one ranger, two national park volunteers and six members from CAC. With this much people power, we were able to do a “Georgia” haul. We simply had five or six people pull up rope to raise the load. There were seven huge loads and it took 11 resets per load which means we raised a total of about 5,600 feet. The trash consisting of tires, table, snow board filled the back of a large pickup truck.
Garden Creek, Grand Canyon National Park is a pristine wet canyon entered easily from a standard trail on the south rim. The National Park requested that the CAC remove some bolts at the entrance to the canyon, just a few feet from the trail. The bolts are considered an attractive nuisance to the casual hiker. The remaining bolts throughout the canyon were left in place. Eleven members of the CAC descended the canyon after removing and patching the holes from the bolts.
Please join the CAC. There is no charge. http://www.americancanyoneers.org/join-now/
