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. 

Aaron Pruzan
Rendevous River Sports / Jackson Hole Kayak School

North Fork Championship

FILMS
Wild Water, Teaser, 2010 film

Several North Fork Championship short films on Vimeo

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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?

River Forecast Centers

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWS National Weather Service

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST

Southeast River Forecast Center 2026 - Apple Podcasts

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

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow -  Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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

River Forecast Centers

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWS National Weather Service

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST
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

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow -  Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify

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

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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

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

River Forecast Centers

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWS National Weather Service

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST
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

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow -  Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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. 

California Nevada River Forecast Center

River Forecast Centers

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWS National Weather Service

SPONSORS
Poudre River Fund

NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts

Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow -  Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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

Northwest River Forecast Cente

River Forecast Centers

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWS National Weather Service

SPONSORS
NRS

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

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

2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow -  Apple Podcasts

2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts

Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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

White paper on Wading and navigability in Colorado

Article on opposition to stream access in Colorado

Donate to Colorado Access Fund

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

NRS PFD for Whale Foundation

Whale Foundation

PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES ON TOPIC

New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Apple Podcast)

New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Spotify)

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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. 

yourowkelsey.com

Whale Foundation

@yourowkelsey

TikTok:  @yourowkelsey

Tracking

Kelsey's first row

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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.

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

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

REGIONAL MEDIA
Big Bend Sentinel
Marfa Public Radio

THE RIVER RADIUS

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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

SPONSORS

Valley Nissan
@valley_nissan

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

THE RIVER RADIUS

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