A DOCUMENTARY FILM
In the 1970's golden age of whitewater kayaking, hydropower and corporate interest threaten to server public access to flowing rivers. Through grassroots organizing and guerilla tactics a ragtag band of kayakers topple the giants of industry, sparking a revolution in dam removal and defining how we enjoy the outdoors today.
Synopsis
Coinciding with the rise of the new sport of whitewater kayaking, the energy crisis of the late 70s in the US led to the targeting of hundreds of rivers in the Northeast US for hydroelectric power generation.
For the blossoming whitewater community in these regions, this presented a dilemma:
Either find a way to fight this movement of dewatering the beloved sections of whitewater or find a way to fight the system that is threatening to take away this sacred resource.
Now, as the dam licenses come up for renewal, the same group is reuniting after 40 years to negotiate with a more informed and challenging opposition.
Armed with past tools, they aim to secure more for recreation and push for further dam removals. This story traces the history of Northeast whitewater and the inspiring characters who shaped the sport and lifestyle.
Our film addresses the challenges of working with hydropower, offering global solutions for sustainable water management.
Now, as the FERC licenses come up for renewal again, the same group after 40 years. is uniting to take on a more educated and difficult group to negotiate with. Armed with the tools they used before, they aim to get more for the world of recreation and even removals of dams overall.
From the Moose River to the White House, this story traces the history of whitewater in the Northeast and the inspirational characters who shaped a sport and a way of life for a community of paddlers still hitting the rivers today.
Our film addresses the challenge of working with hydropower organizations and negotiating river flow. Through this documentary, we offer practical tools and educational materials that can be applied globally to foster collaboration and find solutions for sustainable water management.
WHO WE ARE
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MIKE McKAY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER
Mike's journey from creative writing to filmmaking is fueled by his passion for kayaking and river conservation. His debut short film, Jondachi (2016), earned international awards and led to his next success with Renaissance (2022). With broad industry experience, including work for TSN, APTN's Pulse, and NBC Sports' Journey to the Hammers, Mike produced The Suffer Factor pilot and completed his first feature, Jaya. He also collaborates with NPOs like CPAWS and Ottawa Riverkeeper. Mike's current project is Pinock, a documentary on the cultural importance of birch bark canoes.
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TAMARRA CAMPBELL
PRODUCER
Tamarra Campbell is a seasoned award-winning Producer and Impact Producer from West Michigan. As President of the West Michigan Film Alliance, she advocates for filmmakers and uplifts communities through storytelling. Tamarra’s leadership drives impactful collaborations with production companies, artists and arts and education nonprofits, using filmmaking as a tool for empowerment and change. She is committed to advancing mission-driven stories that break barriers and harness creativity to create lasting impact.
The film fosters public engagement in river management, highlighting the relationship between communities and hydropower. It celebrates the pioneers' work and their ongoing impact on US communities, reaching outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, educators, and those benefiting from dam removals and relicensing.
The First Dam Removal in the United States. How removing one dam changed everything!
The Battle for the Moose River established a pivotal victory and established a precedent for hydroelectric relicensing work.
Characters
PETE SKINNER
The energizer bunny both as a paddler and a conservationist. Pete’s determination to save rivers stems from his work with the Love Canal in the Niagara region.
In 2023 Pete was inducted into the Whitewater hall of Fame and served as the Director of American Whitewater for many years.
His relentless work and character started the relicensing movement starting with the battles for the Moose & Black Rivers.
TOM CHRISTOPHER
The unlikely Paladin of the Northeast.
Tom discovered whitewater later in life. When he saw his beloved Deerfield River was at risk, he and his friends founded New England FLOW, partnering with American Whitewater and the Appalachian Mountain Club to create the Northeast's first Hydropower Settlement Agreement.
Tom expanded this success to Maine, working with additional partners to secure agreements on multiple hydropower projects, which now ensure 700 days of boatable flows annually across New England. Experienced in dam removal, he led American Whitewater’s first dam removal project on the Contoocook River and others in Maine and Massachusetts.
Tom’s demeanor was known as rough around the edges but this thinly veils a heart of gold and an inspiring attitude that gets the job done.
With exclusive access to never-seen-before archival footage and interviews, we are equipped to tell this universal story of overcoming adversity, inspiration, and of course, lots of old-school kayaking!
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CHRIS KOLL
‘The General’. Known far and wide.
Chris revolutionized how the world viewed whitewater kayaking through his work with the AW Journal. While the others were fighting the battles to save rivers, Chris was stoking the public support to help the momentum. Chris did this with a blend of brashness and humor to popularize the sport.
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POPE BARROW
A lawyer, a paddler, and a general thrill seeker.
Working in the White House by day, paddling all weekend. Pope came to know of the battles happening in the North East and played a vital role in bringing these issues right into legislation and guiding the team on how to resolve these issues properly.
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RISA SHIMODA
An avid paddler and former director of American Whitewater.
Risa provided the crew a level head and viewpoint in securing whitewater releases in the Northeast and eventually spreading across the whole east coast.
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STEVEN 'Manchild' MASSARO
Raft Guide.
As a raft guide, Manchild was tasked with infiltrating proposed dam sites all across the Northeast. This guerilla approach was meant to discover whitewater potential for enacting recreational release battles and eventually dam removals.
By chronicling the history and evolution of dam relicensing for recreational releases, this film highlights key successes in conservation, recreation, and hydropower collaboration, inspiring active involvement in river management. These efforts are more crucial than ever.
The historic relicensing of the Deerfield River helped pave the way to open up 800+ days for paddlers a yearin the Northeast.
Partnerships & Collaborations
Yvon Chouinard saved American Whitewater at the most crucial time in the battle to save rivers.
The film will show how hydropower relicensing benefits communities through improved recreation, conservation, and resource preservation. It will detail the historical development of this process and its community benefits. Our distribution plans include film festivals, community screenings, and educational events to promote river conservation, recreation, and the benefits of hydropower relicensing and dam removal.
GAULEY FEST!
The origins of this iconic festival came out of the need to save rivers!
MULTIMEDIA
"Whitewater Released" will use a variety of multimedia formats, including animation, rotoscoping, and other visual techniques, to bring its vibrant characters and humorous narratives to life.
These creative tools will not only enhance the storytelling by visually representing key historical moments and technical details, but also inject a dynamic and playful energy into the film.
Animation will help illustrate the more complex processes, such as the mechanics of dam removals and water flows, while rotoscoping will create an artistic and nostalgic feel for the paddling sequences.
These techniques, combined with a focus on the quirky personalities of the kayakers, will create a visually engaging and unique documentary experience, blending humor and education seamlessly.
