American Whitewater's mission is to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.

We recommend that you resource the Safety Code and River Signals Page at American Whtiewater.

Adopted in 1959 and then revised in 2005, the Safety Code has been prepared using the best available information and has been reviewed by a broad cross-section of whitewater experts. The code, however, is only a collection of guidelines; attempts to minimize risks should be flexible, not constrained by a rigid set of rules. Varying conditions and group goals may combine with unpredictable circumstances to require alternate procedures. This code is not intended to serve as a standard of care for commercial outfitters or guides.