History of California Whitewater Rafting on Goodwin Canyon

The Stanislaus river was originally named the Rio Guadeloupe by Spanish explorers in 1802. It wasn't renamed the Stanislaus until 1844. Stanislaus was derived from the name of an Indian boy who formed a militia against the Mexicans. The Mexicans were trying to conform all to Catholicism and Estanislao was caught up in the middle.

The Stanislaus lived on for more than a century until it was lost to the controversial New Melones Dam. For more than a decade, a bitter battle emerged over the fate of the Stanislaus. After years of protest and countless acts of heroism the Stan was drowned under the waters of the New Melones reservoir.

Friends of the River (FOR), a river conservation group, was born through the struggle to save the Stanislaus. The organization grew to become California's statewide river conservation group. FOR has dedicated its efforts to the preservation and protection of the rivers, streams and watersheds of California. For more information visit, http://www.friendsoftheriver.org

The Army Corp of Engineers offered to make the lower Stanislaus below Goodwin Dam more accessible to whitewater rafters and other recreational users to mitigate the loss of the Main Stanislaus.

Photos courtesy of All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
Referenced from California Whitewater by Jim Cassady & Fryar Calhoun