With California’s historic snowpack beginning to melt, whitewater rafting companies are preparing for the best season they’ve seen in years. After years of drought, the volume of water rushing down the American River in northern California is already three times the volume of previous years. More water means it’ll be one of the best seasons in years following near record rain and snowfall this winter. But it also means more risks, so guides have undergone additional training and are monitoring the flows daily. Even so, they say there are plenty of places that even families with children can go to enjoy the river.