Poling up the Branch River - February 18, 2012

Water levels were low, and I didn’t have a lot of time, so I decided to do some poling on the Blackstone and Branch Rivers. I put-in from the conservation land behind the High Rock Condominiums and poled upstream into the Branch River and the Blackstone Gorge.

Below the Gorge the Blackstone River was at a prefect level for poling – 8 to 10 inches of water with a nice rocky base. I poled up to the confluence with the Branch River, and then poled up the Branch as far as Great Road. Conditions on the Branch were great as well - 3', 125 cfs on the Forestdale gage.

I decided to head a little futher upstream to check out the Blackstone Gorge.  Surprisingly, it was high and dry. The level at the gage at the Route 122 Bridge in Uxbridge was 7’, 375 cfs, so I expected to see some water. I did this section a couple of years ago at 7’, 135 cfs, and the water was running pretty well. Yesterday – nothing. They must have been drawing a lot of water through the power plant downstream. You never know.

Links:
Blackstone and Branch Rivers – July 24, 2010
Route 122 Bridge Gage in Uxbridge
Branch River – Forestdale