North Branch of the Pawtuxet – May 14, 2024

Heading upstream

I joined the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club for its season opener with the Southern New England Paddlers on the North Branch of the Pawtuxet above the Hope Dam. After what seems like weeks of cold, rainy weather, it was nice to get out on a relatively warm evening. There is no gage on this section of the river, but the gage downstream at Fiskeville was at .75-feet, 150 cfs.

The North Branch of the Pawtuxet River originally arose at the confluence of the Ponaganset and Moswansicut Rivers in what is now the Scituate Reservoir. Today, the river emerges from the bottom of the massive Scituate Reservoir Dam and flows south for approximately 9-miles to West Warwick where it joins the South Branch of the Pawtuxet River to form the main stem of the Pawtuxet River.

Water coming down the spillway

The main stem then flows east for approximately 12-miles to empty into Narragansett Bay at the Pawtuxet Cove. Collectively, all three branches played an important role in the development of the textile industry in Rhode Island, and numerous dams still block their course.

We put-in at Hope Landing above the Hope Furnace Dam (15 Hope Furnace Road in Scituate). From there it is an easy 2-mile paddle upstream to the base of the massive earthen dam that creates Scituate Reservoir. The first part of the paddle took us through the winding marshland created by backwater from the Hope Dam. Eventually the river narrowed and we followed its tree-lined course up to the Scituate Reservoir Dam.

At the base of the dam

The Scituate Reservoir was formed by the construction of this large earthen dam in 1925. The Scituate Reservoir is now the largest artificial body of water in the state and provides water to more than 60-percent of the state’s population.

With all the rain, there was water flowing down the spillway from the top of the dam. While there were some trees down in the channel, we were able to paddle up to the base of the massive dam. From there, it was a quick trip back down to the put-in.

The crew at the put-in

Links:
My Pictures
Fiskeville Gage
Hope Landing from Rhode Island Blueways

Pemi - Woodstock - May 11, 2024

On the river

It has been a while since I had my whitewater boat out, so when I saw that NHAMC had a trip on the Pemi in Woodstock I decided to join in.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River.

Drop at the put-in

There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I have paddled including the quickwater section from Woodstock/Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Bristol. The class II section in Woodstock is one of my favorites. It is a 4.5-mile trip that alternates between quickwater and class I/II rapids.

We met at 9:30 at the put-in behind the North Woodstock Fire Station at the Woodstock Family Park and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at the Ledges off Death Valley Road. We had 9 boats – 8 kayaks and one canoe (guess who). The river was a little low - 4-feet, 900 cfs., but still fluid. We put-in and ran the 2-foot drop in the center.

Surfwave

From there the river alternates between quickwater and class i/II rapids. First comes the Woodstock Squeeze - the river narrows and takes a hard left turn at a large rock wall. Next comes the Powerline Rapid - a gradual drop which can be shallow at the top and bottom. Next comes Tree Fall Alley – a fast moving shoot which terminates in a nasty strainer. Next comes the Gravel Pit Bypass – a fast moving shoot which terminates at another rock wall.

The final rapid is the Ledges – a short series of drops right at the take out. I went down first so I could get some video of the other going through. I took the line behind the big rock and then down the middle. Everyone else made it through fine.


The Ledges from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Links:
My Pictures

My Video - The Ledges

River Description from American Whitewater

River Bend Farm - May 4, 2024

Visitor Center at River Bend Farm

There were a lot of trips that I would have liked to do today – dam releases on the West and Otter Brook, or camping on the Baskahegan. Unfortunately, I have to leave leave for a business trip tomorrow, so I needed to stay close to home. I decided to do the canal/river loop at River Bend Farm.

River Bend Farm is part of the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage Park – a 1,000-acre state park in Uxbridge, MA with hiking trails, paddling on the Blackstone River and Canal and historical sites like the Blackstone Canal’s Goat Hill Lock, King Philip’s Lookout and the Stanley Woolen Mill. I arrived at River Bend Farm at around 7:30, and noticed that the staff was setting up for an event. I didn’t think about it too much as I launched my boat and headed up a section of the old Blackstone Canal.

Up the Blackstone Canal

The Blackstone Canal opened in 1828 and utilized a series of 49 locks to move the canal boats up and down the 450-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. The canal operated until 1847 when it was replaced by the Providence & Worcester Railroad.

Following the demise of the Blackstone Canal, the section of the canal through what is now River Bend Farm was purchased by the Taft family who converted it to a mill race for their Central Woolen Mill. Later known Stanley Woolen Mill, it would become one of the most successful woolen mills in the country.

Down the Blackstone River

Rather than portage over into Rice City Pond, I crossed over to the Blackstone River. The river was low (3.5-feet on the Northbridge gage), but still fluid. At this level you need to be careful to avoid the gravel bars and blowdowns that block most of the fast moving water on the outside of turns. The river section went quick and I was soon at the take-out for the portage over to the Blackstone Canal.

There were a couple of strainers across the canal as I paddled back upstream, but I was able to get around or over them without portaging. When I approached River Bend Farm I was surprised to see fishermen lining the banks. Turns out today was the Family Fun Fishing Day, and the turn-out was great. I loaded up my boat and headed home.

Family Fun Fishing Day at River bend Farm

Links:

My Pictures

Northbridge Gage