Pawcatuck - Potter Hill to Westerly - September 2, 2024

Heading out from Potter Hill

I’ve been paddling my sea kayak a lot this summer, so I decided to take my canoe out on Labor Day to paddle the Pawcatuck River from Potter Hill to Westerly.

The Pawcatuck River arises at Worden Pond in South Kingstown and flows southwest for 34-miles to Westerly where it flows into Little Narragansett Bay on Long Island Sound. Perhaps nowhere in Rhode Island has dam removal and river restoration been more active than on the Pawcatuck River. In 2010, the Lower Shannock Falls Dam was removed and replaced with a short rapid that allows fish to swim upstream, and paddlers to run downstream.

Paul running the Kenyon
Fish Weirs in 2014

In 2013, an 85 foot long fish ramp was added to the downstream side of the old Kenyon Dam. This ramp is made up of five gradually ascending stone weirs, which serve like terraced steps. Gaps were left in the weirs to create channels for water to flow and fish to swim, including the main current down the middle that forms a nice channel for paddlers.

In 2016, the White Rock Dam on this section of the river was removed. For nearly 250 years, this dam had blocked upstream passage to Rhode Island’s largest watershed. The dam redirected much of the river’s flow down a granite-lined raceway whose rapids made a fun run for paddlers. With the dam gone, the river now flows through a restored riverbed.

Lined up to run the Bradford
Fish Weirs in 2024

In 2017, work began on the removal of the 200-year old Bradford Dam. Like the reconstructed Kenyon Dam, the Bradford Dam includes a fish ramp that allows fish to swim upstream to their traditional breeding grounds. The ramp also includes a 10-foot wide channel allowing canoes and kayaks to pass downstream.

Combined with fish ladders at Potter Hill and Upper Shannock Falls, the removal and modification of these dams has opened up the 34-miles of the Pawcatuck River to migratory fish. In 2019, the Pawcatuck River and its tributaries received National Wild and Scenic designation.

Restored riverbed at the site of the
old White Rock Dam

I met I met Sharon, Paul, Aaron and Burr at the put-in at Post Office Landing. We dropped off our boats and headed down to the take-out at boat ramp on Main Street in Westerly. Parking is limited, but we were lucky and found enough spots. There is an intermediate take out at Route 78.

The river was at a nice level – 3.7-feet, 225 cfs on the Westerly gage – low but fluid. Below Potter Hill the river is mostly flatwater running though woods and fields for 3½-miles until it reaches the remnants of the White Rock Dam.

Quickwater below the
old White Rock Dam

The original White Rock Dam was built in 1770 and was replaced in 1888 by a stone crib dam. When the old stone dam washed away in the 1938 hurricane, it was replaced with a 6-foot tall concrete dam that stretched 108 feet across the river.

Before the removal of the dam, the typical route around the dam was down the millrace. Depending on the flow, it could range from quickwater to class II rapids. I ran it once in 2012, and we found Duke Wavewalker enjoying the playhole with a couple of friends.

Quickwater in Westerly

With the removal in 2016 all that remains of the White Rock Dam are the stone abutments on river left. The restored riverbed is nice, but not as exciting as a run through the old raceway. The old raceway is high and dry, but has not been removed. We took a break for lunch just downstream from the old dam, and I was able to hike over to find it.

Below White Rock, the river is mostly flatwater with a couple of short quickwater sections before we reached downtown Westerly. We took out at the boat ramp on Main Street.

The crew at the take-out

Links:

My Pictures

Aaron's Video

Westerly Gage