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

Third Swim of the Year – Pawcatuck River – Bradford to Potter Hill - June 23, 2024

Bradford Fish Weirs

It rained as I drove down, but we ended up with a nice day for our trip on the Pawcatuck River. The last time that we did this trip was in 2020 during COVID, and back then we did a bike shuttle. No need for that this year.

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. Along with the Beaver, Queen - Usquepaug, Wood, Chipuxet, Shunock and Green Fall - Ashaway, the Pawcatuck received Wild and Scenic River status in 2019. We would be paddling the section from Bradford to Potter Hill – about 8-miles.

Polly Coon Footbridge

I met Bill, Paul, Bob, Aaron and Mike at the put-in at the Bradford Landing. We dropped off our boats and headed down to the take-out at Potter Hill. Parking is available at Post Office Landing – a DEM boat launch across the street from the take-out that is down a dirt road that looks like someone’s driveway. At least they have put a sign up now.

With all the rain over the past few days the river was at a nice level – 3-feet, 200 cfs on the Wood River Junction gage. We put in and headed down to run the Bradford Fish Weirs – a series of six gradually ascending stone steps that replaced the old Bradford Dam. Paul went first and ran the fish weirs clean. Bill and I went next. We hit a rock in the 4th weir, and over we went – 3rd swim of the year for me. Bob ran it last and made it through fine.

Marshland above the Potter Hill Dam

After the Fish Weirs, the river twists and turns through conservation land owned by the Westerly Land Trust and Hopkinton Land Trust. We passed under the Polly Coon Footbridge and continued downstream to the beach off Narragansett Way where we stopped for lunch. Below Route 3 there is more development as the river meanders through marshland formed by the deadwater of the Potter Hill Dam.

The take out is on the Westerly side of the river just above the Potter Hill Road Bridge at the Whiteley Preserve - a Westerly Land Trust property. We loaded up our boats and I drove Bill and Paul back to Bradford to pick up their cars. I forgot to bring my camera, but Mike got some great pictures and video.


Bradford Fish Weirs from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

We did earn another poem from Tom.

Bill seemed to hem and haw.

His stirring starboard would get them yawl.

Erik bowed to Bill’s stern grace.

Damp Bradford weirs on them in place.

TW

Links:

My Pictures and Video on Flickr
Mikes Pictures and Video on Facebook
Wood River Junction Gage

Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill – August 15, 2020

Bike shuttle from Post Office Landing

By now, we have all developed pretty good COVID-19 paddling habits - wear your mask, keep your distance, and no car shuttles. As a river paddler, though,  there are times when I just want to go downstream. Without a car how do you make that happen. Easy – just hop on your bike.

Bike shuttles work just like car shuttles except for the part when you all crowd into one vehicle to get back to the put-in. Instead, you hop on your bike. It’s a fun addition to the trip, and you get some great exercise. 

Running the Bradford Fish Weirs

Lately I have been looking for trips with a relatively long paddle and a relatively short, flat bike ride. The way our local rivers twist-and-turn there are many, but some of the best are on the Pawcatuck – RI’s only Wild and Scenic River.

The Wood-Pawcatuck watershed encompasses 300 square miles in southwestern RI and southeastern CT. Its seven major rivers include the Beaver,  Queen - Usquepaug, Wood, Chipuxet, Shunock, Green Falls - Ashaway, and Pawcatuck. It is one of the largest remaining natural areas along the northeast corridor between New York and Boston, and received Wild and Scenic River status in 2019. 

Paddling through the Grills Preserve

The Pawcatuck River itself arises at Worden Pond in South Kingstown and flows 34-miles south and west to Westerly where it flows into Little Narragansett Bay on Long Island Sound. We would be paddling the section from Bradford to Potter Hill – about 7-miles.  Unlike some of the sections upstream, there is plenty of water here all summer long. 

Jonathan, Bill and I dropped off our boats at Bradford at around 9:30, and drove to take-out at Potter Hill. Parking is available at Post Office Landing – a DEM boat launch across the street from the take-out. It looks like someone’s driveway, but it is a public access point. At least they have now put up a sign.

Polly Coon Footbridge

We left our cars at the take-out and had an easy 4-mile bike ride back to Bradford. It doesn’t take that much longer than arranging a car shuttle. When we arrived back at Bradford, Sharon and Paul were waiting for us. Sharon had arranged her own shuttle, and Paul would do the bike ride after the trip. 

The river was low, but there was still plenty of water – 21 cfs, 1.75 feet on the Wood River Junction gage.  Surprisingly, there was even enough water to run the Bradford fish weirs, which replaced the old Bradford Dam in 2018.

Lunch at the beach

The old Bradford Dam was a 19th century stone and timber structure that provided power to the Bradford textile mills. Built on top of a natural falls, the 6-foot dam spanned the entire width of the river. Since removing the dam would drop the water level upstream by about 5 feet and negatively impact wetlands, the decision was made to replace the existing dam with a new rock ramp structure.

The new dam is made up of 6 gradually ascending stone weirs, which serve like terraced steps. Pools between the steps give fish a place to rest on their way upstream. Gaps in the weirs create channels for water to flow and fish to swim, including the main current down the middle that forms a nice channel for paddlers.

Bill the triathlete - bike, boat and swim

After running, lining or portaging the Bradford Dam we continued downstream. From Bradford to Route 3 the river twists and turns through the woodlands of the Grills Preserve owned by the Westerly Land Trust and Hopkinton Land Trust. We passed under the Polly Coon Footbridge and continued downstream stopping at the beach off Narragansett Way for a break and a socially-distanced lunch. 

Below Route 3 there is more development as the river meanders though open marshland to the Potter Hill Dam. The take out is on the Westerly side of the river just above the Potter Hill Road Bridge at the Whiteley Preserve - a Westerly Land Trust property. We loaded our boats and drove back to Bradford to pick up our bikes after another great trip.

Approaching Potter Hill

Links:

My Pictures

Wood River Junction Gage

Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill – July 7, 2019

Putting in at Bradford

I got up early and headed out to scout a RICKA trip on the Pawcatuck River from Bradford to Potter Hill - Rhode Island’s new Wild and Scenic River. Originally, our plan was to paddle downstream to meet the Paddle Across Rhode Island (PARI) crew as they came upstream on a “sea-to source” trip, but with higher water levels they decided to paddle downstream instead. As we were paddling down from Bradford, the PARI crew was paddling down the Chipuxet River and across Worden Pond.  

It has been a while since I had done this trip, so I wanted to check out the take out and parking at Potter Hill. The take out is on the Westerly side of the river just above the Potter Hill Road Bridge at a small Westerly Land Trust property. Parking is available at the Post Office Landing – a DEM boat launch across the street.  It looks like someone’s driveway, but it is a public access point.

Running the Bradford Dam

We meet at Bradford Landing at 10:00 to run the shuttle, and we were on the water around 10:30. The river was at a nice level – 2.5 feet, 125 cfs. on the Wood River Junction gage.   We paddled under the Route 91 Bridge, and pulled over on the right to portage the new fish weirs at the old Bradford Dam.  

The old Bradford Dam was a 19^th century stone and timber structure that provided power to the Bradford textile mills. Built on top of a natural falls, the 6-foot dam spanned the entire width of the river.  Since removing the dam would drop the water level upstream by about 5 feet and negatively impact wetlands, the decision was made to replace the existing dam with the new rock ramp structure.

Polly Coon Footbridge

The new dam is made up of 6 gradually ascending stone weirs, which serve like terraced steps. Pools between the steps give fish a place to rest on their way upstream. Gaps in the weirs create channels for water to flow and fish to swim, including the main current down the middle that forms a nice channel for paddlers. We had about 6 paddlers run the dam, and 2 swims.  

From Bradford to the Route 3 Bridge, the river twists and turns trough the woodlands of the Grills Preserve owned by the Westerly Land Trust and Hopkinton Land Trust. We passed under the Polly Coon Footbridge and continued downstream stopping at the beach off Narragansett Way for lunch. Below the Route 3 Bridge there is more development as the river meanders though open marshland to the Potter Hill Dam.

Lunch at the Beach

Links:

My Pictures

Trip Description from Rhode Island Blueway

Wood River Junction Gage

Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill – October 8, 2016

Below the Bradford Dam

I needed to stay local, so I decided to join the RICKA Flatwater trip on the Pawcatuck River from the Bradford Landing to Potter Hill Dam.  It’s a nice 7.5-mile trip, and I wanted to find the bushwhack campsite below the Bradford Dam in the Grills Preserve of the Westerly Land Trust that Jim and I had found a few years ago.

We put in at Bradford Landing, paddled under the Route 91 Bridge, and portaged the Bradford dam on the right.  I checked out the surfing opportunities below the dam, but there wasn’t much - the water was very low - 4ft, 69 cfs on the Westerly gage; 2ft, 21 cfs on the Wood River Junction gage. 

Lunch at the Polly Coon Bridge

From the Bradford Dam to the Route 3 Bridge, the river twists and turns trough the woodlands of the Grills Preserve owned by the Westerly Land Trust and Hopkinton Land Trust. We stopped for lunch at the Polly Coon Footbridge before continuing downstream. I kept my eye open for the campsite, but couldn’t find it. Below the Route 3 Bridge there is more development and the river meanders though open marshland to the Potter Hill Dam.

Parking can be a problem at the take out, but Mike had arranged for us to park in the open lot on the right above the Potter Hill Road Bridge.  This is the easiest spot to take out and portage around the Potter Hill Dam. To continue downstream, you can carry down Potter Hill Road and put in below the dam on the right, or carry up Potter Hill Road to Post Office Lane and put in below the dam on the left.

Early foliage on the Pawcatuck River

Links:

My Pictures

Wood River Junction Gage

Westerly Gage

White Rock Dam removal on the Pawcatuck - November 1, 2015

Heading downstream

The restoration of the Pawcatuck River took another step forward this fall with the removal of the White Rock Dam in Westerly.  For nearly 250 years, this dam at the lower end of the Pawcatuck River has blocked upstream passage to Rhode Island’s largest watershed. The dam has now been removed in an on-going effort to return the Pawcatuck to something close to its natural state.

The original dam at the White Rock site was built in 1770.  It was replaced in 1888 by a stone crib dam, and much of the river’s flow was redirected down a granite-lined raceway to the White Rock Mill. When the old stone crib dam washed away in the 1938 hurricane, it was replaced with a 6-foot tall concrete dam that stretched 108 feet across the river.

Checking out the old raceway

With the recent removal of this concrete dam complete, I joined a small group of paddlers who wanted to check out the new course of the river.  For the third week in row I would be paddling tandem - this time with Bill in the Mohawk.  We put in at the new access off Post Office Lane below the Potter Hill Dam, and took out on White Rock Road just upstream of the Route 78 bridge.  The river was 4.5 feet, 200 cfs. on the Westerly gage - just enough water to keep us floating.

We paddled down to White Rock and found all that remained of the old dam were 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 was high and dry, but is not being removed.  A barrier will be built at the top that will allow water to flow into the channel during high water.

The old raceway is high and dry

Links:

My Pictures

Westerly Gage
Trip Description from Rhode Island Blueways

Pawcatuck River – Potter Hill to Westerly – June 11, 2012

I headed down to South County yesterday to run the Pawcatuck River from Potter Hill to Westerly with the RICKA Flatwater group.  The river was at a nice level – 5ft., 550 cfs. on the Westerly gage.  We had a large group – 21 boats, 3 canoes and 18 kayaks.

We put-in a little upstream, but the normal put-in would be off Laurel Street just downstream from the Potter Hill Dam in Ashaway. We spent some time playing in the waves below the dam before moving downstream.

Below Potter Hill the river is mostly flatwater running though woods and fields for 3 ½ miles until it reaches the White Rock Dam.  The dam can be portaged on the right, but we ran the millrace to the left.  It is often described as class II whitewater, but it was more like quickwater/class I yesterday.  There is one nice playhole, and we found Duke Wavewalker enjoying the hole with a couple of friends. 

Below White Rock, the River is mostly flatwater with one short quickwater section before we reached downtown Westerly.  We took out at the boat ramp on Main Street.

Getting some pictures of the action below the Potter Hill Dam

Links:

My Pictures

Westerly Gage
Trip description from Rhode Island Blueways