Stump Pond - August 5, 2026

Giving the safety talk

I led my second Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip of the year last night at Stump Pond.

At 300 acres and 2.3 miles long, Stump Pond in Smithfield (also known as the Stillwater Reservoir) is the largest pond in the Woonasquatucket River watershed. The wooded shores, islands, and scenic hills make it a great place for a paddle.

Heading out

The Stillwater Reservoir was built in 1910 to provide a reliable water supply through the summer for the mills down river. It was never a drinking water reservoir. The local name “Stump Pond” came from the many tree trunks that remained standing in the water after the dam was built.

We put in at the Stump Pond Fishing Area and paddled across to the Pleasant Avenue Bridge. The pond was too high for us to paddle under the pipe under the bridge, so we then headed north to the dam, and then east to the where Woonasquatucket River enters the pond, and then back to the put-in - about 3-miles. Nice night.

Back at the put-in at sunset

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RICKA Flatwater Training - June 11, 2023

I was at Stump Pond today for the RICKA Flatwater Training. Bill and I have been involved in this training since at least 2010. Paul helped out this year as well. New paddlers learned basic strokes, and for the first time we also did solo canoe training. The water was cold, but we still had several people do wet exits and assisted rescues.  

Crew for the Flatwater Training

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RICKA Flatwater Training - July 9, 2022

Assisted rescue with Bill

I was back on the Woonasquatucket River on Saturday – this time at the Stillwater Reservoir or Stump Pond in Smithfield. 

With COVID, it has been a couple of years since RICKA has done much in the way of training, but we were doing a Flatwater session for new and experienced paddlers. New paddlers learned basic strokes, and everybody got to practice deep water rescues. We had nine “students” with four “facilitators” and a mix of boats – sea kayaks, rec. kayaks, a solo canoe and a tandem canoe.

Getting the big boat up on the gunwales

It wasn’t always pretty, but everybody did a wet exit and was able to get in the boat. No surprise that sea kayaks with bulkheads were the easiest to get empty. For me, the shorter the rec. kayak the tougher it was to get up on the gunwales to empty (might be easier for someone in a kayak). 

I was able to get my solo canoe empty with a flip, but couldn’t get back in the boat unassisted without swamping it again - assisted I was fine. Chuck and Cindy in the tandem boat got back in unassisted a couple of different ways (one-on-each-side and stirrup) but couldn’t get the boat empty unassisted. That’s a big boat to try to flip, or even lug over the gunwales.

Chuck and Cindy back in the boat

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Stump Pond from Rhode Island Blueways

Stump Pond - August 28, 2018

I was able to make the last Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip of the year at Stump Pond - a swim, a paddle, and a stop at the Thirsty Beaver after to celebrate the end of the BVPC season. 

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Woonasquatucket Reservoir from Rhode Island Blueways

RICKA Flatwater Training – June 11, 2017

I helped Bill and Frank with the annual RICKA flatwater training.  We had ten participants, and seven tried to do assisted rescues.  We got all seven got back n the boat – including me!

Bill and Frank demonstrating as assisted rescue

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Stump Pond – August 30, 2016

I missed most of the “official” trips, but I was able to make the last “unofficial” Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip at Stump Pond.  We had a couple of swims by the bridge, including me practicing an assisted rescue – got back in the boat fine.  Nice night.

Last BVPC paddle at Stump Pond

RICKA Flatwater Training - June 14, 2015

I helped out with the annual RICKA Flatwater Training at Stump Pond.  Thirteen participants learned strokes and assisted rescues.  I did three wet exits, and got back into my boat twice.  On my first attempt, I rolled in on one side, and rolled out on the other taking my partner with me.  I got three people back in their boats on the first attempt – always good to practice.

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Eric Conn's pictures from Facebook

Flatwater Training - June 29, 2014

We had a great day for the RICKA Flatwater Training Class at Stump Pond.   This two-hour class was taught by Jim and is for new paddlers interested in learning more about equipment, basic strokes and maneuvers, and wet exits/recoveries.  I coordinated registrations, and have to admit that I lost track of who would be attending.  In the end, I was surprised when nine people showed up - I was expecting four.  We had four successful wet exits/recoveries, and one aborted first attempt – me when I got back on my boat only to flip over again taking Dan with me.  Dan got back in fine, and so did I on my second attempt.

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Hot day, cool paddle – Stump Pond – July 17, 2013

Heading toward the bridge

It’s been a crazy summer at work, but things are starting to settle down, so I was able to make it to my first Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip at Stump Pond.

At 300 acres and 2.3 miles long, Stump Pond in Smithfield (also know as the Woonasquatucket Reservoir) is the largest pond in the Woonasquatucket River watershed. The wooded shores, islands, and scenic hills make it a great place for a paddle. Like any large pond, you do need to be careful of the waves when the wind picks up.

Cooling off - wet exit and recovery

Woonasquatucket Reservoir was built in 1910 to provide a reliable water supply through the summer for the mills down river. It was never a drinking water reservoir. The local name “Stump Pond” came from the many tree trunks that remained standing in the water after the dam was built.

We put in at the Stump Pond Fishing Area and paddled across to the Pleasant Avenue Bridge.  It’s always fun to do limbo under the pipes at the bridge. This southern arm beyond the bridge is a bit more suburban with houses lining the eastern shore.

We then headed north to the dam.  From here, the Woonasquatucket River heads east to Stillwater Pond.  If you continue north, you will come to the place where the Woonasquatucket River enters the pond. We didn’t make it that far, but we did enjoy a beautiful sunset.  I also took the opportunity to cool off with a wet exit and recovery.  Nice night.

Paddling into the sunset

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Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Woonasquatucket Reservoir and Stillwater Pond from Rhode Island Blueways

RICKA Flatwater Training - July 3, 2011

We had a nice group yesterday at RICKA's Flatwater Training - 8 students, 5 instructors.  As  usual, I had the only canoe, but I always make it a point to practice wet exits and recoveries.  It took me two attempts to get back in my own boat, but was able to get Tom back in his boat on the first try.

Bill demonstrates a brace

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RICKA Flatwater Training - August 29th

I had a fun afternoon helping out with the RICKA flatwater training at Stump Pond – 14 boats, 10 intentional swims, 8 successful deep-water recoveries.

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RICKA Flatwater Traning - June 13th

The day was overcast, windy and a little cold, but 15 paddlers (all kayaks) took part in the RICKA flatwater training at Stump Pond. It was a good turnout considering the weather. In addition to basic equipment and strokes, the training included wet exits and deep-water recoveries.  About half the group took advantage of this opportunity to practice these important skills. I took a swim and practiced getting back in my boat, and then assisted someone else.   Too bad more canoeists don't show up.

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