Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Stony Brook and Merrimack River

Late this morning I launched into the Merrimack River at North Chelmsford's Southwell Park.  There was a nice breeze out of the north and it delivered my boat and me rather quickly to the confluence of Stony Brook, where we passed under Middlesex Street.  Previously, I'd not ventured into the opening pictured at left as it is dark and who knows what might be lurking in there.  Today, however, I poked my bow into the opening and found that it turns sharply to the left and passes under the mill building before emerging again at Princeton Street...
A Pan Am Railways freight train greeted me upon my emergence and we both passed under Princeton Street (in different directions)...
Beyond Princeton Street, another large mill complex looms over the brook...
This area must have really bustled back in the day.  These days, not so much.
I turned around at this point and headed back to the Merrimack after rounding up 36 pieces of trash in this short section of Stony Brook.

Once back into the Merrimack, I headed up river towards the intake for the City of Lowell's drinking water treatment facility...
Heading into the wind, I aimed for the south end of Wickasee Island and paddled up the narrow passage on the island's east side sheltered from the breeze.  As I entered the passage I came upon what I believe are Cardinal flowers...
It seems a little early, but I guess they're like everything else this strange year.

After rounding the island's north tip, I turned around and paddled along it's west shore before returning to Southwell Park.

Trash was plentiful today and everyone enjoyed stretching their legs on one of Wickasee's small sandy beaches...
Today's haul numbered 57 recyclable containers (27 redeemable) and 47 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish including plastic bags, spray cans, netting, another 15 Hooksett disks, and a large stuffed fish.  YTD = 4271

There was a nice article in today's Globe by David Abel concerning the possible expanding of the state's bottle bill to include non-carbonated beverages.  The article informs us that Representative Joseph F. Wagner of Chicopee chairs the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies that is now reviewing the proposed expansion.  Hopefully, Mr. Wagner will consider how many plastic containers are ending up in our waterways and that there's no financial incentive or reward for getting them to where they belong.  Expanding the bottle bill will go a long way in cleaning up our rivers and streams. 

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