Today, on the day before Earth Day, I teamed up with Jamie who'd suggested joining forces to trash patrol a stretch of the Nashua River's north branch in Lancaster, MA. We launched from Ponakin Bridge, a Post through truss built in 1871 and considered a fine example of this type of bridge design. The bridge, no longer open to vehicles or pedestrians, still elegantly spans the river near the former location of Ponakin Mill...
Just upriver from the bridge are remnants of what may have been the Ponakin Mill's canal outlet...
The Ponakin Mill was destroyed by fire in 1963.
The Nashua River's north branch drains the northeastern side of Mt. Wachusett and flows down through Fitchburg and Leominster. Today, it was found to be shallow, swift, and clear.
Jamie and his boat approaching Lancaster Village where the river deepens and slows...
After working the many trash-laden snags, our boats would ultimately be loaded to the gills.
Where the former Boston and Maine Railroad's Worcester, Nashua, and Portland Division crosses the north branch, a CSX powered freight train headed south towards Clinton and Worcester...
Just a little ways past the railroad bridge the Nashua's south branch (from Wachusett Reservoir) flows in from the right. An ascent of that stream didn't look very promising due to the many blow downs that could be seen from the confluence.
We continued on the Nashua River's main stem until reaching the takeout at Seven Bridge Road (Rt. 117) where our combined trash haul spilled forth from our boats...
One advantage of this trip is that after travelling nearly 5 miles downriver, there is only a 2 mile shuttle back to the starting point.
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