Sunday, October 6, 2024

Held Back Waters

 

Took advantage of waters held back by three hydroelectric dams this past week.  The dams doing the holding back were the Great Stone Dam on the Merrimack River in Lawrence, MA, the Paper Mill Dam on the Nashua River at East Pepperell (Babbitassett), MA, and the Ice House Dam on the Nashua River in Ayer, MA.  

Started my week on Monday just after sunrise in Methuen, MA launching just upriver from the Route 93 bridge (above photo).  Kept the rising sun at my back while heading upriver...

...towards what looks like a floating Pine Island...


Passed the dammed mouth of Fish Brook and its fish ladder...


A  little ways before turning around at the Methuen/Lowell line I encountered this skeleton chillin'...

...with a blue heron showing little concern.

After returning to my starting point I continued downriver where this sign let me know I was leaving Andover...


Eventually the Great Stone Dam was reached with a view of Lawrence just beyond...

Stopped briefly at the last takeout before the dam...

On the trip back upriver another skeleton was encountered leanin' in my direction...

On Wednesday I launched at Petapawag in Groton, Ma and paddled the Nashua River where some fall foliage is beginning to show...


Wrapped up the week on Saturday with a paddle from the Oxbow N.W.R in Harvard, MA.  Driving down the hill to the boat launch offered this view of Wachusett...


The low clouds soon dispersed and a beautiful day set in with more fall colors on display...


This abandoned green boat continues its slow journey downriver...

The boat sports a 1989 New Hampshire registration sticker.  

Falling leaves have left this hanging bee's nest more exposed...


Trash was more plentiful this week and included 117 "nip" bottles:

Monday from the Merrimack River (Methuen)...

Wednesday from the Nashua River (Petapawag)...

Saturday from the Nashua River (Oxbow S)...



  

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