Merrimack Above the Rupture

 

Paddled the Merrimack River early Monday morning between Tyngsborough, MA and Wickasee Island under cloudy skies and more comfortable temperatures.  This section of the river kept me upriver from the area that's been all over the news this past week.  Approximately 27 miles downriver in Haverhill, MA the rupture of an underground sewage force main resulted in several million gallons per day of raw sewage being released into the Merrimack River between 6/25 and 7/2. While the pipe has been temporarily bypassed it will take several tide cycles before things get back to normal. 

Oddly enough and early in my paddle, I encountered this plastic disk which reminded me of a similar sewage release that happened 15 years ago.  This disk, along with an estimated 4 to 8 million other plastic disks and a large quantity of activated sludge, accidentally entered the Merrimack River from a wastewater treatment plant in Hooksett, NH. Upon entering the ocean at Newburyport the disks dispersed to many of the same beaches effected by the recent spill ...

Guess both of these incidents serve to remind us that much of our infrastructure is out of sight (and therefore out of mind), and that we all live downstream.

After passing under the Tyngsborough Bridge (opening photo) I paddled alongside the stone retaining wall built to protect the railroad tracks hugging the river's sweeping bend there...

...and came across this Mylar balloon version of our Stars and Stripes...

For awhile I was joined by this observer who never made a peep (despite my hoping to hear its unique call)...

Wickasee Island came into view....

Wickasee Island is said to have been a place of special importance to Pennacook sachem Wannalancet and his father Passaconway...

Legend has it that Wannalancet asked to be buried on the island but was instead buried on the river's west side within view of the island.

I usually approach this island from downstream, but with the North Chelmsford boat launch being out of service due to the Rourke Bridge construction project that wasn't possible.  

After rounding the island on its west side I returned upstream through the canal-like section to the island's east...

Trash included 5 Mylar balloons and 25 "nip" bottles...