Babbitassit Falls from Petapawag

Yesterday's paddle down the Nashua River from Petapawag to East Pepperell brought me to where Babbitasset Falls once rushed towards the Nissitisset Hills seen behind the red building.  It was a feast, so to speak, of Native American (Nipmuc) place names.
Of course the falls are long gone with the Nashua's flow now being conveyed within a 13 foot diameter penstock to the hydro-electric generating station located more than a football field's length below the dam.  This photo shows the penstock as it looked on April 2012...

That penstock was made of wood staves and leaked like a sieve.  Recently, it was replaced and the newer steel model is tight as a drum.
With the entire flow of the river seemingly disappearing, there was hardly a drop to flow over the dam's flashboards...

The replacing of the penstock is shown in more detail by the company that did the job at this link (scroll down to Pepperell Penstock story)


My trip downriver was pleasant thanks to the Polar Vortex running fashionably late...

These strange blossoms caught my eye and were something I don't recall having seen before...

The sounds of duck hunting were in the air and both I and this fellow on horseback were sporting blaze orange...

When getting off the river, just before dark, I encountered a duck hunter landing his canoe who reported having had a successful hunt.

My small trash haul gathered hullside...

There were 13 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 15 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.

Once home and looking online for Babbitasset info, I came across History of the Town of Groton: Including Pepperell and Shirley by Caleb Butler.  It was published in 1842 and contained a chapter entitled Remarkable Providences which referenced the church records of the Rev. Mr. Emerson.  One entry started "April 11, 1772, Isaac Corey was drowned" and went on "Mr. Isaac Corey, a man near sixty years of age, having ferried over two men across the Lancaster River (aka Nashua), against his own house, and returned almost to the shore, from whence he had set off, by some accident the canoe filled, he was immediately carried down the current (the river being very high and the water running exceeding swift) near two miles, during which he was seen by several, standing at one end of the canoe, up to his armpits in water, the other end just up out of the water; he was heard by many calling out for help, but none could get to him to relieve him.  The canoe was seen to pass over the falls about a mile below where he was seen last with the bottom up."
A later entry noted "August 2, 1772  The above Mr. Corey was found floating upon the water in the river, about a mile below where he was last seen."   A bad day at Babbitasset.

Day's End on the Concord

Finishing some water treatment work in Concord, MA yesterday left me with just enough time to have the waters of the Concord River treat me to a splendid late afternoon.

Temperatures were near 60 degrees and there's a definite sense that days like these are numbered.

I launched at Lowell Road and headed downriver under its bridge...

At the Old North Bridge a pair of empty beer and flavored juice bottles flagged me down...

...they'd been floating amidst some tree branches pinned against the bridge's piers.  I felt the urge to shout out the warning "the Polar Vortex is coming!..."the Polar Vortex is coming!" to the person peering down from atop the bridge.  We've all been hearing about this impending blast of winterlike temperatures for nearly a week.

What little fall foliage remains was seen while paddling through my favorite stretch near Saw Mill Brook (opening photo).

Near Davis Hill I encountered the only other boat I'd see on the water...

It was a Native Watercraft (Slayer 13 propel model) being pedaled by a fisherman.  The propel system allows him to pedal forward or backwards while leaving his hands free for casting.  He reported having caught a few so far.

My return trip upriver saw the sun sinking...

..and the turkeys roosting...

 ...as the magic of twilight time set in...

The song "The Wall" by Willie Nelson was heard via my shuffle and seemed to perfectly fit the moment.

Approaching the Old North Bridge the red color of my boat drew the attention of Concord's ever vigilant Minuteman...

Back at Lowell Road the day's trash haul basked in footlights provided by my car's headlights...

Perhaps in honor of Veteran's Day there were 11 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 11 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.   YTD = 5471

Status Quo at Spectacle Pond

While driving along Route 119 in Littleton recently, I'd noticed a gravel road leading down to a Spectacle Pond boat ramp.  This morning while heading west on 119 and, about to drive past the spot, I braked instead and headed down the road for my first post-Bottle Bill expansion defeat paddle.  It would be a new boat launch and new body of water for me to experience.

At the top of the ramp is a parking area that was littered with discarded trash.  This is what was recovered from the parking area...

 
At the base of the ramp was this additional trash...

The day's haul consisted of 49 recyclable containers (28 redeemable) and 27 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.  All but 10 containers were recovered from either above or below the ramp.  YTD = 5449

Shortly my boat and I were afloat, and thoughts of learning to live with the status quo of our unexpanded Bottle Bill occupied my mind.

Before leaving home I'd read the Boston Sunday Globe and an interesting letter from Tom Keane, "Bottle Recycling Problem Still Needs to Be Fixed." I believe by "problem" he's referring to the low recycling rates for plastic containers.  In his letter he never mentions "litter" being a problem.  Regardless, most of what he says makes sense as pertains to recycling.  He mentions Delaware's recently adopted "universal recycling" law as a possible alternative to our bottle deposit system.
Apparently Delaware still applies a 4 cent fee on some beverage containers (until 12/1/2014) as a way to raise funding for the program.  It requires all businesses and institutions to recycle, and all waste haulers must offer their customers single-stream recycling.  Individuals, though, are not required to recycle.  Keane reports recycling rates in Delaware rose from 33.7% to 40.1%.  I'm left to wonder what effect, if any, "universal recycling" in Delaware has had on that state's litter.

Here in Massachusetts trash and recycling receptacles are not available at many public places in keeping with the state's "carry in/carry out" policy.  I think most would agree it would've been great had "carry in/carry out" worked, but evidently it just isn't going to get the job done.  Trash and recycling receptacles need to be placed and maintained at trailheads, boat launches, beaches, and public parks.  How about a fee (such as Delaware's), rather than a deposit, on plastic containers to fund installing and maintaining such receptacles.  Costs might be kept lower if folks (or organizations) could contract with the state or cities and towns to be responsible for maintaining specific locales for a reasonable amount of compensation rather than having municipal employees tasked with the job.   Just a thought.

Out on the pond clouds hung tough as I paddled to the south...

Upon reaching the pond's end I entered Bennetts Brook and soon encountered a beaver dam.  Beaver trapping season began earlier this month and 2 traps were observed at the dam.  They appear to be conibear traps which can only be used by special permit as they are lethal to the beaver...

On the pond's west side were the remains of older structures.  One was the hearth and chimney that once warmed a home...

The other had the look of a covered bridge but spanned no opening...

At the pond's north end, near the boat ramp, is the outlet to Gilson Brook...

...which flows into Forge Pond, then Stony Brook and ultimately the Merrimack River.


  

Bottle Bill Expansion Bites the Dust

There'll be no need for a re-count.  On Tuesday voters in Massachusetts, by an overwhelming majority, elected not to expand our state's Bottle Bill to include non-carbonated beverage containers leaving us with the status quo. Our 1983 version Bottle Bill is left to continue working with one hand tied behind its back in its yeoman's work of getting nearly 80% of beer and soda containers recycled.

So if the Bottle Bill won't be allowed to help, how will we prevent the thousands upon thousands of Poland Springs, Gatorade, PowerAde, et all plastic bottles from continuing their long, slow, and steady migration to the sea?

Relying on curbside recycling programs in dealing with today's litter problem may be akin to this...

 
Is streamside, roadside, or trailside recycling a likely solution?

How about enforcement of anti-littering laws?   A likely solution?

I'm at a loss of ideas.  Perhaps the American Beverage Association has some suggestions...or perhaps the now cash-flush local television outlets. 
Hope springs eternal.

Down to the Wire on the Assabet

Todays paddle from the Acton Canoe Launch down to Egg Rock on the Assabet River could be described as a) a dress rehearsal for the upcoming winter; b) one last trash patrol before tomorrow's vote on the Massachusetts Bottle Bill; c) taking advantage of recent rains allowing passage through the dam at Damonmill.

Of course it wouldn't have been possible at all without Mrs. Trashpaddler being willing to provide a ride back to Acton.  I could get used to this downriver only business.

Starting out with temperatures in the mid 40s and still gusty winds left behind by our weekend storm required wetsuit use for the first time this season.  The Assabet River gauge was at 2.10 feet and that level provided just enough water to clear most of the rocks until past the skating rink where protection from the northwest wind was found (opening photo).  Despite the fact it was quite gusty, what wind there was seemed to be at my back for most of the trip.

Passage through the dam at Damonmill was relatively easy at this water level...

Popping into where the mill's old canal returned to the river provided a respite from the current and a nice view of the canal/mill...

Before I knew it Route 62 in West Concord appeared...

I guess it seemed only appropriate that a true sign of the upcoming season was recovered from the river today...

The rest of the trash recovered...

The biggest portion of today's haul wasn't Styrofoam cups (there were 2), it wasn't nip bottles (there were 7), it wasn't plastic bags (there were 6), it wasn't containers carrying a deposit (there were 14), it wasn't the neoprene huggie (there was 1 that said "Ever notice that cupid rhymes with stupid?"), it wasn't Mylar balloons (there were 2), and it wasn't Bernzomatic torches (there was 1).  The biggest portion of today's haul (and almost every trash haul I see) consisted of containers that an expanded Bottle Bill would provide monetary worth to...

Poland Springs (aka Nestle) plastic bottles, Gatorade plastic bottles, Arizona Iced Tea can, Snapple plastic bottle, Nantucket Nectars glass bottle, Starbucks glass bottle.  Sort of looks like an American Beverage Association sampler...aren't they the group shelling out millions to convince us there is no problem with litter today?  Maybe in the future they'll be telling us how plastic actually enhances the environment and provides valuable nutrition.   Please help reduce litter by voting Yes on Question 2 tomorrow. 

Anyone Seen Bottle Bill?

As this mess collected yesterday from the Assabet River shows, we could use his help.  I know he's ready, willing, and able to help....he showed that when ridding our environment of beer and soda containers, but when the tastes of consumers switched to non-carbonated drinks he was never given a chance to show what he could do.  Neighboring states Maine, Connecticut, and New York enlisted his help with non-carbonated containers but we, here in Massachusetts, are being told that our one time friend Bottle Bill is all washed up.  To hear the American Beverage Association tell it (over and over again) in their costly television ads, Bottle Bill is a relic who only once, long ago, "may" have been needed but is now as outdated as a rotary-dial telephone.

I think the American Beverage Association wants only to sell their beverages and couldn't care less what happens after the liquid within is imbibed by the consumer.  Think about it...they've spent more than 8 million dollars trying to tell us there isn't a problem anymore.
 
When I'm out and about my eyes tell me there is a problem and it's getting worse rather than better.  Plastic, glass, and aluminum single-serve containers need to have a value in order not to become worthless trash.

If our tried and true friend Bottle Bill is allowed to go to work on these non-carbonated containers, here's the portion of yesterday's litter he would help remove from our waterways...

These 42 non-carbonated plastic bottles represent 30% of the litter recovered from just a 1.3 mile stretch of the Assabet River in Hudson below Cox Street yesterday afternoon. 

Now that November and its stark, barren, landscape is upon us, perhaps we will see clearly through all the rhetoric that while recycling at our homes and workplaces is a worthy effort, it doesn't address the litter from our "on the go" lifestyle...

Please help reduce litter by voting Yes on Question 2 on Tuesday, November 4th.

Long Bridge on the Long River

Both Capt'n Dangerous (of Adirondack Pirate Paddlers) and I were struck by how long the covered bridge was at the start of our Connecticut River paddle yesterday.

We'd rendezvoused at Hoyt's Landing in Springfield, VT and then driven 17 miles north to Windsor where we drove across the bridge to Cornish, NH.  After entering the enclosed wooden structure it seemed strange to encounter vehicles going in the opposite direction (at the same time), as the structure struck me as a "one vehicle at a time" type.

Then this morning as I'm eating my porridge and glancing through the Boston Globe there's an article, "Granite State towns make comeback", written by Patricia Harris and David Lyon about the Claremont, NH area.  In the article they mention the Windsor-Cornish Bridge as being "the longest two-span wooden covered bridge in the world"...the same bridge we drove through and paddled under only yesterday.  According to the New Hampshire Dept. of Transportation, the 449 foot long, two-span bridge was originally built in 1866.  In the late 1970's, after being damaged by flooding, the bridge was closed to traffic until being rebuilt by the state in 1989 at a cost of more than 4 million dollars.  A look back from downstream...

I'd say it was money well spent.

With the covered bridge and nearby railroad bridge behind us, the Capt'n and I commenced exploring yet another section of the Connecticut River.  We started discovering the river back in 2007 by paddling the section which is part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (Bloomfield, VT down to Guildhall, VT).  After a gap of several years we resumed the project in 2012, and began using the Captain's copy of The Connecticut River Boating Guide: Source to Sea as a reference whenever planning exploits.  The guidebook is a product of the Connecticut River Watershed Association and writers John Sinton, Elizabeth Farnsworth, and Wendy Sinton.  It divides the 410 mile long river into 28 reaches and 4 geographic regions, and is a great resource for Connecticut River boaters. 
This trip brought our total reaches completed to 11.

Our starting point yesterday (just upriver of the Windsor-Cornish Bridge) is the approximate midway-point of the river. 

With yesterday being a weekday things were fairly quiet on the water.  This lone merganser enjoyed a reflective moment...

High up on sandbanks (New Hampshire side) are the nesting holes of swallows...

Just below the Route 12 bridge a short foray was made into the swift and shallow Sugar River before returning to the confluence.  The 3,150 foot Mount Ascutney looms to the NW...

The river had run pretty much straight in a north to south direction to this point and now began a long and scenic sweep around Barber Mountain...

 
Rustic cabins were nestled into the Vermont side while this cascading waterfall drew attention to the New Hampshire side...

This hawk or falcon flew ahead of us several times in this stretch...

Near the end of the sweep lies Jarvis Island where lunch was taken...

Back on the water below the island and just before the sharp bend at Ashley's Ferry, I thought how ideal this spot would be for an eagle...and there he was on the Vermont side...

In that regard the Connecticut River rarely disappoints these days.  We would see another further downriver.

Nearing the end of our journey the Cheshire Bridge seemed to appear at the last possible moment (photo from downstream side)...

The small amount of trash recovered (most from Jarvis Island) assembled hull-side at the well appointed Hoyt's Landing...

Following the post paddle shuttle, which included a second trip through the covered bridge, we each embarked on homeward journeys...he to the west and I to the east.  On my drive home on Route 12 near Keene, NH the sky commanded my attention with this sunset...

...perhaps one of the last good ones for this year's soon to end Daylight Savings Time.