A True SUASCO Patrol, a Taste of All Three Rivers

This afternoon, I had the priviledge of paddling into a painting. Once I entered into the idyllic scene, the river 's beauty just kept unfolding in front of me. So many shades of green against the blue and white colored sky. There were still some red Cardinal flowers in the shady spots and some of the deciduous trees are beginning to show some color change. The air temperature was perfect with just the hint of a breeze. The river's surface was a smooth glass mirror to the sky and trees. It was really that special out on the SUASCO waters this afternoon! The only surprise was that there were so few other folks out on the water. I encountered only about a half dozen other boats.
The North Bridge area was fairly busy and the Minuteman Statue, surrounded by scaffold, was receiving some maintenance attention. Downstream of Flint's Bridge I saw a cormorant and a little past Great Meadows Landing, I encountered one of those small herons, which I believe is a green heron. Oddly enough, I did not see any blue herons today. Perhaps they were attending a meeting concerning the financial crisis and its possible impact on their nest eggs.
I trash patrolled the bottom mile of the Sudbury River, the Concord River from Egg Rock to a point downstream of Ball's Hill and then the lower Assabet River to a little upstream of Willow Island. Dodge Rock showing about a foot above water's surface.
Most of today's trash was recovered from the Concord at the bend in the river downstream of Saw Mill Brook. The Assabet provided a half dozen pieces and the Sudbury kicked in about four. My total for the day was 27 empty containers (24 recyclable) bringing my YTD total to 1882

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Farrar Pond Outlet & Back

Early this morning, in a warm and gentle rain, I trash patrolled the Sudbury River up to the Farrar Pond outlet and back. The river is usually quiet at this time on a Sunday morning and the rain just made it even more so. I did not see another boat until my return trip.
As usual, the most trash recovered was in the area of Heath's Bridge (Sudbury Road). Heading upstream from the bridge, I had 32 empty containers. Lots of bait tubs with covers, plastic bags, beer, soda, and water bottles/cans. Also several wads of fishing line. This spot is the place that just keeps on giving trash week after week. By the way, the sandblasting/painting of the bridge has been completed and Concord has lost its only covered (or perhaps I should say shrouded) bridge.
Arriving at Fairhaven Bay, I noted mist rising from the pine trees on the hillsides. As I entered the bay from the north, I saw what appears to be a closed-circuit camera monitoring the dock/walkway below 'Fort Fairhaven'. This will prevent any onslaughts from the river. War Parties take note.
Passing Lee's Bridge I saw that the final landscaping continues and it is really looking nice.
After Lee's Bridge, I approached the outlet from Farrar Pond. I could hear but not see the outlet. It would take quite a floodstage level to actually paddle into the pond.
On the return trip, I encountered a fellow paddler who was paddling an exotic kevlar kayak made in the Czech Republic. It weighed only 25 lbs or so.
Downstream of Heath's Bridge, I saw the only gas powered boat of the day. A bass boat that was making pretty good speed heading upriver.
At my takeout location I encountered a fellow in a canoe with a trolling motor who was also heading upriver, perhaps for some fishing.
Wildlife observed was mostly the blue herons serving as mile markers, some ducks and an osprey at the north end of Fairhaven Bay.
My trash count for the day was 38 empties bringing my YTD total to 1855.

Assabet River - Egg Rock to Concord Jct. & Back

Last week, I paddled the lower section of the Assabet River and encountered old bottles on sandbars. The river was almost too low to paddle. That was before tropical storm Hannah passed through the area last Saturday night. This afternoon, I paddled the same stretch and found the river's water level had risen about 2 feet. Not only was the level up but the current was really chugging along. Dodge Rock was completely submerged and Willow Island was awash. It was like April again!
Came across a mostly submerged canoe that must have gone adrift following the storm.
Most of the trash recovered today was within site of Egg Rock. Beer cans and plastic bottles, that floated up from the bushes along the shore, were the most numerous.
The only wildlife noticed was a belted kingfisher, two blue herons in the same dead tree, and a few ducks.
I turned around at the commuter rail bridge in West Concord and caught a nice ride downriver.
My trash count for the day was 34 empty containers bringing YTD total to 1817.

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Weir Hill & Return

Early this morning, a little after sunrise, I launched onto the Sudbury River and headed upstream as the last remnants of tropical storm Hanna were racing off towards Canada's Maritime Provinces. Clearing skies were rapidly moving in from the southwest and winds were almost calm. The river's surface was like glass.
Arriving at Heath's Bridge (Sudbury Road), I found that the higher water level resulting from the deluge of rain, gave me access to a new crop of trash. My deck very quickly became decorated with glass/plastic bottles, bait tubs, fishing line, and coffee cups. I left this spot with 38 empty containers.
About half-way between the bridge and Marth's Point, on river right, I saw two small deer standing in the sun on a Conantum home's lawn. A little further along was one of those small herons that have been showung up recently. I'm fairly sure they are green herons because of the chestnut color of their necks
At Fairhaven Bay, I had a little breakfast on the water and enjoyed having the whole bay to myself.
Leaving the bay and continuing upriver, I encountered two of the small green herons flying in circles overhead and emitting their single note call. In flight they look fairly graceful until they slow down. At that point they look all wobbly until they regain speed. These herons were seen both downstream and upstream of Lee's Bridge.
As I approached the mouth of Pantry Brook, I saw an unusual site. Two herons standing fairly close to each other. At first I though they were both great blue herons, but soon saw that one was a great egret. White as the driven snow, with a yellow bill and black legs. Perhaps the egret came along with the tropical storm? No sooner had I put the binoculars away then an osprey flew by from the direction of Weir Hill.
After turning around at Weir Hill, I headed downstream and entered Pantry Brook to check out the rather loud sound from water pouring over the dam. Perched in the dead tree to the right of the sheet-piling constructed dam, was an osprey and he allowed me to take several photos of him with my waterproof drugstore camera. Hopefully the pictures will reflect his magesty and not have him appear as small as a sparrow. A belted kingfisher buzzed him, but he didn't look too concerned.
While I was stopped at Pantry Brook, a band of clouds moved across the sky and the wind shifted to the northwest. The air moving in on the breeze was nice and fresh. A welcome change from yesterday's very heavy air.
Heading downriver, I encountered a musquash, swallows, some kind of sandpipers, blue-winged teals, a smallish hawk that may have been a marsh hawk (white band above tail), a larger hawk (not a red-tailed), and a turkey vulture. A veritable smorgasborg of wildlife!
At my takeout location, once again under sunny skies, my trash count for the day was 40 empty containers bringing my YTD total to 1783.

Assabet River - Egg Rock to Concord Jct. & Back

This afternoon's weather was just too nice not to get out on the water. So, I did just that and trash patrolled the lower Assabet River from Egg Rock to Concord Junction and back. The Assabet's water level has dropped to the point where getting upriver is a challenge in places. The top of Dodge Rock is almost shoulder height (of seated paddler) compared to being submerged in late June. In many places the river is only 6" to 12 " deep. Several sandbars have surfaced and some are littered with old glass bottles, which means bottle picking season has begun. I rummaged through one glass bottle heap and found a small 2 oz bottle of FOSS Liquid Fruit Flavor, "Standard Quality & Full Strength" that dates to the 1890s. Also found a 8-sided bottle of Heinz.
After getting upstream of the commuter rail bridge, I swung my bow around and headed downriver, enjoying the easy glide. Encountered a doe and fawn about a 1/4 mile upstream of Willow Island at about 5:30 pm. Also saw the usual characters: great blue herons, Canada geese, Muscovite ducks, and blue-winged teals. It was one of those afternoons where I just didn't want to get off the river.
My trash count for the day was 10 glass bottles, 4 aluminum cans, 4 plastic bottles, 2 Dunkin Dounuts drink containers, and 1 cigarette package. YTD Total = 1743

Assabet River - Powdermill to Damondale & Back

This afternoon, I decided to explore a section of the Assabet that I haven't paddled before. Oddly enough, it is the section of the river closest to where I live. I have been thinking about giving this section a try ever since I saw the Acton Canoe Launch come into existence about a year ago or so. I tip my hat to whoever the folks were who created this launch site. It is a first rate launch and parking site. Immediately prior to my launching, I witnessed a family carry in a 'Have-a-Heart' type animal trap and release a small woodchuck back into the wild.
Shortly thereafter, my kayak and I slid into the Assabet's steady and shallow current just below the Route 62 bridge downstream of the Powdermill Dam. Heading downstream requires some maneuvering to avoid fallen trees and rocks while at the same time staying in deep enough water to remain afloat. After about a half mile, there are less obstacles and the river straightens out some. In the last half mile to Damondale, the river deepens and you can see where the old mill pond was before the river takes a hard turn to the right, passing through the breached Damondale Dam. Several blue herons were encountered.
Rather than going through the narrow passage, I turned around here and began paddling back upriver. I made it almost all the way back by paddling but did have to exit the boat and pull it across a shallow bar between the two Rt. 62 bridges. This bar was just past the steep hillside on the river left heading upstream.
My trash haul was modest. Two Mountain Dew plastic bottles, a glass bottle of Colt 45, and a wad of fishing line. My YTD total stands at 1722.
Hope to return to this stretch again, after the next rain event.

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Weir Hill & Return

This morning at sunrise, I trash patrolled the Sudbury River to Weir Hill and back. The early morning's cool air temperatures interacting with the water's warm surface created a local fog condition that rose to about 4 feet above the river's surface. The effect as one paddles through it is surreal. Just before the Route 2 bridge, I recovered my first piece of trash, a plastic CVS bag. Past the bridge, I landed briefly at the base of Clamshell Bank to scoop up an empty Budweiser can. Just before Heath's Bridge (Sudbury Rd), a usual hot spot for trash, I landed once again to pick up 16 more pieces of trash, mostly fishing related stuff. After passing under the bridge, my trash count rose to 21 where it remained for most of the trip.
Wildlife seen was fairly typical, Canada geese, great blue herons, a belted kingfisher, and several ducks.
The only other boats I saw were other kayaks, a canoe with two fishermen, and a dinghy equipped with an electric trolling motor that 3 fishermen had beached in Fairhaven Bay. I paddled just a little ways past Weir Hill, then stopped to enjoy the quiet beauty of the early morning before heading downriver.
On my return trip, heading into a fresh breeze out of the north I stopped downstream of Martha's Point to watch an osprey passing high overhead. Then, about halfway between Heath's Bridge and Clamshell Bank, I came upon a doe and her fawn standing in the sunlight at the water's edge. This fawn did not have the white spots but was still fairly small in size. They were both curious as I approached but soon they decided to fade away into the brown topped grasses.
At my takeout location, my trash count for the day was 24, bringing my YTD total to 1719.