Blackstone River Users Conference September 22 2010 Canoe

Blackstone River User’s Conference September 22, 2010 Canoe & Kayak Access Compiled by Jim Plasse, BRWA

Goal of The River Access Program • Promote and protect recreational use of the River • Work done as a JHCBRVNHCC, BRWC and BRWA Partnership • The Blackstone is now a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking

The River’s Popularity Has Caused Some Problems • Increase Use of the River by boaters has resulted in degradation of access and portage sites • BRWA and BRWC are working with JHCBRVNHCC to restore and protect these sites for use in the future.

Upper Sections of the Blackstone • Sections of the River can be paddled in Spring time and in times of high water in Millbury, Sutton and Grafton • Providence Street in Millbury by Goretti’s Supermarket is a good starting point • Access and Singing Dam portage completed with the construction of Tricentenial Park in Sutton

Present Conditions and Problem Areas • The National Grid Dam in Sutton has no portage path • Fisherville Dam in Grafton has no Portage Path – Road access at Route 122 a below the dam • Depot Street dam has no portage path and property is sometimes gated – Dam deteriorating with each major storm

Massachusetts Improvement Work Completed Most Massachusetts work has been done at sites in Northbridge, Uxbridge and Blackstone

Northbridge Plummer’s Landing (designed & permitted) Riverdale Mills (completed 2006) Uxbridge Hartford Avenue (Construction in Spring 2011) Stanley Woolen Portage (completed in 2006) Route 16 (completed in 2009 Route 122 (completed in 2009) Millville Lock (designed & permitted) Blackstone Gorge (completed in 2008) River Access Sites Phase I / Massachusetts Blackstone River Watershed Association & MASS Dept of Conservation and Recreation

Stanley Woolen Mills Route 16 - Uxbridge Access Site Before Completed

Skull Rock Lock Site Route 122, Uxbridge Before Completed

Plummer’s Landing River Bend Farm Visitor Center River Access Sites Phase I / Massachusetts Blackstone River Watershed Association & MASS Dept of Conservation and Recreation Millville Locks

Blackstone Gorge Blackstone, MA Completed in 2008

Blackstone Gorge Blackstone Before Completed

Access and Portages in Rhode Island • Access and portage sites exist at – – – – – Cold Spring Park, Woonsocket River Island Park, Woonsocket Rivers Edge Recreational Complex Woonsocket Manville Dam, Cumberland Albion Dam. Lincoln Kelly House, Ashton Dam, Cumberland/Lincoln Pratt Dam Portage, Lincoln/Cumberland Lonsdale Drive-in site in Lincoln Madera Street, Pawtucket

Recent Access Improvements in Rhode Island • Lonsdale Drive-in – Steps and pathway to River completed in 2009 • Kelly House – Granite steps installed by museum in June 2010 • Albion Dam Portage – Granite steps installed in August 2010 • Sycamore Landing at Manville Dam – Site established – Plans to expand parking area

Lonsdale Drive-in Site In Construction Completed

Albion Site Before Completed

Completed Kelly House Site

Future Access Improvements in Rhode Island • Develop consistent signage for these sites and other sites along the River