Canoe & Kayak Access Assessment Project
Public access to our beautiful rivers is of great importance to the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council (Stewardship Council) and the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA). Access can take the form of riverside trails, identified locations for shore fishing, places where the beauty of the rivers can be viewed and enjoyed, and, of course, access locations for paddlers (and other boaters). The access sites themselves are the first experiences paddlers will have as they approach our waterways, and they need to be as safe as possible, serve a variety of physical abilities, and have a minimal ecological footprint. As its first project since securing National Wild and Scenic River designation for sections of the the Stewardship Council conducted a careful field assessment of current canoe access sites on all three rivers. Led by Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director and lead researcher/writer of the NRWA’s Nashua River Canoe and Kayak Guide, teams of volunteers did site visits to approximately 30 sites, as well as considering some possible new access sites. Sites were assessed using a custom checklist tool created specifically for the task. The teams looked at elements such as the slope or steepness of the site, vulnerability to erosion, the presence of invasive plants, stormwater runoff concerns, parking availability, and ease of users to get on/off the road.
The assessment found the sites to be in various conditions from the “premiere” Petapawag site in Groton, which is the only concrete ramp site for boat-trailers, to several that are rarely used --perhaps indeed due to difficulty of use. A few sites were impeded by steep approaches from parking to the river, difficult entry from the river bank into the water, bank erosion, or encroaching vegetation. Only a few sites are adequately marked with signage; most are “hidden” and only known to locals, and a couple are privately owned, although not posted “No Trespassing”. Most of the sites are logically located where a road crosses or comes closest to the river. Some could be improved through minor fixes while others demand major fixes such as guard rail modifications. Because none of the sites has visitor usage data, it was very helpful to speak with local residents about site usage. Only a few sites seem to be “officially” maintained, while must rely on maintenance by users. The next step will be for the Study Committee to review the assessments and formulate an action plan to prioritize potential improvements. Funding for this project was provided in part by the National Park Service, the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
The assessment found the sites to be in various conditions from the “premiere” Petapawag site in Groton, which is the only concrete ramp site for boat-trailers, to several that are rarely used --perhaps indeed due to difficulty of use. A few sites were impeded by steep approaches from parking to the river, difficult entry from the river bank into the water, bank erosion, or encroaching vegetation. Only a few sites are adequately marked with signage; most are “hidden” and only known to locals, and a couple are privately owned, although not posted “No Trespassing”. Most of the sites are logically located where a road crosses or comes closest to the river. Some could be improved through minor fixes while others demand major fixes such as guard rail modifications. Because none of the sites has visitor usage data, it was very helpful to speak with local residents about site usage. Only a few sites seem to be “officially” maintained, while must rely on maintenance by users. The next step will be for the Study Committee to review the assessments and formulate an action plan to prioritize potential improvements. Funding for this project was provided in part by the National Park Service, the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
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