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

The Blackstone River watershed stretches from the brooks that form its headwaters in Worcester, to its mouth in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. All of these rivers and tributaries drain a land area of over 545 square miles and include over seven thousand acres of ponds, lakes and reservoirs, which converge into the Blackstone River. So your business can be located anywhere in the watershed, and still have an impact on the quality of the water in the mainstem. Therefore, we want everyone to be In Business for the Blackstone!

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 122a 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

River Access Sites Northbridge Uxbridge Millville Blackstone 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 Millville Lock (designed & permitted) Blackstone 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

River Bend Farm Visitor Center 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