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

2. 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!

3. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. Stanley Woolen Mills
Route 16 - Uxbridge
Access Site
Before
Completed

12. Skull Rock Lock Site
Route 122, Uxbridge
Before
Completed

13. 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

14. Blackstone Gorge
Blackstone, MA
Completed in 2008

15. Blackstone Gorge
Blackstone
Before
Completed

16. 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

17. 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

18. Lonsdale Drive-in Site
In Construction
Completed

19. Albion Site
Before
Completed

20. Completed Kelly House Site

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