Blackstone River Access and Volunteer Stewardship Updates November 16, 2011

Blackstone River Access Blackstone River Access and Volunteer and Volunteer

Stewardship UpdatesStewardship Updates

November 16, 2011November 16, 2011

Annual Clean-ups• Two annual events – Earth Day (April) and Make

a Difference/Park Serve Day (October)

• Each event attracts over 100 volunteers and targets five to eight sites

NIP – No Invasive Plants

• Hands on training to engage locals in identification and management of invasive aquatic plants

• Partnership with DCR / River Bend Farm to remove water chestnut plants from Rice City Pond– Pull the Plants Party – Two events removed move than 20

cubic yards of plant material!

• 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

Goal of The River Access Goal of The River Access ProgramProgram

• 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.

The River’s Popularity Has The River’s Popularity Has Caused Some Problems Caused Some Problems

River Access SitesPhase I / MassachusettsBlackstone River Watershed Association &MASS Dept of Conservation and Recreation

NorthbridgePlummer’s Landing (Completed in 2011)Riverdale Mills (completed 2006)

MillvilleMillville Lock (In Construction)

UxbridgeHartford Avenue (Completed in 2011)Stanley Woolen Portage (completed in 2006)Route 16 (completed in 2009Route 122 (completed in 2009)

BlackstoneBlackstone Gorge (completed in 2008)

• 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

Upper Sections of the Upper Sections of the BlackstoneBlackstone

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

Massachusetts Massachusetts Improvement Work Improvement Work

CompletedCompleted

Stanley Woolen MillsStanley Woolen MillsRoute 16 - UxbridgeRoute 16 - Uxbridge

Access SiteAccess Site

Before Completed

Skull Rock Lock SiteRoute 122, Uxbridge

Before Completed

Blackstone GorgeBlackstone

Before Completed

Current River Access Projects

• East Hartford Ave, Uxbridge

• Plummer’s Landing, Northbridge

• Millville Lock, Millville

• Signage needed at several locations• 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

Some Remaining IssuesSome Remaining Issues

Questions and Discussion

Access and Portages in Rhode Island

• Access and portage sites exist at– Cole 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

Questions and Discussion