Personal Watercraft
A Personal Watercraft (PWC) is defined as a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as the primary source of motive power, and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. It is not a toy. If you operate one, you have the responsibility of knowing and obeying boating regulations and practicing boating safety.
The U. S. Coast Guard classifies personal watercraft, PWC, as inboard boats. That means personal watercraft are subject to the same rules and requirements as any other powerboat plus additional requirements specific to PWC.
In addition to the general regulations in effect for motorboats, PWC owners must also be aware that there are local laws and ordinances around the country that further restrict PWC operations. They include age of the operator, hours of operation, special no wake zone provisions, assigned operating areas and restrictions, and speed and distance limits. Make certain you know the laws that apply to you in your area of operation. For example, some states prohibit wake jumping or require no-wake speed when within 100 feet of the shoreline. Because PWCs are not equipped with navigation lights operation is prohibited at night and during times of restricted visibility.
Federal Regulations require that all personal watercraft:
be registered and display a registration number in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
have properly fitted, CG approved personal flotation devices (life jackets) for each person on board (In most states they are required to be WORN by a PWC operator or passenger.)
PFDs should have an impact rating equal to, or better than, the PWC maximum speed
have a CG approved, Class B-1 fire extinguisher aboard the PWC
have a lanyard connected to the start/stop switch if your PWC is equipped with such a switch. This will stop the engine if the operator falls off.
The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) also recommends that the operator wear eye protection, a wetsuit, footwear, and gloves.
Many PWC have a lanyard connected to the start/stop switch. If your PWC is equipped with such a switch, it will not start unless the lanyard is attached to it. Never start your engine without attaching the lanyard to your wrist or PFD. If you fall off, the engine automatically stops running so your craft will not travel a great distance and you can easily swim to it. It will prevent the PWC from running unattended in areas populated by swimmers or other watercraft.
PWC operators need to keep in mind that a jet drive requires moving water through the drive nozzle for maneuverability. In other words you must have power applied in order to maintain steering control. If you release the throttle to idle or if the engine shuts off during operation you will lose all steering control. In either situation, the PWC will continue in the direction it was headed before the throttle was released or the engine was shut-off. Operation of the steering control will have no effect. If you are approaching a dock, shore, or other vessel at a speed greater than you can control and you release the throttle to idle or shut off the engine, you will have no maneuvering capability and the PWC will continue its forward movement.
Newer PWCs have a reverse mechanism that you can use to slow the forward motion of the vessel. These PWCs are equipped with cowlings that allow them to operate in reverse. The reverse cowling is a specially designed diverter that can be lowered over the jet nozzle. The water jet produced by the jet nozzle hits the reverse cowling and is directed back toward the front of the PWC, thus producing a force that propels the PWC backward. Although this feature is convenient for low speed operations in close quarters, it can be quite dangerous if used in situations for which it was not designed.
Operating in reverse can greatly reduce the ability to steer. Using the reverse feature at other than idle speed can throw the operator forward, and perhaps off, the PWC. In addition, using reverse at high speed can raise the stern of the PWC, pushing the bow down and under water. If your PWC has this feature you should use it with caution only after you have tested its capabilities and limitations at low speed in open water.
Stability
The hull of a PWC is somewhat unstable while the craft is at rest in the water. PWC become more stable as they pick up speed. The force of the water being propelled under the PWC and out the back adds some support to the hull during movement. Because typical PWC utilize mechanical steering devices and directional jet nozzles to turn their craft, their center of gravity and pivot point are far forward and this can create an abrupt tail sliding instability problem.
Do not exceed the manufacturer's recommended load capacities.
Lookout
Most PWC accidents occur from running into another object, most often, another PWC. Operating in a crowded our congested area requires special precautions. Always keep a proper lookout as to what is going on around you.
Look at what other boats around you are doing
Always look around and behind you before making a turn.
Remember that you must obey all rules of operation as they apply to motorboats.
Larger boats may not even be able to see you if you are too close and may not be able to get out of your way in time.
Keeping a proper lookout can save your life!
Reboarding
Should you fall off your PWC don't abandon it. If it has not righted itself, turn it over. Most PWCs carry a label that shows how to do this. If yours does not, check your owner's manual.
Approach the PWC from the stern and pull your self up onto your knees on the boarding platform.
From there continue to pull yourself back up on the seat.
Be sure to attach the kill switch lanyard to the kill switch and to your body or PFD.
Start up and get back underway.
You should practice reboarding prior to operating the PWC to make sure you are able to do it alone. Remember, a PWC is less stable when idle in the water.
Reserve Fuel Tank
PWCs, like most motorcycles, are equipped with reserve fuel tanks that can be switched to if you run out of fuel. With proper planning you should never have to use your reserve tank. Always plan your outing according to the 1/3 rule to avoid running out of fuel.
Use 1/3 of your fuel going out, 1/3 coming back and 1/3 in reserve. (Do not count the reserve tank in this 1/3.)
Most complaints to law enforcement officials regarding the operation of PWCs fall into the following categories. Avoid these breaches of common courtesy and consideration.
Wake jumping:This is not only irritating to boaters attempting to be watchful and maneuver in heavily congested areas, but it is extremely dangerous. In one case, a wake-jumper in Florida got tangled up in the props of a cabin cruiser and was killed.
No wake zones: If you want to get on the wrong side of a responsible boater, disobey no wake zones. You are likely to find yourself with a ticket, since most boaters and shoreline property owners will not hesitate to report violators of slow-no-wake areas.
High speeds too near shore or other boats: Most states require 100-200 feet of separation between boats and the shore when moving at more than no-wake speeds. (No wake means the slowest possible speed your boat will go and still provide maneuverability.)
Noise:Excessive noise near shore or near anchored boats is sure to draw negative attention. Be considerate of property owners and other boaters.
There are environmental issues that PWC operators need to consider as well:
Pollution: Refuel on land to reduce chances of spillage into the water. Don’t overfill your fuel tank. Check and clean your engine well away from shorelines.
Turbidity: In shallow waters where PWCs can easily operate, the bottom gets stirred up, suspending sediment which cuts down on light penetration and depletes oxygen. This can affect bird and fish feeding. To avoid this, operate your PWC in deeper water. If you do have to traverse shallow water, run at idle speed.
Vegetation: In coastal areas be aware of low tide. Low water levels expose sea grass beds and other delicate vegetation. Disturbances can cause erosion and long lasting damage. As a side effect, ingesting seaweed and seagrass is not good for your engine. Feed it clean water and it will run and maneuver much better.
Wildlife harassment: A PWC near shore can interrupt feeding and nesting wildlife, and cause animals to deviate from their normal behavior. And that, by law, is illegal. Mammals such as otters, manatees, and whales can be injured by direct contact with a boat, and it is believed that the noise from watercraft can even adversely influence breeding cycles and cause birth defects. So avoid areas of high animal populations.
Remember, our waterways belong to everybody! If all boaters act responsibly and courteously, obey the rules, and protect the environment, our seas, lakes and rivers will provide all of us a lifetime of enjoyment and recreation.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Milfoil On Salmond Lake
NORTH BELGRADE -- Divers on Friday scoured the bottom of Salmon Lake, yanking a new and aggressive, invasive-plant species from a cove off Route 8.
In just more than two hours Friday morning, they had bagged more than 70 Eurasian milfoil plants and were expecting to spend the day collecting more.
Since the species was discovered in the lake Aug. 1, the state has launched an ambitious program to find and eradicate it.
"It's the pit bull of milfoil," said Paul Gregory, with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which was conducting Friday's eradication.
Gregory was one of four people working in a driving rain and stubborn wind to eradicate the Eurasian milfoil, which has been found only at one other site in Maine -- a Scarborough gravel pit.
Of 5,700 ponds and lakes in Maine, only 29 contain an invasive, aquatic-plant species, but the Eurasian milfoil is of particular concern because it is more aggressive than other species such as the variable-leaf milfoil found in Messalonskee Lake.
Gregory said Eurasian milfoil has been found in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Canadian provinces. It hitchhikes from one place to another on boats, fishing gear and related equipment.
"This is an unfortunate byproduct of globalization," Gregory said. "People move around a lot."
Salmon and Messalonskee lakes are part of the Belgrade Lakes chain, which include Great, North, East, Long and McGrath ponds.
DEP biologist John McPhedran and Denise Blanchette, a diver contracting with DEP, pulled Eurasian milfoil plants and their root balls from Salmon Lake Friday, placed them in netted bags and sent them to the surface. Gregory and DEP biologist Ray Bouchard hauled the bags into boats.
"It sounds primitive, but hand removal is a very effective method," Gregory said. "We're going to give it our best."
The crew had accessed the shallow cove, which is about five feet deep, from the nearby Spaulding Point boat landing. They erected a 40-foot net in the water near the dam connecting the cove with an outlet stream that goes to Great Pond to prevent milfoil fragments from entering the outlet.
But a resident on Friday presented the DEP workers with a jar of milfoil he said he found in that stream.
"The fragments have gotten by us," Gregory said. "We'll survey the stream right away."
As the team worked, landowner Sam Bouchard of Cozy Cove Cottages stopped to talk with officials and helped erect the net in the cove. He said he was glad they moved quickly to eradicate the plant.
"Hopefully, they get it all so it doesn't spread," Bouchard said of the milfoil.
Don Borman, president of the McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association, also was on hand, snapping photographs for the association's newsletter. The group has been staying abreast of the milfoil situation and updating members. Borman said the association's goal is to help protect the environment and water quality and maintain it for future generations.
He said about 40 people have volunteered to help survey particular areas of the shoreline of Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond for milfoil, but more volunteers are needed and should call the DEP at 287-3901 and ask for Bouchard.
"Also, anyone who knows of private launch areas should let the DEP know," he said.
Gregory said in about three weeks he will probably be able to release information about other areas of the pond and lake where milfoil may be located.
The spreading of milfoil into Salmon Lake likely occurred from the boat landing, as the plant is carried from one body of water to another by boats, canoes, paddles and fishing tackle, Gregory said.
People are being asked to inspect their boats, particularly propellers, for even small amounts of milfoil.
"That's all it takes to start a new infestation," Gregory said.
Blanchette spent much of the morning collecting milfoil from an area in the cove identified as having a dense accumulation of the plant. McPhedran surfaced frequently near the dam, producing a five-foot-long section of plant at one point.
He also garnered smaller fragments which, if containing leaves and nodes, can reproduce quickly.
"That little root right there is the adventitious root," McPhedran said. "It's the root coming off of the above-ground stem of the plant. I don't know if this root is coming off of Denise's (plants Blanchette was collecting nearby), but it's not very encouraging."
The crew expected to complete milfoil eradication in the cove on Friday but visibility was poor because of a silty lake bottom, Gregory said. The equipment will remain another couple of weeks, he said.
The milfoil collected Friday would likely be composted, he said.
Milfoil, when identified, must be eradicated quickly to prevent infestation, said Gregory.
"Speed is of the essence," he said.
Anyone finding what they believe is Eurasian milfoil is asked to place it in a Ziploc bag and mail it to the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, 24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, ME 04210, or call 783-7733.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
In just more than two hours Friday morning, they had bagged more than 70 Eurasian milfoil plants and were expecting to spend the day collecting more.
Since the species was discovered in the lake Aug. 1, the state has launched an ambitious program to find and eradicate it.
"It's the pit bull of milfoil," said Paul Gregory, with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which was conducting Friday's eradication.
Gregory was one of four people working in a driving rain and stubborn wind to eradicate the Eurasian milfoil, which has been found only at one other site in Maine -- a Scarborough gravel pit.
Of 5,700 ponds and lakes in Maine, only 29 contain an invasive, aquatic-plant species, but the Eurasian milfoil is of particular concern because it is more aggressive than other species such as the variable-leaf milfoil found in Messalonskee Lake.
Gregory said Eurasian milfoil has been found in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Canadian provinces. It hitchhikes from one place to another on boats, fishing gear and related equipment.
"This is an unfortunate byproduct of globalization," Gregory said. "People move around a lot."
Salmon and Messalonskee lakes are part of the Belgrade Lakes chain, which include Great, North, East, Long and McGrath ponds.
DEP biologist John McPhedran and Denise Blanchette, a diver contracting with DEP, pulled Eurasian milfoil plants and their root balls from Salmon Lake Friday, placed them in netted bags and sent them to the surface. Gregory and DEP biologist Ray Bouchard hauled the bags into boats.
"It sounds primitive, but hand removal is a very effective method," Gregory said. "We're going to give it our best."
The crew had accessed the shallow cove, which is about five feet deep, from the nearby Spaulding Point boat landing. They erected a 40-foot net in the water near the dam connecting the cove with an outlet stream that goes to Great Pond to prevent milfoil fragments from entering the outlet.
But a resident on Friday presented the DEP workers with a jar of milfoil he said he found in that stream.
"The fragments have gotten by us," Gregory said. "We'll survey the stream right away."
As the team worked, landowner Sam Bouchard of Cozy Cove Cottages stopped to talk with officials and helped erect the net in the cove. He said he was glad they moved quickly to eradicate the plant.
"Hopefully, they get it all so it doesn't spread," Bouchard said of the milfoil.
Don Borman, president of the McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association, also was on hand, snapping photographs for the association's newsletter. The group has been staying abreast of the milfoil situation and updating members. Borman said the association's goal is to help protect the environment and water quality and maintain it for future generations.
He said about 40 people have volunteered to help survey particular areas of the shoreline of Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond for milfoil, but more volunteers are needed and should call the DEP at 287-3901 and ask for Bouchard.
"Also, anyone who knows of private launch areas should let the DEP know," he said.
Gregory said in about three weeks he will probably be able to release information about other areas of the pond and lake where milfoil may be located.
The spreading of milfoil into Salmon Lake likely occurred from the boat landing, as the plant is carried from one body of water to another by boats, canoes, paddles and fishing tackle, Gregory said.
People are being asked to inspect their boats, particularly propellers, for even small amounts of milfoil.
"That's all it takes to start a new infestation," Gregory said.
Blanchette spent much of the morning collecting milfoil from an area in the cove identified as having a dense accumulation of the plant. McPhedran surfaced frequently near the dam, producing a five-foot-long section of plant at one point.
He also garnered smaller fragments which, if containing leaves and nodes, can reproduce quickly.
"That little root right there is the adventitious root," McPhedran said. "It's the root coming off of the above-ground stem of the plant. I don't know if this root is coming off of Denise's (plants Blanchette was collecting nearby), but it's not very encouraging."
The crew expected to complete milfoil eradication in the cove on Friday but visibility was poor because of a silty lake bottom, Gregory said. The equipment will remain another couple of weeks, he said.
The milfoil collected Friday would likely be composted, he said.
Milfoil, when identified, must be eradicated quickly to prevent infestation, said Gregory.
"Speed is of the essence," he said.
Anyone finding what they believe is Eurasian milfoil is asked to place it in a Ziploc bag and mail it to the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, 24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, ME 04210, or call 783-7733.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Lake Assoc. Message
A message from the Messalonskee lake Accoc.
Dear Messalonskee Lake Association Member,
The summer is off and running and the Lake Association has been
active on several fronts:
Milfoil Management Plan - The Lake Association has drafted a milfoil
management plan that documents our plans for Educating, Monitoring
and helping to Mitigate the spread of milfoil on the lake. This will
be emailed to you in the next few weeks once it is complete for your
review. In addition to this work we are continuing to monitor the
Milfoil in the lake. In early June the Lake Association in
conjunction with the State of Maine placed seven additional Milfoil
Buoys in the lake. Two of these are on the Northern (Oakland) end
and Five were in the Southern end (Belgrade) end. We also continue
to support the Courtesy Boat Inspections being conducted at the
Oakland and Sidney public boat landings.
Milfoil and Safety Zone information packet - The Lake Association has
prepared 200 information packets to be given out to boaters on the
lake this summer. The packet consists of a map pf the Milfoil and
Safety Zones mentioned above, along with other boat, navigation and
fishing information. You can see a copy of the map that has been
included by going to the website and looking at the NEWS items, or by
clicking on this link -
http://www.snowpond.org/Milfoil_Safety_Zones.pdf
Summer Lake Patrol - We have been working all winter with the Town of
Oakland to plan an early start to the Lake Safety Patrol. This year
the Lake Patrol will cover every good weather weekend between June
14th and September 1st, including some additional coverage over the
busy 4th of July week. The Oakland Police Department will be
manning the boat during these Safety Patrols.
REMINDER - If you have not paid your dues yet for 2008, please go to
the website and renew online or send your dues ($15.00 Individual,
$25.00 Family, or other special amount) to SP/MLA Post Office Box 532,
Oakland, Me 04963
We hope you will continue to support the Messalonskee Lake
Association and that you will have a very wonderful Summer on the
lake
Mike Willey
President, Messalonskee Lake Association
Dear Messalonskee Lake Association Member,
The summer is off and running and the Lake Association has been
active on several fronts:
Milfoil Management Plan - The Lake Association has drafted a milfoil
management plan that documents our plans for Educating, Monitoring
and helping to Mitigate the spread of milfoil on the lake. This will
be emailed to you in the next few weeks once it is complete for your
review. In addition to this work we are continuing to monitor the
Milfoil in the lake. In early June the Lake Association in
conjunction with the State of Maine placed seven additional Milfoil
Buoys in the lake. Two of these are on the Northern (Oakland) end
and Five were in the Southern end (Belgrade) end. We also continue
to support the Courtesy Boat Inspections being conducted at the
Oakland and Sidney public boat landings.
Milfoil and Safety Zone information packet - The Lake Association has
prepared 200 information packets to be given out to boaters on the
lake this summer. The packet consists of a map pf the Milfoil and
Safety Zones mentioned above, along with other boat, navigation and
fishing information. You can see a copy of the map that has been
included by going to the website and looking at the NEWS items, or by
clicking on this link -
http://www.snowpond.org/Milfoil_Safety_Zones.pdf
Summer Lake Patrol - We have been working all winter with the Town of
Oakland to plan an early start to the Lake Safety Patrol. This year
the Lake Patrol will cover every good weather weekend between June
14th and September 1st, including some additional coverage over the
busy 4th of July week. The Oakland Police Department will be
manning the boat during these Safety Patrols.
REMINDER - If you have not paid your dues yet for 2008, please go to
the website and renew online or send your dues ($15.00 Individual,
$25.00 Family, or other special amount) to SP/MLA Post Office Box 532,
Oakland, Me 04963
We hope you will continue to support the Messalonskee Lake
Association and that you will have a very wonderful Summer on the
lake
Mike Willey
President, Messalonskee Lake Association
Thursday, July 3, 2008
MaineToday.com | News Update: Coast Guard warning boaters
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE
The United States Coast Guard is warning boaters and paddlers to use common sense and refrain from drinking alcohol during the upcoming holiday weekend.
Al Johnson, a Coast Guard recreational boating specialist, said 38 people have died on July 4 over the last decade, making it the deadliest boating holiday in the Northeast region, which includes all the New England states, plus sections of New York and New Jersey.
Alcohol has been involved in 16 of those fatalities, Johnson"said.
The United States Coast Guard is warning boaters and paddlers to use common sense and refrain from drinking alcohol during the upcoming holiday weekend.
Al Johnson, a Coast Guard recreational boating specialist, said 38 people have died on July 4 over the last decade, making it the deadliest boating holiday in the Northeast region, which includes all the New England states, plus sections of New York and New Jersey.
Alcohol has been involved in 16 of those fatalities, Johnson"said.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Kennebec River: Waterville to Augusta
From time to time I find an article that I have to post(Hey its my blog,I can post what ever I want).This may or may not relate to the lake.
This is one of those times.
I love the Kennebec river,paddle it or fish it,always a great time.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Kennebec River: Waterville to Augusta
By Michael Perry
Paddle name: Kennebec River: Waterville to Augusta
Nearest town: Waterville
Region: Kennebec
Water type: River
Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 8-17 miles, depending on take-out
Put-in: Waterville boat launch facility just upriver of the Donald V. Carter Memorial Bridge on river right. Refer to the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer maps No. 21, No. 13, and No. 12 for help in getting to the launch site and down to Augusta.
Take-out: Augusta boat launch facility on river left a few yards below Old Fort Western. For a shorter trip take out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville.
Other: The trip can be shortened by taking out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville.
Maps:
Get driving directions from MapQuest.
View a topo map from Maptech MapServer.
Paddle with the flow of history, past and present, down the Kennebec River from Waterville to Augusta and enjoy great wildlife viewing all along the way. As the swift current carries you south to Augusta, imagine Benedict Arnold's ill-fated march to Quebec in 1775 against the flow to Norridgewock, and think of a river tamed by the Edwards Dam from 1837 to its precedent-setting removal in July 1999. You are now paddling a river running free and wild once again from Waterville to the sea.
It is a 17-mile paddle from the Waterville boat launch facility on river right just upriver of the Donald V. Carter Memorial Bridge to the Augusta boat launch facility on river left a few yards below Old Fort Western. The trip can be shortened by taking out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville. Spot a vehicle on either end or be creative. We turned our excursion into a two-sport exploratory by leaving our bikes at a helpful local citizen's house in Augusta and biking back to Waterville via Route 201. Refer to the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer maps No. 21, No. 13, and No. 12 for help in getting to the launch site and down to Augusta.
Plan your outing with an eye on the weather and wind direction. If you have the flexibility, wait until there is a north-northwesterly wind. Coupled with the swift springtime flow of river, you will fly along. We paddled on a recent Saturday morning with a 20-knot tailwind that had us in Augusta after only three hours of paddling at a relaxed pace. A stiff southerly wind would have extended our paddling time and exertion levels considerably.
Hundreds of swallows darted over the water in pursuit of recently hatched insects as we headed out into the river. Their white underparts flashed brilliantly in the mid-morning sun. The paddling was effortless and as we passed by the Carter bridge abutments we were astounded how fast we were moving.
A bald eagle circled overhead, white head and tail feathers brilliant against the clear blue sky. The removal of Edwards Dam was justified in part by the prospects of migratory fish returning to their historical spawning grounds in the freshwater streams north of Augusta. More fish will bring more fishermen and more dollars, and also more birds to feed on those growing populations of fish.
Two more eagles appeared a few miles downriver, and we wondered if the day would soon be here that eagles in Maine would be as common as eagles are today in Alaska. Osprey, hawks, and turkey vultures took turns entertaining us as the miles flew by. We spent as much time looking skyward as we did down river.
South of Sydney a number of logging piers dot the edge of the river, tilting downriver and slowly decaying from their decades of use in corralling and directing logs down the river. The last log drive on the Kennebec took place in 1976. Since then the river has undergone a true reincarnation, slowly returning to a cleaner and wilder state.
Seven-Mile Island is the only island you will pass by on the Waterville-Augusta portion of the Kennebec. Located just north of the Augusta city line in the town of Vassalboro, it sits like a chockstone in the middle of the river with rushing waters flushing by on both sides. North of the island 14 large, 20-foot by 20-foot piers extend up the river. They are massive and look like a line of large, roofless log cabins filled with rocks. We were awestruck watching the water sweep around them, creating powerful eddies and current lines. Unless you eddy out behind one you will be by them in a flash.
The island and pier works, with their boom chains attached, provided one last spot to harness, control and delay logs on their last few miles of journey to the Augusta mills. "The Seven-Mile Island piers are the last impressive set of piers you'll see on the whole Kennebec," forester and historian Marc Johnson says. We were impressed.
A few miles north of Augusta we caught the first glimpses of civilization. Up to that point we had enjoyed an uninterrupted corridor of riverside trees just starting to display their fresh spring leaves, with no homes and development anywhere to be seen, except railroad tracks paralleling river left.
The dramatic outline of church steeples and the state Capitol building filled the horizon. Feeling as free and exhilarated as the river, we hurtled down through the waters cascading through what once was the site of Edwards Dam. We were suddenly overcome with a feeling of deep gratitude for the state and federal agencies and members of the Kennebec Coalition whose foresight and hard work helped bring about the reality of a free-flowing Kennebec south of Waterville. From put-in to take-out it had been a privilege to have paddled a free river once more, and to see firsthand how this grand river has responded to the removal of Edwards Dam. Come see and feel it for yourself this spring.
Canoeists and kayakers exploring this stretch of river should be proficient paddlers. In the summertime, at normal water levels, there are a few short Class I-II stretches. An 1824 War Department survey listed five miles of rapids in this stretch of river: Petty's Rapids, Six-Mile Falls, Bacon's Rapids, Babcock's Rapids and Coon's Rapids.
Michael Perry is the former director of the L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools and founder of Dreams Unlimited, specializing in inspiring outdoor slide programs for businesses, schools, and civic groups.
This is one of those times.
I love the Kennebec river,paddle it or fish it,always a great time.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Kennebec River: Waterville to Augusta
By Michael Perry
Paddle name: Kennebec River: Waterville to Augusta
Nearest town: Waterville
Region: Kennebec
Water type: River
Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 8-17 miles, depending on take-out
Put-in: Waterville boat launch facility just upriver of the Donald V. Carter Memorial Bridge on river right. Refer to the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer maps No. 21, No. 13, and No. 12 for help in getting to the launch site and down to Augusta.
Take-out: Augusta boat launch facility on river left a few yards below Old Fort Western. For a shorter trip take out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville.
Other: The trip can be shortened by taking out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville.
Maps:
Get driving directions from MapQuest.
View a topo map from Maptech MapServer.
Paddle with the flow of history, past and present, down the Kennebec River from Waterville to Augusta and enjoy great wildlife viewing all along the way. As the swift current carries you south to Augusta, imagine Benedict Arnold's ill-fated march to Quebec in 1775 against the flow to Norridgewock, and think of a river tamed by the Edwards Dam from 1837 to its precedent-setting removal in July 1999. You are now paddling a river running free and wild once again from Waterville to the sea.
It is a 17-mile paddle from the Waterville boat launch facility on river right just upriver of the Donald V. Carter Memorial Bridge to the Augusta boat launch facility on river left a few yards below Old Fort Western. The trip can be shortened by taking out at the Sydney boat launch facility on river right, eight miles south of Waterville. Spot a vehicle on either end or be creative. We turned our excursion into a two-sport exploratory by leaving our bikes at a helpful local citizen's house in Augusta and biking back to Waterville via Route 201. Refer to the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer maps No. 21, No. 13, and No. 12 for help in getting to the launch site and down to Augusta.
Plan your outing with an eye on the weather and wind direction. If you have the flexibility, wait until there is a north-northwesterly wind. Coupled with the swift springtime flow of river, you will fly along. We paddled on a recent Saturday morning with a 20-knot tailwind that had us in Augusta after only three hours of paddling at a relaxed pace. A stiff southerly wind would have extended our paddling time and exertion levels considerably.
Hundreds of swallows darted over the water in pursuit of recently hatched insects as we headed out into the river. Their white underparts flashed brilliantly in the mid-morning sun. The paddling was effortless and as we passed by the Carter bridge abutments we were astounded how fast we were moving.
A bald eagle circled overhead, white head and tail feathers brilliant against the clear blue sky. The removal of Edwards Dam was justified in part by the prospects of migratory fish returning to their historical spawning grounds in the freshwater streams north of Augusta. More fish will bring more fishermen and more dollars, and also more birds to feed on those growing populations of fish.
Two more eagles appeared a few miles downriver, and we wondered if the day would soon be here that eagles in Maine would be as common as eagles are today in Alaska. Osprey, hawks, and turkey vultures took turns entertaining us as the miles flew by. We spent as much time looking skyward as we did down river.
South of Sydney a number of logging piers dot the edge of the river, tilting downriver and slowly decaying from their decades of use in corralling and directing logs down the river. The last log drive on the Kennebec took place in 1976. Since then the river has undergone a true reincarnation, slowly returning to a cleaner and wilder state.
Seven-Mile Island is the only island you will pass by on the Waterville-Augusta portion of the Kennebec. Located just north of the Augusta city line in the town of Vassalboro, it sits like a chockstone in the middle of the river with rushing waters flushing by on both sides. North of the island 14 large, 20-foot by 20-foot piers extend up the river. They are massive and look like a line of large, roofless log cabins filled with rocks. We were awestruck watching the water sweep around them, creating powerful eddies and current lines. Unless you eddy out behind one you will be by them in a flash.
The island and pier works, with their boom chains attached, provided one last spot to harness, control and delay logs on their last few miles of journey to the Augusta mills. "The Seven-Mile Island piers are the last impressive set of piers you'll see on the whole Kennebec," forester and historian Marc Johnson says. We were impressed.
A few miles north of Augusta we caught the first glimpses of civilization. Up to that point we had enjoyed an uninterrupted corridor of riverside trees just starting to display their fresh spring leaves, with no homes and development anywhere to be seen, except railroad tracks paralleling river left.
The dramatic outline of church steeples and the state Capitol building filled the horizon. Feeling as free and exhilarated as the river, we hurtled down through the waters cascading through what once was the site of Edwards Dam. We were suddenly overcome with a feeling of deep gratitude for the state and federal agencies and members of the Kennebec Coalition whose foresight and hard work helped bring about the reality of a free-flowing Kennebec south of Waterville. From put-in to take-out it had been a privilege to have paddled a free river once more, and to see firsthand how this grand river has responded to the removal of Edwards Dam. Come see and feel it for yourself this spring.
Canoeists and kayakers exploring this stretch of river should be proficient paddlers. In the summertime, at normal water levels, there are a few short Class I-II stretches. An 1824 War Department survey listed five miles of rapids in this stretch of river: Petty's Rapids, Six-Mile Falls, Bacon's Rapids, Babcock's Rapids and Coon's Rapids.
Michael Perry is the former director of the L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools and founder of Dreams Unlimited, specializing in inspiring outdoor slide programs for businesses, schools, and civic groups.
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