Connecticut River Flow Studies Reveal Boating Opportunities

Over the past year, American Whitewater, New England FLOW and Appalachian Mountain Club have been working with hydropower utilities in the northeast to complete flow studies as part of the relicensing of five hydropower porjects along the Connecticut River. This past summer, the flow studies at Sumners Falls/Hartland (VT/NH) and Turners Falls (MA) demonstrated that with appropriate flows, there are high quality boating opportunities available at both locations. Next year, we will assist with the completion of the final flow study at Bellows Falls (VT/NH).

 

We anticipate that once the studies have been completed, we will negotiate scheduled whitewater releases with FirstLight and TransCanada that will result in numerous new boating opportunities on the main stem of the Connecticut providing opportunities for playboating and down river trips for beginning and intermediate paddlers. At Sumners Falls (also known as Harland Rapids), there are a series of ledges that form significant play features in an easily accessible park-and-play location. Turners Falls is the location of a 2.7 mile river section that has been dewatered by hydropower operations, would provide boating opportunities for a range of boater types and abilities once flows are restored. And at Bellows Falls, a dewatered mile long segment of the river would make an ideal location for skill development, play boating and potentially a whitewater park once an obsolete low-head dam is removed.

 

We look forward to completing the flow studies and securing releases for the boating community.