Don't Get Stranded at Agers Falls on the Moose: Always Sign In & Out (NY)

Chris Koll, a retired American Whitewater board member, has asked us to remind visitors to sign in before boating the Lower Moose. This is required by permit, and a courtesy to the dam operators who have been friendly and cooperative with our community for 16 years.

Boaters planning to paddle the Bottom Moose should be aware that all boaters are required to sign-in at the Fortis Hydro office (located between Agers Falls and the take-out overlooking the right left side of Crystal) before accessing the river. On release days a sign reading "Whitewater recreation sign-in" is placed by the side of the road at the entrance to the office.

The sign-in process is painless, takes about 30 seconds,and can be performed while running shuttle. This procedure has been in effect for 16 years but recently many new boaters apparently are unaware of the requirement (or are simply choosing to ignore the policy).

However, the dam operators do not start the release over Agers until paddlers sign in.

During the spring, there are many weekends when because of lousy weather or high water, no one wants to boat the Bottom. And if no one shows up, the hydro folks don't bother to shut down the turbines.

The hydro personnel keep the water running until everybody is off the river, but they like to get home on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. There have been many instances where they've remained in the office waiting unnecessarily for groups to finish when the boaters have been off the river for several hours and simply neglected to sign-out.

The hydro folks are genuinely nice folks. All boaters need to do is help publicize and then observe the simple, established sign-in procedure and boaters won't get skunked when they arrive at Agers.