Seneca Creek

Seneca Creek status May 2020, RT 28 to Potomac River

Gage height at Dawsonville, 2.35 ft, 126 cfs

Enough flow for easy paddling the entire trip except for a couple scrapes on shallow gravel riffles here and there.

Two spots with trees entirely across creek. First one is about 3/4 mile from 28, and is extremely large, but allows for a VERY low “limbo” passage at the far left bank of the creek. This would NOT be possible under greater flow conditions, and this would be a very dangerous strainer at higher flows. The second tree is about 1/2 mile below the first one, and offers a easy portage around the gravel bar on the right bank. This is a smaller tree, and could be easily cut out with a chain saw.

There is a tree across the lip of the rubble dam at the mill near Berryville Road. It blocks the best chute, leaving very bumpy rocky passages to the right and left. A good option at this flow level is left side, “dog walking” the boat down on a rope and reboarding at the bottom of the rapid.

There are other trees, but none except those two mentioned above block the entire creek. The rest offer at least some clear passage without difficulties.

Below the mill dam, the rest of the trip down to the Potomac is very easy. There is a massive logjam at the River Road bridge, but it is passable on the far right side.

2.35 ft is about perfect for conditions as they are now. Another 6” of river level would make it impossible to get under the first strainer.