Seneca Creek

Strainer Report 27 June 2020:

The massive strainer 3/4 mile below Rt28 is now even worse. You could “limbo” under the far left side previously, at flow rates in the sub-250 CFS range. Now, there is another log tangle immediately after the limbo spot, right at water level. Only way through is a VERY dicey pull yourself under manouver to get past it. Also, the creek channel bottom under this strainer is DEEPLY undercut. Probably 8-10 feet deep, with limbs and flotsam intertwined in it. Total death trap. Needs to be cut out NOW.

There’s another strainer upstream of the Tschiffley Mill Dam pool, requiring a VERY precise leftward pivot at the exact moment, in order not to get pinned against the right bank and front of the strainer. This is another tough spot, and dumped half the people in our group as they tried to negotiate it.

The last strainer is downstream of Berryville Road. Easily passed underneath in two places, but it’s a recently fallen tree, and will get lower and lower as time passes, making it more difficult in the future.

The first strainer below Rt28 is the truly dangerous one though, and that’s the one MoCo Parks needs to focus on cutting out before it drowns someone.