Maury

3/31/14: Hazard log in Kitchen. Log is river level and across Tombstone rock, blocking most of the right side line wood 30 yds below Corner ledge too. Both may move overnight as the flow drops.

Paddlers at the swinging footbridge put-in for Goshen Pass on Virginia’s Maury River were recently confronted with a new sign. Starting January 1, 2012, the VA State Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will require a permit to launch there. In fact, anyone accessing a Wildlife Management Area or public fishing lake must purchase an access permit; the cost is $4 daily, $23 annually for both residents and non-residents. Those possessing a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or have a current Virginia boat registration will not need to buy one. You can order on line; here’s a link: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/access-permit/.

A dedicated crew went in and carved up the rootball and associated trunk at very low water recently. As of this writing there are three large logs around ten feet long semi-floating in the small pool below. While they should wash away at the next significant water event, two of them are wedge-shaped and could lodge anywhere.

While this should go without saying, don't run anything blind and at least take a look at it from the road!

Ken Dubel

Made an ELF run Sunday and the root ball/ tree trunk that was in house rock is now wedged in the large flat rock in the middle in the next ledge below house rock (I have heard a name for this rock but don't remember it). This is the pile of rocks that people who 'sneak' go to the right of,and that line is still clear. The tree is mostly hanging out about 10' to the left of this pile of rock. The log is obvious from the road at lower levels but I think it is just under water at normal flows (>600 cfs) or we just didn't notice it.