Rivanna, North Fork

I am a believer in trying any river once, but I feel like we as locals owe it to non locals to call it like we see it- this river really isn't worth the paddle. Class 1 is the BEST I could call it, and it has a 4 foot dam/portage that lowers its desirability rating even further. I ran it 'high' (600cfs at Earlysville) on 1/1/06 because the Moormans hadn't come up (our best local stream) and I thought being a 'fork' it would be more interesting than the Main Rivanna. I am sad to say it wasn't. If you're interested in an interesting whitewater stream (after all, this isn't American Flatwater) in the Cville area, try the Moormans, Rivanna from Market to Shadwell, or head out farther to the Hardware, Tye, etc....
It might be good to put a cooler of beer in the boat and fish n' float, though.

RT