VERMONT RIVER CONSERVANCY: Upper Connecticut River Paddler's Trail Strategic Assessment Prepared for The Vermont River Conservancy. 29 Main St. Suite 11 Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Prepared by Noah Pollock 55 Harrison Ave Burlington, Vermont 05401 (802) 540-0319 • [email protected] Updated May 12th, 2009 CONNECTICUT RIVER WATER TRAIL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................2 Results of the Stakeholder Review and Analysis .............................................................................5 Summary of Connecticut River Paddler's Trail Planning Documents .........................................9 Campsite and Access Point Inventory and Gap Analysis .............................................................14 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................29 Appendix A: Connecticut River Primitive Campsites and Access Meeting Notes ...................32 Appendix B: Upper Valley Land Trust Campsite Monitoring Checklist ....................................35 Appendix C: Comprehensive List of Campsites and Access Points .........................................36 Appendix D: Example Stewardship Signage .................................................................................39 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Northern Forest Canoe Trail Railroad Trestle ................................................................2 Figure 2: Excerpt From The CRJC Recreation Managementent Plan .......................................10 Figure 3: "Wet Willy" - A Simple Privy For Primitive Campsites ................................................13 Figure 4: Sign In Register ...................................................................................................................13 Figure 5: Upper Connecticut River Regions And Stewards .........................................................15 Figure 6: Canaan To Columbia ........................................................................................................17 Figure 7: Potential Campsites Near Columbia ..............................................................................18 Figure 8: Columbia To Debanville Landing ...................................................................................19 Figure 9: Debanville Landing To Wyoming Dam .........................................................................21 Figure 10: Potential Campsite Near Guildhall ...............................................................................22 Figure 11: Maidstone Bends To Gilman Dam ..............................................................................23 Figure 12: Gilman Dam To Dodge Falls ........................................................................................24 Figure 13: Dodge Falls To Wilson Landing ...................................................................................25 Figure 14: Wilson Landing To Hoyt's Landing .............................................................................27 UPPER CONNECTICUT RIVER WATER TRAIL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Figure 15: Hoyt's Landing To Stebbin's Island ...............................................................................28 Figure 16: Canaan River Access Signage ........................................................................................30 Figure 17: Old Railroad Trestle Near Maidstone ..........................................................................31 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Upper Valley Land Trust Primitive Campsites ..................................................................6 Table 2. TransCanada Hydro Northeast Connecticut River Facilities ..........................................7 Table 3: River Campsite And Access Point Density Comparisons .............................................12 FIGURE 1: NORTHERN FOREST CANOE TRAIL RAILROAD TRESTLE CAMPSITE 2 UPPER CONNECTICUT RIVER WATER TRAIL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Introduction Report Background As New England’s longest waterway, the Connecticut River is a rich ecological, cultural, and recreational resource that connects the people and places through which it passes. With consistently navigable waters, few portages or difficult rapids, and a rich and varied landscape, the Upper Connecticut River (defined in this report as the stretch of river dividing Vermont and New Hampshire) is being increasingly recognized as premier destination for paddler tourism and recreation. Yet despite the growing need, there is no official paddler's trail. Significant sections still have limited public access, lack official camping sites, and are inadequately signed for visitors. While well-meaning recreation development and strategic planning continues by a variety of organizations, visitors seeking to explore the Upper Connecticut have no designated entity to turn to for guidance, and landowners and stakeholders who wish to help develop new campsites and access points or have concerns about impacts have no clear organization to contact. Over the past ten years, the Vermont River Conservancy has played a role in creating the foundation for an Upper Connecticut River Paddler's Trail by spearheading the development of new public access points, primitive campsites, and portage trails in the northern sections of the river. It is now undertaking an initiative to craft a strategic plan for further developing the recreational resources of the Upper Connecticut River. This assessment serves as the initial step in this process. Study Goals This study builds upon previous planning processes spearheaded by the a Connecticut River Working Group, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, the Nulhegan Gateway Association, and the National Park’s Rivers and Trail Program. It incorporates new field research, analysis and the results of a range of discussions with area landowners and stakeholders. Its goals were to: ϐ Develop a list of organizations who could play a role in the development of an Upper Connecticut River Paddler's Trail; ϐ Conduct interviews with river stewards and knowledgeable individuals to better understand the location of both preexisting and potential campsites and public access points, as well as their current owners and management considerations; ϐ Assess gaps in camping and access sites, and locate prospective sites within those gaps; ϐ Synthesize the findings of previous planning documents and conversations with stakeholders to identify relevant guidelines to follow when developing new campsites and access points. 3 UPPER CONNECTICUT RIVER WATER TRAIL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Study Area This study focused on the Upper Connecticut, defined as the 237 miles of the river between Canaan, Vermont, and Vernon, Vermont. While sections of the Connecticut are navigable upstream of Canaan, intermittent water levels, dangerous rapids, and frequent portages make these reaches largely undesirable for paddlers. Vernon is the southern most town on the river within Vermont. Methodology Area stakeholders were contacted to help address the study’s goals. Stakeholders included: ϐ Kenneth Alton, External Relations Manager, TransCanada Hydro Northeast ϐ Bill Bridge, Former Stewardship Coordinator, Upper Valley Land Trust ϐ Lou Bushy, Forester, Vermont Deparment of Forests, Parks, and Recreation ϐ Jean Dedam, Director, Nulhegan Gateway Association ϐ Representative David Deen, River Steward, Connecticut River Watershed Council ϐ Monica Erhart, Stewardship Coordinator, Upper Valley Land Trust ϐ Jeff Meyers, paddler, former Vermont River Conservancy Director ϐ Luke O’Brien, Outdoor Educator, NorthWoods Stewardship Center ϐ Walter Opuszynski, Trail Director, Northern Forest Canoe Trail ϐ Andy Williams, Executive Director, Hulbert Foundation ϐ Adair Mulligan, Conservation Director, Connecticut River Joint Commissions ϐ Kevin Rose, Paddleways founder and former VRC board member ϐ Bill Schomburg, local paddler and volunteer with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Nulhegan Gateway Association, and Friends of the Nulhegan ϐ Brendan Whitaker, local landowner, Brunswick select board chair, former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources ϐ Sam Ward, landowner, Guildhall, VT ϐ Charlie Wilkinson, seasonal farmer, Singing Cedars Farm, Orwell, VT ϐ Kate Williams, Director, Northern Forest Canoe Trail This study also included two site visits to survey the river with local community members and visit both existing and potential access points and campsites. It draws extensively from planning documents prepared by the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, the National Park Service’s Rivers and Trails Program, the Connecticut River Working Group, and the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s Connecticut River Boating Guide (3rd Edition). To aid with strategic planning, a map was created using Google Earth that contains information on preexisting and potential campsites and access points, details on ownership, and management considerations. 4 UPPER CONNECTICUT RIVER WATER TRAIL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Results of the Stakeholder Review and Analysis A myriad of organizations exist which manage access points and primitive campsites, or otherwise shape recreation development along the Upper Connecticut River. In this dynamic, decentralized effort, creating a unified Connecticut River Paddler's Trail must be a joint effort. However, thanks to a history of collaborative planning, the organizations highlighted