Passagassawakeag River

[Ray Wirth]

3-31-08: "Ran" the Passy today . . . or bumped along it's bottom at least. The water level is passable but low. The good news is that with todays rain and snow, the level should be higher tomorrow -- and higher still the next day after that. Race day, we can usually also count on a dam release, so I don't think there is any question that we can count on a good level and flow for the race on Saturday.

The level was high enough to be fun today, but in many places, even when you weren't grounding out, the river depth was shallow enough that it affected your boat speed.



Also saw a group of 3 deer and, later, a group of 3 eagles.

[Ray Wirth]

4-1-08 update from Dale Cross of the Waldo County YMCA:

The dam is in place and holding back approximately 40% of the potential water flow. The river level is thus very low. The pond above the dam still has a lot of ice. Releasing the dam will help the flow on race day, but it's too soon to know whether any rain or melt from this week will help, or what conditions will be like on race day.

_{(Personally, after looking at the forecast, I think we'll have more river than we know what to do with by Saturday. Here's hoping for wild times! --RW)}

[Ray Wirth]

With the warmer temps and yesterday's rain, the nearby Ducktrap River (see image below) has gone from below average to above average flow . Things are looking up!

[Ray Wirth]

A few of us are paddling the Passy this afternoon. Meet us at the take-out on Shepherd Road at 4:45 PM if you'd like to join up. (Send me an email [e-mail] ) if you have questions.