The Jonah Center river paddle previously scheduled for Sat. Sept. 3, at 5 p.m. is cancelled because of record flood levels, the dirty condition of the water, and the strong currents.
We will try to find another date when high tide, the availability of the launch site at Harbor Park, and perhaps a rising moon coincide for a fall paddle.
Our new mission in the Floating Meadows is to search the area for the presence of the invasive waterchestnut that threatens tidal inlets along the Connecticut River and to document and remove these plants where they are present.
The Jonah Center’s next program meeting is Caring for Your Trees and Shrubs, with arborist Jane Harris, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 190 Court Street.
Flood time is the best time to paddle, just not in the main ct river itself...launch from cromwell
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that it is great to paddle when the river is flooded, I do think the right call was made in cancelling this event.
ReplyDeleteFolks who turn out for this paddle have a wide range of experience. For those new to paddling, it is not a good idea to go on the river when it is above flood stage, unless accompanied by experienced guides. (This is a meet-up event, and not a guided event) The last paddle the Jonah Center had more than 40 paddlers turned out many with only a bit of paddling experience. It is tough for the Cromwell site to handle launching and landing that many paddlers, and with the bugs and darkness approaching, this would not be a good place to return to. At this late date, it would be difficult to coordinate car pooling from Cromwell, to Harbor Park for this event. I do hope the Jonah Center will be able to reschedule, in the mean time, remember to wear your life jacket whenever you paddle!