In 2021 Mike Morin and I took some camping gear, food and started paddling toward the ocean from Bartlett, NH on the Saco River. Since then we’ve tried to plan a paddle trip each summer to explore new rivers here in New England. Our motivation is to share some unique or important quality of the rivers. For example, one trip we hiked into a tributary of the Pleasant River to highlight the restoration work being down high in the Penobscot River watershed. Since 2021 we’ve been able to wrangle friends and family to join a trip or two. With the help of Rivers for Change, a non-profit focused on supporting those exploring watersheds from source to sea. Recently I presented our adventure to at a “Art of Biddeford” event right at the outlet of the Saco River and met Kelsey from University of New England and the Saco Watershed Collaborative. Since then we’ve been working to develop a yearly paddling adventure on the Saco River from Source to Sea.
Our plan
We will gather poets, songwriters, botanists, geologists, and any other creatives and scientists that want to experience the river. The adventures will a build a broader and deeper connection to the river and share that experience with others in our community. I’ve developed a few pages that explain our idea in more detail here: Saco River – Source to Sea. I also have a photo essay that tells the story of our adventure on the Sandy River. The Sandy river is important, perhaps some of the best Atlantic Salmon spawning habitat in the Northeast. Dams on the Kennebec and Piscataquis Rivers salmon are limiting access to spawning in this precious waterway. Recent changes in ownership of 4 dams on the Kennebec will hopefully remove those dams to allow unrestricted movement for these endangered fish. The more we experience and connect with our rivers the more people will understand the value of free-flowing rivers.
What can you do?
We want adventurous artists and scientists, and people passionate about rivers to connect with us for the annual adventure down the river. If that’s not you then help us spread the word. Help us tell the story of the river that runs through our backyards. Reach out and start a conversation.