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| A view of the new South River launch with the bench in the foreground. |
I’m so
excited to share this news! Thanks to the combined efforts of the Town of
Marshfield, Goodwill Hunters, and the North & South Rivers Watershed
Association, there is a new launch site for canoes, kayaks, SUPs and other
small boats on the South River. Until this spring, those who wanted to paddle
the upper navigable portion of the South River had to risk such challenges as steep
inclines, unsure footing, and poison ivy. But not anymore! This is a prime
example of our Community Preservation funds being put to good use.
Many are
unaware that the South River originates deep in Duxbury. Its source is in the
Round Pond area, and from there it winds unobtrusively through the woods for
several miles. Although one can view it from Route 3, and also from both the
South River Bogs and Camp Wing conservation areas, it remains a narrow and
mostly un-navigable stream until it makes its first “public” appearance at
Veterans Memorial Park in Marshfield. From there it flows under Route 3A, through
South River Park, and behind the playground of South River School, emerging
again at Willow Street. But due to fences, dense vegetation, traffic, and general
navigability none of these are ideal places to access the river by boat.
Just
downstream from Willow Street, however, is the Francis Keville Footbridge, the
location of the South River’s new boat launch. This is the upstream addition we
river enthusiasts have been hoping for! Finally, there is relatively easy
access to this portion of the river!
The Keville
Footbridge was constructed in 2001. You can get there via a 0.15-mile path that
extends behind the CVS on Ocean Street, as well as a 0.25-mile trail that
originates on South River Street. Both access points are along a
de-commissioned section of the Old Colony Railroad. Paddlers should be aware
that launching a boat here requires carrying it first -- a bit of a distance.
It’s worth it, though!
There is a
gate in the middle of the bridge that opens onto a tall metal ramp. The ramp is
steep, but it has railings and a non-slip walkway . . . and it is wide enough
to accommodate a person carrying a kayak. The ramp leads down to a wooden
float, which sits on the water’s surface.
Once you get
your boat on the water, you are in for a treat. This is a quiet section of the
river – bordered on both sides by salt marsh. Those familiar with the lower
portion of South River at Humarock and Rexhame will find this section to have
significantly less traffic. Especially in the summer, when the reeds have grown
tall, it’s hard to believe that civilization is close-by. You’re likely to see
all sorts of wildlife – turtles sunning, river otters playing, any number of
fish and fowl going about their daily routines.
After
passing through the center of Marshfield, the river tucks back into the
marshes. One can view it remotely from various locations along South River
Street, and in the Southport and Rexhame neighborhoods. Downstream from there,
it completely changes character. Its final three miles, along the barrier beach
of Humarock, are very much out-in-the-open.
One of the
many nice things about the lower portion of the South River is that it is wide
and deep enough to be navigable at any tide. The upper portion is another
story. You can still launch a canoe or kayak from the Keville Bridge at low tide,
but you are likely to encounter some obstacles as you proceed. (With a SUP, you
should be able to glide around or over even the shallowest sections). I was
surprised to discover, on a recent excursion, that the upper portion of the
South River has a number of sandbars!
Thus, be
sure to consult a tide chart before you go, and bear in mind that when it’s
high tide at the ocean, it will be another 3-4 hours before it’s high tide at
the Keville Bridge. The height of the tide itself, and the amount of rainfall
in the days and weeks prior, also affect water level. Unlike other sections of
the river, it’s hard to know with much certainty how much water there will be
at a given time. But that’s part of the adventure, right?
Another important
thing to bear in mind: the Town of Marshfield is still fine-tuning the wooden
float at the new launch site. At present, it sits rather high on the water
(probably to accommodate the very heavy metal ramp). Getting into and out of
your vessel could present an unexpected challenge.
That said, the river is shallow enough – at least at lower tides – that you can
easily stand in the water beside the float. The Town of Marshfield hopes to
have this situation remedied soon.
Even if
you’re not interested in launching a boat from the Keville Bridge, it’s worth visiting.
Goodwill Hunters (who also provided funding) has installed a granite bench at
the water’s edge – a tribute to the late Drew and Anjuli Hunter -- and the view
from there is really something. The organization is a big supporter of river
access. (Watch for its annual Duck Derby this fall!) In addition, there are efforts
underway to post signs and construct an informational kiosk along the trail
behind CVS. There have also been murmurs of PFDs and wheeling mechanisms being
available to lend across the street at Levitate.
A Note About Parking: At present the town advises that you drop
off your boat or board at the trailhead behind CVS, and then move your car
across the street to the municipal lot next to Levitate. In the future, they
are hopeful that parking will be available closer to the launch.
Upcoming Event: Let NSTWA show you how to navigate the new
South River kayak/canoe launch! Join us for a paddling trip on Thursday July
14th from 5-7pm. Registration is required at nsrwa.org
by Kezia
Bacon
June 2017
Kezia Bacon's articles appear courtesy of the
North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization
devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of
their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit
www.nsrwa.org. To browse 20 years of nature columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com
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