River Access: Goose; Bennett; Parking Limits

By Alf Cooley

Goose Creek Valley Corridor

Your Access Committee continues its outreach to the Loudoun County Parks planners, who are starting a 10-year expansion. They are planning a “blue trail” in Goose Creek that could reach 30 miles up to where the creek comes into the county out beyond Middleburg. The Parks Deartment has already built launches near the mouth at Kephart Landing and near the old golf course next to VA Route 7. In discussions with them we’ve given suggestions for how the 20-foot Fairfax Dam might be passed and where put-ins might be placed—notably at US Route 15 (Oaklands) and VA 621 (Evergreen Mills). Scouting for potential landing places, on Feb. 25 a small CCA group paddled the 12-mile section down to the standard Sycolin Road put-in. See the Trip Report.

And in case you heard about another Goose Creek possibility—a permanent, improved landing at the Sycolin Road Bridge in connection with a proposed new housing development: Pam White and Alf Cooley did testify Feb. 10 about the importance of paddling on the Creek at a meeting of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors. The Board on Mar. 2 approved the development and landing, 5-4, only to reverse that approval on Mar. 16.  (See LoudonNow for a report on the opposition that the housing project engendered.)

Bridge Replacement Sparks Discussion on Boater Access with Maryland Department

Seeing the Maryland State Highway Administration replacing the MD 355 bridge over Bennett Creek, a Class II stream in western Montgomery County, in early February, CCA’s Ed Gertler wrote suggesting they include recreational access to streams before they change such crossings. He suggested the SHA consult groups like the CCA when they intended to change a bridge over a waterway with an upstream drainage of over 20 square miles (Bennett at MD 355 is about 30 square miles). He emphasized our interest in avoiding trespassing on private land and in parking away from traffic. The response was quick and responsive, indicating that, while not committing to consulting with the CCA, they indeed evaluate stream access for such projects.  

Parking Constraints

Patapsco

A recent visit to the Ellicott City area established that all of the traditionally allowed parking areas near the Ilchester takeout on the Patapsco River have been prominently posted as No Parking with adamant warnings of towing. The wisest—and the only legal—thing to do for paddling will be to go on downstream and take out in the Patapsco Valley State Park at either the Orange Grove (shorter) or Avalon (longer but easier) picnic area. As for paddling the main Patapsco at all, the recent visit established as well that sewer-related construction where Cedar Branch enters the Patapsco north of Route 40 has been completed and that the river runs through there without obstruction. Unknown as yet is whether they have removed signage at the Old Frederick Rd. put-in that had indicated the river is closed due to this project.

The intel regarding the Patapsco prompted member Tony Allred to comment on parking at two other popular areas for paddlers and hikers, saying as follows:

Sandy Hook

There are now Jersey barriers blocking all the parking areas upstream of Sandy Hook, and the entire Harpers Ferry Road through Sandy Hook from above the US 340 bridge all the way to the river bend going up the hill is marked no parking and presumably towable. 

Lower Gunpowder

All possible places to leave a car along US 40 are now marked no parking and towable, leaving Mariner Park the only takeout for the Lower Gunpowder when Jones Road access is closed.

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