Paddle Pickup 2008
This year the Bardstown Boaters hosted their 4th Annual Paddle Pickup on the Beech Fork of the Salt River in Bardstown, KY. The Bardstown Boaters along with help from a total near 50 volunteers from across the state cleaned well over a ton of garbage from the Beech Fork. The section cleaned was from highway 49 to the Nelson County Fairgrounds.
The Paddle Pickup has now
cleaned 13 miles of the Beech Fork in all, from
Highway 605 in Manton to Highway 31E in Bardstown.
The Bardstown Boaters are all ready looking forward
to cleaning up more waste from our local waterways
next year.
A very special thanks tp these people and
organizations who make the Paddle Pickup such a huge
success.
Mike Hammons &
Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak
DeanWatts & Nelson County Government
The Bardstown Rotary Club
Brad Hurst
Kenny Fogle & WBRT
David White
David Adams
Laura Blair (Newcomb Oil)
Jerry Boone & Boone’s Butcher Shop
Jennifer Waldron & 3D Graphics
Patrick Hayden & Keene’s Depot
Bardstown Boaters At It Again
From: The Kentucky Standard
By STAFF REPORT
This Saturday the Bardstown Boaters, a local whitewater paddling and water conservation group, will host its fourth annual “Paddle Pick up.”
Each year the group cleans up a different four-mile section of the Beech Fork River. This year the group will pickup between KY 49 and The Nelson County Fairgrounds. Those interested can meet at 9 a.m. at Keene’s Depot at 8 Old Bloomfield Pike. Canoes will be available to those who do not have their own kayak or canoe, provided by Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak. A shuttle will take the cleanup crew to the put in, the event is expected to last until 3 - 4 p.m.
The Bardstown group strives to meet water conservation, sustainability, energy conservation, and habitat conservation goals in Nelson County.
The local initiative is to clean up local waterways and promote awareness that coincides with National River Cleanup, a year-long initiative that kicks off May 31- June 8.
In the past three years the Bardstown Boaters and other volunteers have cleaned four tons of garbage and more than 300 tires out of the Beech Fork River.
“People should come out to clean out local waterways,” and no experience is necessary, said Bardstown Boaters president, Spalding Hurst.
Those interested in learning more about white water, canoeing or kayaking should visit www.bardstownboaters.com.
Paddle Pickup This Saturday!
The Bardstown Boaters along with local Boy Scout Troops and members of the community will be paddling the Beech Fork in Nelson County and removing garbage from the waterway.
For more information visit the Paddle Pickup page of the website or visit the the forum. But what ever you do, just be sure to join us this Saturday.
Press: The News-Enterprise | American Rivers
Body Found in Beech Fork River
From the Kentucky Standard
A 67-year-old Bardstown man was found dead in the Beech Fork River Tuesday. Authorities had searched for John Brantley Stephens, 5120 Springfield Road, since he was reported missing Sunday by his daughter.
He was last seen May 8, according to police.
At about 8 a.m. on Sunday, sheriff’s deputies found Stephens’ silver Dodge Dakota pickup truck stuck in the mud on Manton Road, according to police. Stephens was described as being in poor health, according to Gary Luce of Marion County EMS.
A search for Stephens ensued, centered near the Nelson/Washington county line, by units from the Bardstown Fire and Nelson County Sheriff’s departments and emergency personnel from Washington and Marion counties, who were providing mutual aid.
Stephens’ body was found several miles down river near KY 49 at about 11:40 a.m. by deputies searching the river.
The investigation is ongoing pending the medical examiner’s review.
Beech Fork Expedition
A group of ten Bardstown Boaters paddled 20 miles of the Beech Fork on Saturday and Sunday. They ran from Maud, KY to Highway 49.
Here are pictures from the trip.
Here is the GPS Route of the trip.
Jay Thomas has this report.
Great trip. Then entire Maud to HWY 49 is a great run, but the Maud to Fredericksburg section is a definite plus with many riffles and current to keep everything moving. At 300 CFS the entire run was done at the minimum required flow IMO. I'm interested to see the Maud to Fredericksburg with more water. Wildlife was the coolest with sightings of a racoon, deer, and plenty of birds. Several red tail hawk nests along the float keep the prey birds soaring and screaching. Plus the surprising nesting sights of the herons. At only two locations along the float Bill counted over 100 nests, at both locations most nests crowded in one to two trees.
Manton Bridge to HWY 49 is a wonderful section to have the Paddle Pickup, as long as there is enough flow. There is plenty of trash to pickup and water time of only about 3 hours it should be great. I think the 250 to 300 cfs should be a minimum for that.
Paddle Pickup May 31st
The 2008 flyer for the Paddle Pickup is here. Download it, print it out and tell all your friends!
Download Flyer (8mb)
Beech Fork Surf Wave Discovered
Reported By Spalding Hurst
While in the Boston, KY area yesterday, I had a chance to check out a portion of the Beech Fork near my cousin's farm. I couldn't believe what I found. A perfect surfing wave that seems to be good at many levels and with great access from Highway 62. I would compare this wave to Surfers on the Cumberland though not as wide.
What is even stranger is it appears that some kayakers have been to this spot before. I found a pogie on the ground!
The level this day was about 850cfs, but it looks to be very good at most any level.
I am pumped about this wave. As soon as I get on it and get some pictures of it I plan to name it after the club. I am going to try and go down there again one night this week.
Beech Fork Overnight Trip Planned
The Bardstown Boaters are planning an over night canoe trip on the Beech Fork on April 18-19th. This will serve as a information gathering expedition for the Paddle Pickup as The bardstown Boaters will be looking for a new section of the river to clean up. Please feel free to join in on this laid back flat water trip down our most local of water ways.
You can discuss the details of the trip in the forum at this link. You can find out more information about this year's Paddle Pickup here.
Bardstown Visuals
After the heavy rains of last week, here are a couple of visuals of the Beech Fork and Rowan Creek in Bardstown, KY.
Beech Fork 6500cfs
Above is the Beech Fork
at about 6500cfs. You are looking at the rubble dam which is completely
washed out at this level.
Below are pictures of the large drop on Rowan Creek.
This stream feeds into the Beech Fork near the rubble
dam. These falls are about 3 miles upstream of the
confluence with the Beech Fork. Rowan Creek almost
had enough water in it to be runnable this day.
Rowan Creek
There is a second drop of
about 3 feet, downstream of the falls. That spot may
be a good park and play feature. It may have been
good at this level or with just a little more water.
Just needed a little more warmth as well.
Rowan Creek
Fore a look of the Rockcastle River at high water check out these pictures by Josh Carpenter. http://www.flickr.com/photos/21842231@N05
Beech Fork Estates
If anyone is looking for a place right on the Beech Fork just down from the future site of the Bardstown Whitewater Park, you should check out the land at Beech Fork Estates.
Beech Fork Estates Website
Realtor.com
- Located in historic Bardstown Kentucky.
- Selling 105 tracks starting at $10,000/acre, ranging from 1 to 10 acres.
- On new blacktop roads with city water and other utilities.
- Restricted to a minimum of 1400 sq. ft. brick homes with 2 car garages.
Letter to Editor Regarding June 9th Beech Fork River Clean Up
On Saturday, June 9th, the Bardstown Boaters held their third annual river clean up of the Beech Fork, commonly referred to as the Paddle Pick Up. By all accounts the Paddle Pick Up was once again a huge success! This year’s event focused on the section of the Beech Fork, which runs from the Nelson County Fair Grounds to the 31E Bridge. Over 50 volunteers participated this year and either canoed, kayaked or walked the banks of the Beech Fork collecting trash of all shapes and sizes. By the end of the day, we removed over three tons of garbage from the river including over eighty automobile tires, a computer monitor, a Lexington Herald-Leader Newspaper Dispenser, and more beer cans than we could count.
This event would not be possible without the assistance of Mike Hammons, owner and operator of Horizon Hoppers Outfitters (www.horizonhopper.com). Horizon Hoppers provided the canoes, which enabled us to put over thirty volunteers on the river. The Bardstown Boaters also want to thank the Nelson County Government for providing the industrial dumpster and garbage bags. In addition, we want to thank the Bluegrass Tavern and Smith Brothers Distributors for this year’s Paddle Pick Up banner. Moreover, we want to thank the Bardstown Rotary Club for their continued financial support, which paid for the event t-shirts that were handed out to the volunteers. This year a special thanks goes out to the Boy Scout Troops 142 and 147. The involvement of the local Boy Scout Troops added new energy to this year’s event and we hope to have both troops back again next year.
We welcome anyone interested in river conservation or the Bardstown Boaters to visit our website at www.bardstownboaters.com. Even though the past three Paddle Pick Ups have been hugely successful, there is still a mountain of garbage to be removed from the Beech Fork. The first step to resolving this tragic problem is to stop contributing to it. The state of the Beech Fork is a community wide problem, and it will take a community wide effort to correct. Therefore, the Bardstown Boaters challenge the Bardstown / Nelson County community to stop polluting our rivers and woodlands. Collectively as a community we can reverse the environmental damage done and restore the health of the Beech Fork.
Sincerely,
Justin Janes
Environmental Director
Bardstown Boaters
Beech Fork Duck Race
Beech Fork water level: 20cfs
Today was the Duck Race fundraiser for project graduation and the United Way. The Bardstown Boates were helping out with the event, so Kenny, Jay and I decided to get out there early to paddle up the Beech Fork and scout things for the Paddle Pickup in two weeks.
We put on at the dam in the very low water conditions, but with the pool behind the dam we were able to paddle with no problems. We went up to the BG bridge where the water finally shallowed a bit, and then we paddled back. Not much current out there, lots of scum on the water surface.
We had a good look at the rubble dam in the low water. The drop was well defined and all the rocks were uncovered. Also it appears that someone had been down there taking grades at the rubble dam. Hopefully it was someone who might help with the park.
At 2pm we had the big
duck race. Dropping 1200 rubber ducks at the rubble
dam, they drifted to the bridge and across the finish
line. The winner recieves $1000 and over $3000 was
raised for charity.
It was another great day on the water with much trip
planning conversation and preperations for the big
event, the Paddle Pickup, taking place.
I'll see you all down there in two weeks!
Rubber Duck Race - Memorial Day
WBRT in Bardstown is holding a fundraiser to benefit Bardstown schools. They will be releasing up to 5000 rubber ducks on the Beech Fork and the winner will win $1000. You can get your own duck in the race for $5. Call WBRT at (502) 348-3943 for an entry.
The Bardstown Boaters will be helping out by wrangling in the ducks on the river. If you would like to help us out, the race is on Memorial Day Monday, May 28th at 1pm. Meet at the Beech Fork off of New Haven road, Highway 31E in bardstown.
Post in the forum here if you plan to help.
Paddle Pickup Coming Soon
The Paddle Pickup is less than a month away! Please mark your calendar for Saturday, June 9th and join us for the 3rd Annual Paddle Pickup. A Bardstown Boaters river cleanup tradition in Bardstown.
We will meet at 9 a.m. at the Beech Fork in Bardstown, KY where 31e crosses the river. Look for our tent to register. Mike Hammons of Central Kentucky Canoe & Kayak will be offering canoes to anyone who would like to paddle during the cleanup. Or if you like you can help in the cleanup on foot on the banks.
Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt for their help. But the best part of the day is seeing all the garbage that we will pull out of the river.
Visit the Paddle Pickup section of our website to learn more about the history of this event.
Beech Fork Water Levels
See the different water levels at the rubble dam on the Beech Fork in this growing gallery of images. This set is being collected to aid in designing the Bardstown Whitewater Park.
Poker Run 2006
2000cfs
Thank you to everyone who
came out for the Poker Run this past Saturday. It was
a great success. We raised over $800 to go towards
bringing in the McLaughlin Whitewater Group to do a
site assessment for a Bardstown Whitewater Park. This
is our first step towards our goal of raising $2200.
The winning hand was three 9's beating out Kings and
6's. I had guessed trips would end up winning it.
Emerson Ballard, a local paddler, played the winning
hand and the winnings were donated back toward to the
effort.
Even if you didn't get to
come out for the Poker Run their will be more
opportunities in the future. You can make a personal
donation if you like on our whitewater park site:
http://www.bardstownboaters.com/whitewaterpark
And stayed tuned for our next fundraiser coming very
soon... The Elkhorn Creek Race!
Thanks to these sponsors for helping us put on the
2006 Poker Run
Boone's Butcher Shop
Horizon Hoppers
Keene’s Depot
Bardstown Mills
Paddlers’ Poker Run Planned for Saturday
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 8:21 AM EDT
BOB WHITE The Kentucky Standard
Funds being raised for whitewater park
Poker runs aren’t just for motorcyclists anymore.
Hoping to fund an engineer’s visit to Beech Fork and a design incorporating a whitewater feature into the rock dam near the New Haven Road bridge, Bardstown Boaters are hosting a paddlers’ poker run Saturday in which participants could win up to $500.
The local paddling club has been the main proponent of a push to convert a stone dam that cannot be safely navigated by canoes and kayaks into a safe chute and play wave for boaters to use.
Following a formal presentation of the concept to Bardstown City Council and some preliminary “homework” done on part of city officials, Assistant City Administrator Larry Green said the next step would be to draft a plan and design for the project.
For that, Bardstown Boaters president Spalding Hurst said an experienced whitewater park engineer would need to visit the site and compile a preliminary plan and cost estimate.
The cost of such a visit is expected to be $6,000-$7,000, depending on the engineering firm chosen.
Cost of constructing whitewater parks throughout the nation have ranged from $140,000 for a park along a stream in Colorado to $25 million for a park not on a river in North Carolina.
Hurst didn’t want to speculate the cost of creating a single wave and navigable chute at the Beech Fork dam. He said he would rely on the engineer to talk numbers to the public.
Green said he has identified a federal grant that could help fund the whitewater park. Additional funding may be available through the state if the city decides to increase the height of the dam to increase its raw water collection pool.
Before seeking grants for the project, Green said some engineering work should be done so a plan could be presented to state and federal stakeholders such as the Division of Water, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The poker run is an attempt to fund the next step in the process of planning the whitewater park.
The fundraiser will begin noon Saturday at the KY 49 bridge across Beech Fork and will conclude about 5 p.m. at the New Haven Road (U.S. 31E) bridge.
Plans are to have paddlers collect five playing cards at locations along the river. Three of the cards received will be handed to participants by Bardstown Boaters stationed in boats along the route. The best hand at the end of the day wins half the pot collected, or a maximum of $500.
The cost of entering the poker run is $20. Participants are responsible for providing their own boats, canoes, kayaks or other watercraft. Horizon Hoppers Adventure Services will provide canoes and kayaks free of charge to anyone who does not own a boat and wants to participate in the event.
“I wanted to show I give this project my full support,” said Mike Hammons, owner of the Bardstown-based outfitter.
Hammons said no less than a dozen boats would be available at the start of the poker run on a first come, first serve basis.
The event is open to paddlers of all skill levels and food and drinks will be available for purchase at the beginning and end of the poker run.
Hurst said he expects about 50 people to attend, but hopes for more.
For more information on the poker run or the Bardstown Whitewater Park log on to the Bardstown Boater Web site at www.bardstownboaters.com. The club is also taking contributions online for the whitewater park.
Bob White can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 116 or by e-mail at bwhite@kystandard.com.
Group Wants To Add Whitewater to Beech Fork
Paddlers, tourism officials and outfitter consider possibilitiesRead More...
Paddle Pickup 2006
Changes on the Beech Fork?
One proposed option is to raise the dam 2-3 feet. This will increase the hazards that exist at the dam. Or it can be constructed in a way that will remove the risks while adding new and unique recreational opportunities to the river.
Elkhorn Creek Dam
Frankfort, KY
The problem with low-head dams:
Their purpose is to store river water for times of drought. During normal flows, water rolls lazily over them to the river's natural level below. These structures may appear unthreatening, but over the years they have claimed so many lives they have been dubbed "drowning machines."
Low-head dams are dangerous because of the hydraulic effect created when water flows over them. As water drops over the dam into the plunge pool below, an undertow is created, rolling the water toward the face of the dam, often pulling objects from downstream into the turbulence. These effects multiply as the volume of water increases. The hydraulic also extends farther downstream.
• video of the "drowning machine" on the Elkhorn Creek in Frankfort, KY
• and a report of a drowning at this dam on the Elkhorn
The solution:
Construct an artificial rock incline or rock rapids to alleviate drowning hazards. The artificial rapids will not only reduce the drowning danger but also will add recreational opportunities to canoeist, kayakers and rafters.
You essentially take a man made hazard and turn it into whitewater park while servicing the water needs of the community.
Who can build this?
Recreational Engineering & Planning is one company specializing in this field.
Recreational Engineering &
Planning
All over the country
rivers and streams have low-head dams and diversion
structures. Many of these are obsolete while
some still serve important functions for communities,
utility companies or irrigators. Often these
dams create a significant hazard for recreational
users of rivers and account for a number of
accidental drownings in the US every year. Many
communities are looking at ways to either safely
remove or safely replace these deteriorating
dams. One of our specialties at
Recreation, Engineering and
Planning specializes in turning
these unsightly hazards into recreational
amenities. Our company has worked on two
types of dam removal projects. In some cases
the existing low head dam is enhanced while
additional structures are added downstream to
“step down” the drop over a series of
drop structures. In this case the existing
dam structure remains and provides its design
function—the difference is that what was
often a single deadly drop is now a series of
safer, more enjoyable whitewater rapids.
These types of dam removals can remove a hazard
from the midst of a community and turn it into the
type of tourist attraction that has significant
effects on the local economy.
Modifications
of dams are an exciting evolution in thinking about
urban, working rivers. Taking an existing
hazard and creating a recreational highlight
is
becoming an attractive option for forward thinking
communities all over North America from Calgary,
Alberta to Springfield, Ohio. Examples of
Dam Removal/Modification below.
Arkansas River Boat Chute (Before and After)
Bowling Green is
advancing their plans for a whitewater park.
• Take a look at the plans
here.
Full Moon A Risin' On The Beech Fork
20cfs
Beastie led Tim, Toby, Zach and I up and down the mighty Fork this past weekend. This was a send off trip for Zach, his last Kentucky wilderness trip. He shoves off to Hawaii soon. The water was low, so we couldn't make our planned route of 49 to 31e a reality. But quick on our feet we decided to go from the dam up and then back the next morning. This worked perfectly. Plenty of water held back from the dam.
I also found the perfect route through the dam to modify. We need to move 8 rocks to the side and build up a small ledge. It would be a great chute and ledge drop when water runs through it. A wench on a tree and a long cable could get the job done.
Paddle Pick-Up
We ran 6 canoes from the fairgrounds to 31E and had 4 wheelers, a tractor and trailer shuttling garbage up the hill at the bridge. We estimate that we pulled out 125 tires and around 1 ton of trash from the river. Next year we might go from 49 bridge to the fairgrounds and do it in May to coincide with the National River Cleanup week.
Everyone put in a lot of hard work this day and the preplanning could not have been more perfectly executed. Also the cookout afterwards was a huge success.
Beach Fork Cruise: Rio Grande Prep
Today Jay and I ran this. It was a good trip with good flow. I thought it would have been higher since the gauge read 5600cfs 2 days prior. There were some kids camping at the put-in and we talked to a policeman who was also there. The police man paddled, he told us about some trips he had made down the Beech Fork and the Elkhorn. This may warrant expanding the Bardstown Boaters when I move back to Bardstown one day. Anyways. I ran the dam, which Jay has named the Edge Rapid, after Edgewood. The thing was rocking, scary, but after you crash through on the far right it is fun. I almost wrecked my first time, slamming into a a rock and getting sideways on it. Took a little bit of cold water, but managed to get off. The second time was cleaner, opting for a better line. Jay watched from 10 feet away. Good trip today. We must be the envy of all our friends.
Beech Fork Festival 2004
20cfs
Zach, John, Jay and I celebrated the spirit of the Bardstown Boaters in the annual Beech Fork festival. We canoed from Manton to the 49 bridge, fishing, drinking and chillin out along the way. We camped on the river and played spades over the fire. The water was low and we had to drag in spots, but the trip was a huge success. We'll do it up even bigger next year!
Beech Fork Camping and Canoeing
My First Boat Trip!
High Water
This was my first boating trip. Was would transcend into all of this. The club, the whitewater trips, the enthusiasm for paddling and the outdoors. I recently ran across the date for this trip in my old calendar so I thought I would recall the trip the best I could.
I remember this trip very well because it was my first. It was raining and cold. But Eric, Hart and I had a boat trip planned so we went. It was about 45 degrees on the water. We ran the Beech Fork at a high level.
Eric in Smitty's Dagger RPM and Hart and I in the Blue Hole. We had trouble keeping a straight line down the river and towards the end it got cold, but we enjoyed it and made it through the day. Eric and Hart ran the rapid in the canoe and I walked it. I did not want to chance getting wet and cold. I was weak back then.
There were some raft trips and canoes trips that came before this one. But it was this canoe trip that I knew would be the start of an obsession.
Here is an email I wrote from around the time of this trip:
I would like to get in on some kayaking. The next time you guys go to the Elkhorn let me know. It is vital to my mental state that I get on the water as much as possible. Eric, Hart and I went down the Beechfork in the freezing cold, but we discovered a really great class III+ rapid at the end of it. So if you ever need some whitewater to practice on, just know it’s there right in the backyard of Bardstown. My plan is to get a kayak into a pool and practice rolls. Then onto the river to learn how to maneuver. Then I want to go down the Ocoee and wherever else there is whitewater. I’ll bring the camera, we’ll get something made for the film festival.
