Thanks for Davids Brooks' correction of last week's bum dope concerning the imminent lowering of the Nashua River to facilitate modification of the Jackson Falls dam to ensure that the Cotton Mill Square project can get federal tax credits. This permitted me to take a portion of our Texas family on a quick run this morning from Jackson Falls to Mine Falls and back in my 1934 wooden boat.
The beautiful and still River was empty, except for a teen age duck family, a great blue heron, many kingfishers, a few jumping fish, two muskrats crossing, and an occasional runner in Mine Falls Park. And, oh yes, the bustling Farmers Market above us on the Main Street bridge. Notable for its absence was the usual swarm of turtle families on the shore-bound logs, perhaps victims of the recent flooding.
Also of note, renovation seems well underway on the Cotton Mill; there are still no docks for the residents of the Jackson Mills condos; and no visible activity at the site of the new bridge.
Finally, it will be interesting see what gets exposed when the River level is lowered seven feet. Hopefully some of the snags can be removed, but in general it is impressive how little human detritus is visible along the River - a combination no doubt of its lack of use, and the clean-up efforts of River lovers.
