Brokenstraw Creek Trip Report - April 15, 2011

We enjoyed an early morning paddle on the Brokenstraw Creek today! We put in at the bridge on Davey Hill Road in Pittsfield and took out in Irvine, roughly 4.5 miles. It took us 1 hour 35 minutes, with a water level gage height just above 4.0 in Youngsville.

The Brokenstraw is often times too low for paddling, so it's best paddled in spring or when flood waters have calmed in the summer. The creek drops roughly 12 feet per mile between Garland and the Allegheny, the greatest fall of all canoeable water in the county. A change from the Allegheny or Conewango!

We scouted for strainers along the creek prior to launch. For those not familiar, strainers are formed when an object blocks the passage of larger objects but allows the flow of water to continue - like a big food strainer or colander. Downed trees are the most common strainer along creeks and rivers, and there were plenty of them today. A couple tricky spots unfolded as we rounded corners. Behind the high school there's a stretch of creek that's textbook for learning to read the river. A number of large rocks just barely covered with water dot this section.

We saw merganser, kingfisher, geese, wood ducks, eagle and osprey. All in all, a WONDERFUL paddle! Summer is on the way!!