NYCkayaker Ma Nature and Hudson River Access

[Mike Heller]

This list often includes postings about river access issues.  My beaver story proves that sometimes even Ma Nature is against us.  

There is a small but navigable creek that passes next to my neighbor's farm and feeds the Hudson a quarter mile downstream.  For some time I have realized that with the farmer's permission and a 300 yard portage I could have river access for my kayak almost from my back door.  The 300 yard carry would save me loading and unloading my car roof rack and driving  miles to the nearest public access.  The whole idea of river access from my house seemed appealing.  An exploratory paddle up the creek proved that if I removed 2 fallen trees, the idea would work.  

Last Summer I took a day to remove the trees from the creek.  I hauled my canoe, chainsaw, gas, etc. across a railroad right of way, loaded the canoe, and started up the creek to remove the trees; planning to work upstream to the farm and my access point.  I got only 100 yards or so up the creek to find the creek completely blocked by a new 75 yard wide beaver dam.  Although I had known of a lodge at that location for years, the beaver have never before tried to dam the creek.  Maybe the beaver family has gotten larger.  Maybe they are just doing what beaver do.  Maybe they want to keep river access for members of their own clan.  Either way, my plans for easy river access won't be realized anytime soon.  
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