Area River Hazards (strainers, etc)

[RVERRNR]

My little boy and i visited that log today. He moved it away from rescue rock to an unknown position river right of where it was...probably in or to the right of pin-ball.

[eurotrash]

There is a channel wide strainer in the sneak line below Hollywood to the right of washing machine. Be careful.

[GinnyN]

YOAD says:
Sunday (12/15/13) I was out at Pony Pasture doing attainments and saw five new trees in the main shoot of the second ledge. They set just behind the nice surfing wave of the second ledge and were defiant strainers. A father and son team try to move the first one but it would not move. The water was to come up that evening but I do not know if the level was sufficient to dislodge the logs.

[chromo]

Our group stopped to scout Hollywood this evening, and we saw two logs. One sticking up at an angle from behind washing machine and another, much more concerning one, across current and bobbing slightly above water level at 5.25 feet. It's to the left of washing machine and a little bit farther downstream in the runout. I imagine that it would be a significant threat if I were on line but flipped and missed my roll while working left below the drop.

Our (admittedly less-experienced) group decided to walk back up to first break and come down through cemetery.

Look before you leap! I don't think it will stick around for long though.

[Gnarly]

There is a log across the left side of the bottom of the drop at Jug Handle on the Appomattox. Talking to friends that ran it a month ago... it was there then, and looks like it isn't going anywhere for a while. Approaching the horizon line, you can see that there is wood in the rapid at the bottom of the drop, but from boat level it looks like it could be avoided on the left or right. Scouting reveals that the log stretches perpendicular to the current from the left shore to the wood that you can see above water level near the middle of the rapid. Even after scouting, from the top of the drop on the right side of the rapid, the strainer blocking the bottom of the drop on the left was invisible from boat level.

If you're on the Appomattox, scout Jug Handle. As of yesterday, it could be run safely and easily on the right side, but trying to run the green tongue on the left side of the drop [the line I'd always taken on this rapid before] could have been catastrophic.

[slo2rol]

There is currently a 1/2" yellow rope strung across the river on the upstream side of the Boulevard (or Nickel) Bridge for work being conducted on the bridge. There is also a scaffolding erected on foam pontoons that is clipped onto this yellow rope near the 2nd or 3rd pylon from the south side. The rope extends from the south side bank (river right) to at least the middle span of the bridge. At 10 ft on the Westham gauge, the rope was about 4 ft above the river surface in spots. If the level gets to 13 or 14 ft, this could become a serious hazard. The rope does not extend fully across the river and the first and second openings between the pylons on the north side (river left) should allow unobstructed passage.

NOTE: Upper James Paddlers please message me when this rope is removed so that I can remove this hazard posting.

[hotBOATERchick]

High water hazard on the Upper James:

With construction on many of the bridges, I have noticed on the last 2 high water events, ropes across bridges.

Yesterday (2/6), (10.5 + on the Gauge) rope tied across the pillars of the Lee Bridge river right. Multiple pillars long. Passable, just keep you eyes open and boat scout, land scout if necessary. But wood and ropes make ugly strainers.

Previous high water event, they were working on the Nickle Bridge, and a rope was there as well but this time gone.

[GinnyN]

John VanLuik: (May 2016)
There are a couple of trees in the upper part. When you get out to portage the first tree keep going because there is another tree below it. After you pass under a bridge there is a house on the left which the owner has an electric fence across the river. You can't duck under it unless you flip and roll up. The owner doesn't mind if you get out on his property and portage. Just walk around the dog pens.

[GinnyN]

John VanLuik: (May 2016)
Glenn Rose and I removed a tree that was blocking the entrance to the pool above the ledge above S turn on 4-8-2016. There is still a tree in the first rapid of the upper Cranberry but you can get by it. There is a big tree on the right bank which is very visible and you can get by on the far left. Took 4 pulleys and the two of us to remove the tree.

[GinnyN]

On the Tye yesterday (Saturday 10/13) we encountered a riverwide downed tree. It was downstream of route 29 (east of 29) and just before going under the active railroad bridge. At yesterday's level of 330, Piney, plus 660, Tye, we were able to go far river left and scoot between some saplings. I'm afraid that option may not be available as levels come down.

And if anyone is out there paddling, keep an eye out for a black break apart paddle with the name Martha James on it. After an encounter with another strainer, Martha lost her paddle. She sure would like to get it back.

[Daryl]

River wide strainer under 29 bridge on Tye is a mandatory portage. Also. noticed a river wide strainer on the bottom Piney in last mile before confluence with the Tye.

[PaddleBear]

Ran this 6 mile run on 8/25/22 at 3.12 ft - super fun Class I-IIs with higher water/stain from recent rain. Several recent fallen trees going nearly all the way across river. All easily visible and passable, however a few forced s-turns on several rapids. One large tree across sluice river right after the mid run bridge (~mile 4) - can easily see it and avoid it if you are scanning down river - just go around on river left - all good.