Middlesex Dam

After the Route 110 bridge the river takes a sharp left then a sudden right over the remains of Middlesex dam. At low-to-medium levels It's a pushy, rocky abrupt drop route over the remains of the dam.

This drop should be scouted each trip since rubble can collect, especially on river left where there is still rebar, lumber, and other debris on the river bed. Scout from the island that the ramains of the dam juts out from. DO NOT attempt a run thru the diversion canal on the right side of the island. This route is blocked by dangerous steel beams cutting across the channel.

Skirting the big rock... Photo of Tom Todd taken 5/98 at 5.85 (985 cfs). There are two normal routes thru Middlesex dam. The classic route runs along the far right edge of the channel, brushing as close to the ramains of the dam as possible. Start on river-left just above the rapid, cut across the rapid to the right paddling hard directly towards the dam. Don't stop paddling even though you think you're going to hit the dam, the fast current will quickly pull you by it and down a lighting quick 6' abrupt drop. This route is paddleable down into the high 5's on the gage.

The center route (a favorite of rafts) starts on river right, following the flow of the current. Cut left just past a big rock-hole combination and thread your way towards river-center just above the meat of the drop. Turn right and head over the drop, just to the left of a big hole, and next to one of two big rocks which form rooster tails. This route is runnable from the low 6's and higher.

You can also sneak the dam by creeping up along the face of the dam and swinging around the right edge of the channel into the eddy below.

At higher levels this rapid tends to wash out and gets easier.