FRYEBURG – This town’s population – 3,083 souls as of the 2000 federal census – is about to more than double.

Thousands of boaters are expected to take to the Saco River this weekend, kicking off a canoe and kayak season that traditionally runs through Labor Day.

Fred Westerberg, the Saco River Recreation Council’s supervisor, said Thursday that reservations for rental canoes and kayaks as well as shuttle services are running strong.

“Everything is looking excellent for a really outstanding season,” Westerberg said. “Bookings are well ahead of average for this weekend,” he added.

The “Sandy Saco” – the name was given to the river in recognition of its miles of beaches and sandbars – is second only to the Delaware River in popularity among recreational rivers east of the Mississippi.

Westerberg said that between 7,000 and 8,000 people will take the 20-mile float trip from Swans Falls in Fryeburg to Brownfield each week during the season. Many will camp on riverside beaches for a night or two.

They are expected to behave, he added.

Landowners and townspeople largely welcome the boaters, appreciative of the economic kick they bring to the community. But they want boaters and campers to haul off their trash, and to respect the land and river. They also want them to be law-abiding.

A combination of education and law enforcement has for the most part curbed the rowdiness seen along the waterway in past years.

Fryeburg police Sgt. Wayne Brooking said the river patrols that started in 2002 will continue this year. The patrols consist of a pair of officers riding in power boats, monitoring the behavior of people using the river. A second patrol boat, as well as a town rescue service air boat, are available to supplement the river safety efforts.

Officers will also visit popular launch sites at Swans Falls and Walker’s Bridge, watching for excessive alcohol use, drugs and illegal fireworks.

Brooking said people with cell phones may dial 911 to reach Maine State Police, who will forward complaints or calls for assistance to Fryeburg police.

Over the course of the summer, state police as well as Oxford County sheriff’s deputies will join with local police in conducting river patrols.

The Maine Warden Service will operate its own patrols on the river, enforcing boating and fishing laws. Canoeists who forget a life jacket can face a $100 fine.

Westerberg, who also operates Saco River Canoe and Kayak, a rental and shuttle service business, said the days of wild parties on the Saco are mostly a thing of the past. He credits the police presence on the river for calming some of its wilder visitors.

Still, he encourages families to enjoy the river on weekdays. It’s less crowded then, he notes, and usually a lot a quieter.

“We’re a major recreation area only three hours from Boston,” he said. “We’re going to see a certain percentage of people who are a bit louder than some folks might like.”