Leonard Bromberg of Rumford paddled a nine-mile section of the Androscoggin River from Hanover to Rumford Saturday as part of the Source to Sea event. “Every year, I think the river gets cleaner and more recreational. More people from Rumford should try it.”

RUMFORD — Early Saturday afternoon, Leonard Bromberg of Rumford paddled a nine-mile section of the Androscoggin River from Hanover to Rumford as part of the annual Source to Sea.

As he brought his kayak onto the Rumford boat launch, he noted, “Every year, I think the river gets cleaner and more recreational. More people from Rumford should try it.”

Each year, the Androscoggin River Watershed Council hosts Source to Sea by paddling down the Androscoggin River from Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire to Merrymeeting Bay in Brunswick.

This is the 22nd annual Source to Sea. Each year, hundreds of paddlers join for one or multiple days to paddle the Source to Sea and celebrate the Androscoggin River. They believe the best way to understand the river’s unique assets are to experience them first-hand.

During the nine miles on the Androscoggin from Hanover to the Rumford boat launch, Bromberg said he sighted a couple of eagles, a bird he didn’t recognize, and a lot of ducks.

“There were more people fishing than I’ve ever seen,” he added.

Becky Secrest, in her fourth year as coordinator of the event, said that for those experiencing paddling on the Androscoggin River for the first time, this is an eye-opening experience.

The goal of this event is to “get people to understand that it isn’t a dirty river. It’s clean.”

“We’ve seen herons, a lot of eagles, otters, king fishers, osprey. But we haven’t seen a moose. Everybody’s always looking for the sightings. Everyone keeps their eyes open because they know they’re on the river,” said Secrest.

She said they saw loons on the Magalloway going into Umbagog, which is where the Androscoggin starts.

And around an island near Gilead, paddlers saw a bear.

“Some people stayed on the main channel, and other people went around the island to the secondary channel. People on the mainland spooked the bear and the bear swam across the river and pulled out on the other side. That was pretty cool,” said Secrest.

Bromberg expressed disappointment that were only a half dozen paddlers Saturday, after having 25 to 30 the day before for the section from Mexico to Dixfield.

Secrest said there were 18 boats on Friday’s trip, and when they returned, they were greeted with a lunch prepared by No View Farm.

“We have had absolutely gorgeous weather,” she said, adding that the level of the river is quite a bit higher than last summer during the drought.

Participants of the Source to Sea learn about local conservation, history, ecology, and recreation through daily on-river programs.

The kick-off date was July 7 at the Umbagog Wildlife Refuge on the Magalloway River north of Errol, New Hampshire.

The remaining Source to Sea schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 27 — Livermore Falls to Twin Bridges, After Hours Jay;

Friday, July 28 — Twin Bridges to Center Bridge;

Saturday, July 29 — Center Bridge to Cherry Pond, Family Day at Cherry Pond;

Sunday, July 30 — Auburn to Rancourt Preserve and back;

Thursday, Aug. 3 — Auburn Paddle After Hours;

Friday, Aug. 4 — Durham to Lisbon Falls;

Saturday, Aug. 5 — Topsham to Brunswick;

Sunday, Aug. 6 — Merrymeeting Bay to Brunswick.

The daily schedule and pre-registration are available at androscogginwatershed.org. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for logistical and safety reasons. Although there is no fee to participate, a $15-$20 donation is suggested at time of registering. Donations of any amount will also be accepted at the launch site on each event day.

All donations support the administrative costs to coordinate Source to Sea and other ARWC projects.

FMI: Contact Becky Secrest at 207-824-3813 or 207-754-8158; or email: beckys@oxfordnetworks.net or arwc@androscogginwatershed.org.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net

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