DRBA Welcomes a New Team Member

The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) would like to announce the addition of a new member to Team DRBA! Regenia Manns, shown above walking the Fieldale Trail, is our new Administrative Assistant in the Collinsville office. Regenia is from Martinsville and enjoys walking and bowling. We are excited to have her on board as we work together to preserve and promote the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin! You can catch her in the office on Mondays & Wednesdays between 9 am and 5 pm, and also on Fridays between 9 am and 4 pm. Her office number is 276-634-2591.

Two Paddle Events offered August 1st

On August 1 members of the Dan River Basin Association and their guests will have a choice: enter or assist with the boat race sponsored by the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Department, or float with DRBA’s First Saturday Outing near Hanging Rock State Park.

Both the Madison and the Stokes County floats will be on flat or Class 1 river sections suitable for novice paddlers with some river experience.

Entrants in the 20th Annual Madison Boat Race will run a 2.5 mile course from Lindsey Bridge Access to NC 704 Access. The event will offer food, entertainment and awards in a variety of age, gender and boat categories.

More information is at http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/get.link?linkid=1478573&subscriberid=82058798&campaignid=402661&linkurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.danriverboatrace.org%2f .

Non-racers will join Will Truslow for a scenic 6.5-mile float on the Dan River in Stokes County from Big Creek to the Dan River Company. Participants will meet at the Dan River Company, 1110 Flinchum Road, Danbury, NC, where from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., David Hoskins will shuttle drivers to the put-in.

One of the most popular stretches of the Dan River, “There are incredible bluffs that come straight down to riverside. The scenery is magnificent.” Near the end of the trip, he adds, is “a quarter-mile-long bluff that is stunning.”

Most of the trip will be through lands recognized by the state of North Carolina as State Natural Heritage Areas, and about half a mile is in Hanging Rock State Park.

Within the first two miles after the put-in, three creeks enter the Dan on river right—North Double Creek, South Double Creek, and Cascade Creek. Cascade Creek comes in at Moore’s Spring Campground, site of a mineral spring discovered in 1866 and of a spa operated from about 1900 to the 1920’s.

Shortly afterward, paddlers may take a break at “Demon Rock,” (the name corrupted from “Denman’s Rock,” its name in 1800), a spectacular 60-foot cliff. Travelers have imagined they could see such images in the rock face as cowboy boots and a Native American face.

Boaters’ imaginations are further reflected in names given to small ledges in the riverbed, including Dogleg Rock Rapid, Three Sisters Rapid, Play Wave Rapid, and Learning Curve Rapid.
Besides natural ledges, paddlers will pass vee-shaped fish traps, used for centuries by Native Americans and European settlers to channel fish into nets or baskets during their annual spawning runs.

To reach the Dan River Company from Danbury, NC, travel north on NC 8/89 past Hanging Rock Park Road. Go one mile, turn left onto Flinchum Road, and go to the end of the road.

Participants in the outing are asked to provide boat, life jacket, lunch and water, to dress in layers of quick-drying fabric and to sign a waiver.

Boat rentals are available at the Dan River Company, 336-593-2628 or http://www.danrivercompany.com/.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For trip information, contact trip coordinator Will Truslow at 336-547-1903 or willtruslow@hotmail.com.

For information about the Dan River Basin Association, visit http://www.danriver.org/.


Contributed by: T Butler

River Alert

The Dan River Basin Association and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) would like to urge paddlers to use extreme caution when paddling the Smith River between the North Bassett and Fieldale River access points.

Work has begun on the Fieldale Iron Bridge and new obstacles are now in the river that may pose a hazard to paddlers. A work bridge is being installed that will hang 6-8 feet over the river at low water. During high flow, this structure can pose as a strainer. It is advised to portage around the construction zone during generation.

VDOT officials warn that paddlers should be aware of construction materials, such as concrete blocks, in the river that may present hazards. Paddlers are also urged to pay attention to which side of the river that workers are on so that they may pass by on the opposite side for the safety of both the paddler and construction workers.

Signs notifiying paddlers and fishermen of these warnings are presently being posted at nearby river access points. As always, please practice safe paddling techniques on the river and wear a life jacket.

2009 Smith River Film Fest

Want to show off your hot paddling skills, showcase your favorite rapid, or laugh at funny wipeouts? Take your camera out this summer to capture the best of the Smith River! Send your paddling clips to the Dan River Basin Association for a chance to be included in the

2009 Smith River Film Fest!

Friday, September 4th, 7 p.m.
at the Rives Theater

Uptown Martinsville

Enjoy a night a the movies eating popcorn and watching short films
made by local paddlers. You can even vote for your favorites!

Awards include:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Videos

People's Choice Video

Craziest Wipeout Video

Best Dressed Paddler

All proceeds go to the enhancement and addition of
new river access points on the Smith and Mayo Rivers.

Film clips must be no longer than 10 minutes and family friendly. Clips may be submitted via email to jdoss@danriver.org or DVDs may be mailed to DRBA PO Box 7 Collinsville VA 24078. Deadline to register is August 24th. Please be safe on the river while filming!

For more information contact 276-634-2545.

Check out this clip submitted by Andy Parker and "River Gal"!