Annual Pugwash Estuary flotilla set for Aug. 6
Participants will paddle along Pugwash River to show support of ecosystem
Few people appreciate the beauty of the Pugwash Estuary.
Members of an organization dedicated to protecting the ecosystem are coming together in early August for the annual summer flotilla along the Pugwash River.
“It’s all about people enjoying our river,” Sarah Witney of the Friends of the Pugwash Estuary said. “People will be floating down the river on their kayaks or canoes taking in the scenery and generally enjoying themselves.”
The flotilla will begin near the The annual Friends of the Pugwash Estuary summer flotilla will take place on Sunday, Aug. 6.
bridge in Conn’s Mills and paddle downstream to Estuary House at Docherty Creek. There, participants will be met by members of the Friends of the Pugwash Estuary for a potluck supper, music and a social program.
The event begins at 11 a. m. on Sunday, Aug. 6 and generally takes two to three hours to complete.
“A lot of people just bide their time while some will stop and get out to look at things along the way,” Witney said. “People come back every year because it’s an adventure and something they can share with others.”
Traditionally, the flotilla attracts about 50 vessels. This year they are looking to exceed that number.
She said part of the organization’s mandate is to have people experience the protected river. There is a lot of land protected along the river.
“In order for people to recognize its worth it’s important for them to get out and appreciate it and enjoy the wonders of it,” she said.
Organizers are providing a shuttle service between the launch and Estuary House while non- paddlers can access the house via the Crowley Road.
Friends of the Pugwash Estuary was formed in 2004 by a small group of individuals concerned with the health of the estuary and with what could be done to preserve what its members consider an ecological treasure.