The Pemi Rages On, As Always

Last week, students, faculty, and visitors were pressed for parking due to the annual flood fear. Students with cars are frustrated, students without cars are excited, and nearly everyone in the state known as “The Mother of Rivers” is wondering the big question “will it happen?” A flood is defined as a temporary overflow onto land where water does not normally flow, which is commonly used by man. On New England coasts, flooding can occur during any time of year. For inland areas, such as Plymouth, flooding risk is highest in the spring, when snow is melting and soil is already at its water storage limit. A floodplain is the area commonly expected to flood. Most states have laws limiting or banishing development from flood plains. Notice the deep trenches along the entrance and exit ramps for the highway right across the green bridge. Remember the savings bank built last year, where developers were forced to raise the land level before making improvements. The same will happen when Lowe’s comes to Tenney Mountain Highway. It will no doubt cost thousands of dollars to improve the site before they can even think about an actual building. Flooding is nothing new to the area. The Pemi itself has flooded in October 1785; March 24, 1826; April 21, 1852; October 3, 1869; November 3, 1927; March 11, 1936; September 21, 1938; October 25, 1959; June 1972; March 31, 1987; August 7, 1990; August 19, 1991; July 1998; and September 19, 1999, according to the New Hampshire Office of Energy Management. The Pemigewasset River begins its life in Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mt. in Franconia Notch. As the river winds its way south it is joined by the Lost River, the East Branch, Mad River, Beebe River and the Smith River before it eventually merges with the Winnipesaukee to form the Merrimack, 70 miles from where it began. Decades ago, most of this area was industrial along the beloved Pemigewasset river. It was known as one of the dirtiest rivers in New England, and many commented that its color varied day to day depending on what color dies or chemicals the factories were using. The Pemigewasset had little wildlife if any, and fishing, swimming, and eating from the river were banned. In the past 50 years, the changes have been great. Today, Plymouth State takes its drinking water directly from the river. No chemicals are added, and no treatment occurs before the water funnels through our taps. Indeed, this may seem like a miracle to any families who have seen what changes the valley has seen. Today, the white water river offers ample opportunity for canoeing and rafting. There is only one public boat launch (located in Bristol at the Route 104 bridge), but many fisherman and water lovers alike simply push off from any flat surface or bridge. According to New England Trailhead, the river is riddled with native brook trout. Atlantic Salmon is stocked in the Pemi between Bristol and Manchester. In Plymouth, Green Street is the best way to access the river for fishing. There are camp grounds all along the river. You can find a regularly updated webcam of the Pemi River at https://webcam.crrel.usace.army.mil/pemi/.