Fans of Little Falls Clear Hazardous Wood from Z Channel

A mighty team effort Aug. 1 achieved the removal of stout beams that had been lodged for several months in the final, narrow drop on Z Channel. The channel connects the Feeder Canal to the Potomac for access to the Little Falls run.

Ten or so fans of Little Falls worked for about three hours with thick ropes, pulleys, and a hand crank winch. The project included scaling a tree to set the key line; ropes were attached to the obstruction from both sides of the channel. 

David Solana, one of the participants, recorded the operation. He posted a 20-minute video documenting the extraction and showing the beams that the team pulled out and dragged as far up the river right bank as they could. The wood appeared to be a piece of a lock gate or wall, and it had a jagged metal piece attached that would have been very bad news for any paddler who came into contact with it.

For months, the wood had blocked the small river left chute for running the drop, leaving paddlers either to run the harder right side or to portage. Steve Chapman, another participant, says, "It was very satisfying to see it come out, and shocking how big it was." He estimates that it was about 4 feet wide by 12 feet long.