When in the Northern Neck: 2015

This article by Guest Blogger Northern Neck Planning District Commission Environmental Planner Stuart McKenzie is part of an ongoing initiative by the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Access Authority, the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and the Northern Neck Tourism Commission to promote the ten (and counting) Northern Neck Water Trails.

Heading downhill on Currrioman Road past several sorghum fields, the road narrows to one lane and you can smell the salt in the air. Currioman Landing is medium sized boat ramp facility located on Currioman Bay off the Potomac River near the mouth of Nomini Creek in Westmoreland County. There was only one truck with an empty trailer when we arrived. The Currioman Landing boat ramp is concrete and sufficiently rough to allow the launching a canoe without worrying about slipping on algae. (See photo #1)

Photo 1: Currioman Landing Boat Ramp

There is a nice little inlet with a sandbar that juts out to protect the Currioman boat ramp from the wind and waves. (See photo #2)

Photo 2: Protective inlet near boat ramp

Make note of the sandbar once you have paddled out into Currioman Bay, for a landmark to guide your return trip. Another useful landmark is a white house on the hill a few hundred yards downstream of the boat ramp. Noting the appearance of these landmarks upon departing should lead to easy navigating back to the ramp.

When rounding the corner of the sandbar, the wind and waves became apparent. The wind was blowing from the Northeast, about 5-8 knots. As mentioned in the Currioman Bay Water Trail Guide, Currioman Bay is not very well protected from wind and waves (see Photo #3),

Photo 3: Currioman Bay

so this paddling trail is recommended for the more experienced (novice, or expert) paddler. The waves were manageable (no water was splashing into the canoe), and we headed into the wind, paddling the width of Currioman Bay to seek shelter from the wind near the shore of Hollis Marsh (Sharkstooth Island). NOTE: Sharks Tooth Island is privately owned and there is a permit and fee that must be paid to access the island, see

http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/sharks-tooth-island.html.

Paddling into the wind is not easy work, and is not very speedy, but we decided that paddling into the wind was best, as that way, on the return trip we would be going with the wind in a following sea making an easy to return to Currioman Landing with minimal effort. We did not land on Hollis Marsh, but instead skirted the island’s near shore (See photo #4 & #5).

Photo 4: Shark's Tooth Island in Currioman Bay

Photo 5: Protected shore on Shark's Tooth Island in Currioman Bay

Photo 6: Comb jellyfish or Ctenophora

Next to the sandy shore, I noticed a comb jellyfish (See Photo #6), and remarked that this type of jellyfish does not sting (humans at least). The comb jellyfish moves by moving small hairs, called cilia that line the exterior of their bodies. There are often thousands of them in the waters of the Northern Neck, and you might not even see them unless you have polarized sunglasses that allow you to see past the water surface. We noticed a lot of sea grass (see Photo #7) on Hollis (Sharkstooth Island), and determined it was Phragmites. Phragmites is an invasive plant that spreads rapidly and crowds out native wetland vegetation. For more information on Phragmites, see http://www.fws.gov/GOMCP/pdfs/phragmitesQA_factsheet.pdf .

Photo 7: Phragmites

I cast a 4” chartreuse Gulp swimming mullet on a 3/8 oz. jighead a few times along the shoreline, and got a few nibbles, but was unable to catch any fish. The nibbles might have been small perch whose mouths were too small to swallow the bait, or my imagination.

The sun was getting low in the horizon so we headed back. The wind provided most of the power, but we paddled to keep the canoe lined up with our destination. Here is a view of the sandbar from Currioman Bay that will guide you to Currioman Landing (see photo #8).

Photo 8: Use sandbar as point of reference on return to Currioman Landing

Guest Blogger Stuart McKenzie
Environmental Planner
Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority

Northern Neck Water Trails Canoe Trip - Mulberry/Deep Creek Water Trail (Belle Isle State Park)
The Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (NNCBPAA), in cooperation with the Northern Neck Planning District Commission (NNPDC) and the Northern Neck Tourism Commission (NNTC), has created ten water trails for three of the four counties of the Northern Neck. The water trails created for Westmoreland County are Monroe Bay/Creek, Currioman Bay, Lower Machodoc, Bonum Creek Water Trails; for Richmond County, Cat Point Creek and Lancaster/Morattico Water Trails; for Lancaster County, Mulberry/Deep Creek, Greenvale Creek, Corrotoman River, and Little Oyster Creek water trails. Two new water trails for Northumberland are being created this year, and will be located on Cockrell Creek and the Coan River.
These water trails were funded by Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and the four counties of the Northern Neck, and are available for download at the Northern Neck Tourism website, northernneck.org. To access the maps, click on the "Visit" tab and then scroll down to "Parks and Water Trails". To access Lancaster and Westmoreland Water Trails, click on the county map to enlarge it, and then click on the water trail names (in red) to bring up the individual water trails. The large county maps have a long distance "through" trail, either along the Rappahannock River (Lancaster) or the Potomac River (Westmoreland). The ten newly created individual creek water trails are in interior creeks, making them ideal for beginner/novice paddlers. Most of the trails are short, 1-2 hour paddles, and of course you could shorten or lengthen your route depending on your time constraints or physical ability. Each water trail has a map, as well as text that describes the area's historical, cultural and environmental characteristics. These maps are available for download in PDF format, but can also be accessed using a smartphone. Working with local businesses as well as Belle Isle State Park, NNCBPAA staff utilized existing water access sites (mostly public boat ramps) as anchor sites for the water trails.
NNCBPAA staff, after creating the water trails, wanted to paddle some of the trails to experience the creeks firsthand, and to relay to the general public the beauty, serenity and excitement that comes by plying local waters with only a paddle for propulsion. The first water trail paddled was the Lancaster County Deep Creek/Mulberry Creek Trail, which is based at Belle Isle State Park. Early on in the process of creating the water trail, NNCBPAA staff learned that Belle Isle State Park had constructed a primitive paddle-in campsite at the mouth of Mulberry Creek, and this canoe trip was a chance to showcase that new amenity at Belle Isle State Park to local citizens.
Belle Isle State Park, in addition to renting powered boats, also rents canoes and kayaks. There is a car top boat launch on Mulberry Creek (see photo 1), and that is where NNCBPAA staff launched his old, tired and true aluminum canoe, fitted with a center seat. Others were enjoying a morning paddle as well (see photo 2). The day was bright and clear, with a few clouds, and a light wind. Upon launching, the water lapping the hull immediately had a calming influence. Being on the water relaxes me, the waves seem to carry away my troubles (see photo 3). Paddling towards the mouth of Mulberry Creek, I observed several ospreys vying to protect their territory, as well as few gulls looking for an easy snack. About halfway to the mouth of the creek, I noticed an osprey harassing a blue heron, evidently saying "these are MY fish, leave them alone!" (see photo 4). Paddling Mulberry Creek was very serene and quiet, save for an occasional osprey squawk, and the intermittent shrieks of some children playing on the beach opposite the state park. Rounding the bend at the mouth of Mulberry Creek, a nice beach approximately a hundred foot long, beckoned me. This is the beach adjacent to the four primitive campsites at Belle Isle State Park (see photo 5). After landing on the beach, I proceeded inland to examine the four primitive campsites. In addition to the four campsites, there is a portable toilet, a fire ring with benches, three picnic tables and a line to dry lifejackets, bathing suits or towels (see photo 6). Speaking with Belle Isle State Park staff, they relayed that in order to reserve these campsites, they would prefer people call the State Park at (804) 462-5030, so they can explain the limitations of the primitive campsite so that there are no surprises. Launching the canoe from the campsite beach, I decided to see if I could catch a fish, and baited up a bottom rig with some cut squid for bait. After a couple of minutes I had a tug on the line, and I could hear the croak of a croaker as I pulled him out of the water (see photo 7). The croaker wasn't that big, but he thought he was by the way he pulled after being hooked. After catching a few more croakers, it was getting hot and it was time to end the trip. As I paddled towards the canoe/kayak launch (see photo 8), I thought that more people should experience the Northern Neck from this perspective.