The forth obstacle you would come upon on a trip down stream through Andover would be the step dam between Balmoral St. and Haverhill St.(Rte.133) in Shawsheen Square.

   In low water, you can do exactly what the name implies, step down , lower your canoe, and off you go.

  In high fast water it is a completely different story.A tricky climb up a concrete wall, over an iron fence, while holding on to arope and carefully lowering the canoe over the falls. This task will test any canoeists balancing skills.

   There is no ladder,and no hand holds,except what you can, at your own peril, use as substitutes.The fence and rip-rap wall offer some help, but any of it could let loose at any time, as the entire length of the wall is in need of repair.

   The wall runs from below the marland dam to North main St. at Shawsheen Plaza, then starts again behind the former Andover Companies at 305 North Main St.and goes all the way through Shawsheen Square, along Riverina Rd. down past the steel bridge exit from Brickstone properties.

   A large project, but one that cannot be ignored forever.The town should be seeking funds to repair this, and the plans should include some dredging in sections of the river where debris has caused the river to deposit large sand and gravel banks, adding to the flooding problem.

   The plans should also include a system to slow down the release of water from the vast Brickstone parking lot into the river during rain storms.

   Collecter tanks for sand fom winter run off would help this section of the river from flooding also.

   While I'm writing down my dream plans for this section of the river, of course they would include the removal of the step and roll dams, and a pathway along the entire stretch for fishing, walking, biking, whatever.You could connect Castle Park to Den Rock Park, easily.