While many people simply complain about lack of access to the Upper Androscoggin River in Maine, at least one organization has been busy for nearly two years pulling all the right strings and coordinating an effort to get a drift boat/boat access at Moran’s Landing at Newry Corner – the confluence of the Androscoggin and Bear Rivers.

Wende Gray, of Gray Marketing and a spokesperson for the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance (UAAA) calls it “the ultimate in collaboration”.

Mostly organizations just talk about collaboration, have meetings and feel good about “working together” to produce nothing but Thursday the rubber will actually hit the road or gravel the shore.

According to Gray, the Mahoosuc Land Trust owns the landing and handled acquiring the necessary permits. The Androscoggin Watershed Council (AVCOG) has been helping to coordinate the effort and line up a construction company. Chadbourne Tree Farms donated the gravel and Cross Construction provided trucking to get the gravel to the site, while Steve Swazey donated a loader. Members of the UAAA have been providing volunteer work.

Gray said that with the new boat launch, the river will become “a truly multiple-use river” and it didn’t require a “multi-thousand dollar grant” to get it done.

Photo by Tom Remington

Once the location was determined for the ramp from the parking area to the river, Rocky Freda of Sun Valley Sports and a member of the UAAA, cleared the trees and brush. Excavation equipment then began roughing out the ramp and spreading gravel.

Photo by Tom Remington

After a few hours, the road to the ramp took shape.

Photo by Tom Remington

Concrete slabs were placed at the river’s edge to provide the actual ramp itself.

Tom Remington