An Access Success

An Access Success

a Carolina Paddler Article

By Alton Chewning

-Remember this old put-in?  It was frequented by countless paddlers, slipping and sliding their boats into the muddy trench.  At higher levels a seal launch on the left gave a slightly less muddy entrance.  Regardless of how nostalgic we feel about the old Bynum Mill  launch, it’s now gone.

The current newsletter of the Friends of the Lower Haw has an update of the progress on the Bynum Mill Access improvements. Their newsletter always has informative articles and beautiful photography. Check out the striking  photo of a Cooper’s Hawk over the Haw.

The Bynum Mill Access is one of three put-in points for the Middle Haw. One can park at the Hwy 15-501 access and carry down the hill, cross the spillway and scramble down to the bank.  From there boaters launch just below the spillover from the dam. A cleaner option is to put in at the South Bynum access, at the foot of the pedestrian bridge. Cars are parked on the north side of the bridge and drivers walk back to the put-in. A previous Carolina Paddler article covers these accesses in more depth.

The improved Bynum Mill Access will provide the most convenience, combining ample parking and an agreeable launching site. One amenity sure to be appreciated is a public restroom, with facilities for women, men and families, all ADA compliant. Water fountains will have dispensers to fill bottles.

In this photo the new concrete ramp looks a lttle blunt at water edge but a floating river mat will be added.  The parking area will have solar lights and security cameras.

Many thanks to Chatham County, FLOHA, the Haw River Assembly and other organizations pursuing grants and funding for making our heavily used put-in points into more modern, environmentally sustainable accesses.

Photo Credits:

-Old muddy put-in by Alton Chewning

-New Improvements by Gretchen Smith

-Concrete ramp by Larry Ausley