The Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission oversees the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Why would you not trust the scientists and engineers who work for this commission to do their job?
I have lived around these parts for the better part of my 62 years, and I have never seen the section below the Turners Falls dam devoid of water.
It’s impossible to believe stories about the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project causing a drifting boat to be “yanked backwards”, the Connecticut river to be “pulled into” reverse, 180 degrees to flow back uphill. For this to happen, all the laws of gravity developed by Newton and Einstein would become null and void.
The section referred to, below Red Rock, is where the river narrows and passes under the French King bridge. This narrowing, causes some of the highest currents recorded on the Connecticut. I’ve seen boats struggle to maintain speed heading east, then north against the current in that section. Most boats have to throttle up the motor to make it under the bridge and continue upstream.
Jim Bates
Gill