On a sunny mild - 70s - Saturday, Allison Holliday, Lana Sindler, Ed Wyse, & the author met at Sycolin Road Bridge to paddle UP the Goose Creek Reservoir to Francis Mill and Dam, Excellent day - We got within 1,000 feet of our goal, but for lack of time turned back after our streamside picnic. 6.3 miles RT. The trip took us five hours - from unloading at 9:00 to recovery at 2:00.
We paddled up past the Turner Farms mansions and up the double bends to Beaverdam Creek, right below the eponymous reservoir - and ascended it 100 feet. This is ideal for a picnic area, probably not as a put-in. We shall follow up with the Loudoun County Parks planners next week. Upstream of here the streamflow is palpable; even at medium water volume (120 cfs) one can attain to Francis Lock & Dam. Here's sn arial view of the two-foot high rubble Francis Dam:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=17.2/-77.5564/39.0271&layer=SatelliteWithLabels
The Sycolin Road put-in, while at an ideal place for accessing the Creek/Reservoir, continues problematical. Major briars needed pruning - and the log and a couple of stray stones in this little creekbed should be removed.
Access Report on the Goose is on the CCA Homepage: https://canoecruisers.clubexpress.com/content.aspx - see pp 11-13
Ron Canter's Maps and River Notes tell about the old 1840s Canal, which runs beneath the Reservoir:
https://canoecruisers.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=86&club_id=394800&item_id=38557