Hopedale sewage disposal: go to the right side to avoid.

Burlington sewage disposal: go to the left side to avoid. This is located past the rusty iron bridge but before the Haw River city bypass bridge at Cone Mills.  The director of the sewage plant tells me that there is nothing bad in this water but high levels of chlorine.  However that this drainage would be diluted 200-300 yards downstream.

Debris at I-40/85 Bridge near Graham:  Large amounts of debris can be caught on the bridge pilings possibly requiring portage.

Old Swepsonville Dam:   The Northern dam indicated above in red is the old Swepsonville dam.  It is made or wood and rebar, has two drops, the first being one foot and the second about three feet. There is a portage sign to the right of the dam but in shallow water there are shallow areas about one third of the way across from the right side of the dam that allow you to lift your boat over the dam.

Lower Swepsonville Dam (@Southwick Golf Course):  The southern dam is the Southwick Golf Course dam.  It is concrete and offers a 10 foot drop.  Never boat over this dam!  Always exit and re-enter below the dam.  If you exit on the right side you must lift your boat up the bank (3 feet in low water), across 20 feet of brush, up 5 feet to the top of the dam's extension, ease your boat down 10 feet on the back side of the dam into brush, climb down one of three trees that are very close to the dam and re-enter the river. Hopefully there will be portage ramps installed here in the future!

Saxapahaw Dam: This 20 foot+ drop to rocks is another dam you will
 never boat over!  There is portage on the left bank via a small pier, gravel
drive, paved road to below the dam.  This is a good ending spot for a
three hour (six mile) ride from the Graham/Hwy 54/Cooper Road access.

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