Larry Doyle stands by the dam he turns off and on in order to produce the correct amount of hydroelectric power. Staff photo by John Patriquin. I ask Doyle, only half in jest, if he can give us another 100 cubic feet, to give us a nice boost. He's waiting for us to move on, so he can cut the flow by two-thirds, because highway workers are set to tear out an old bridge pier that has been replaced downstream, at the Vanceboro border crossing into St. Croix, New Brunswick. Below the dam, the St. Croix is narrow and fast.
Roads are close by, but the river is lined with cedars and largely undeveloped.
It retains a wild feel. The St. Croix is an exciting river. A dozen rapids in the first 20 miles keep canoe paddlers paying attention. That's especially true 10 miles below Vanceboro, at Little Falls. We hear the roar of the water and take out on the right bank.