An old mill dam was blown up in the 1940's, leaving concrete slabs and rocks in the river that create a rapid of some consequence for beginners and recreational boaters (primarily due to the sieve described below.) Stay right. The rapid can be portaged at river right.
At lower flows (< 300 cfs), Cottonseed forms a surfable wave at river center. At 700-800 cfs, a surfable wave is reportedly formed by water flowing over the concrete wall at river left.
WARNING: Sieve Hazard at Cottonseed
In 2008, gravel washed out from under part of the former concrete dam structure at river left, causing water to rush underneath it and create a potentially deadly sieve. Paddlers report, as of early 2018, that the sieve is still active when the river is running relatively low. Stay right to avoid it. Do not swim into the river left eddy ("Suburban eddy") above the dam.