Connecticut River 252145 225083447 2008-07-11T20:12:10Z Kbdankbot 6505923 Robot - remove category per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 June 22|2008 June 22]] {{Geobox|River <!-- *** Name section *** --> | name = Connecticut River | native_name = | other_name = | other_name1 = <!-- *** Image *** ---> | image = IMG_3758_view_north_from_French_King_Bridge.jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = The Connecticut River looking north, from the [[French King Bridge]] at the [[Erving, Massachusetts|Erving]]-[[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]] town line in [[Western Massachusetts]] <!-- *** Country etc. *** --> | country = [[USA]] | country1 = | state = [[Connecticut]] | state1 = [[Massachusetts]] | state2 = [[Vermont]] | state3 = [[New Hampshire]] | region = | region1 = | district = | district1 = | city = [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford, CT]] | city1 = [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield, MA]] <!-- *** Geography *** --> | length_imperial = 407 | watershed_imperial = 11250 | discharge_location = [[Thompsonville, Connecticut|Thompsonville, CT]] | discharge_average_imperial = 18400 | discharge_max_imperial = 95400 | discharge_min_imperial = 3160 | discharge1_location = [[West Lebanon, New Hampshire|West Lebanon, NH]] | discharge1_average_imperial = 6600 <!-- *** Source *** --> | source_name = [[Fourth Connecticut Lake]] | source_location = | source_district = | source_region = [[Coos County, New Hampshire|Coos County]] | source_state = [[New Hampshire]] | source_country = [[USA]] | source_lat_d = 45 | source_lat_m = 14 | source_lat_s = 53 | source_lat_NS = N | source_long_d = 71 | source_long_m = 12 | source_long_s = 51 | source_long_EW = W | source_elevation_imperial = 2660 | source_length_imperial = <!-- *** Mouth *** --> | mouth_name = [[Long Island Sound]] | mouth_location = [[Old Saybrook, Connecticut|Old Saybrook]] | mouth_district = | mouth_region = | mouth_state = [[Connecticut]]<ref>{{Gnis|206425|Connecticut River}}</ref> | mouth_country = | mouth_lat_d = 41 | mouth_lat_m = 16 | mouth_lat_s = 20 | mouth_lat_NS = N | mouth_long_d = 72 | mouth_long_m = 20 | mouth_long_s = 03 | mouth_long_EW = W | mouth_elevation_imperial = <!-- *** Tributaries *** --> | tributary_left = [[Chicopee River|Chicopee]] | tributary_left1 = | tributary_right = [[White River (Vermont)|White River]] | tributary_right1 = <!-- *** Free fields *** --> | free_name = | free_value = <!-- *** Map section *** --> | map = Connecticut_River_Map.gif | map_size = 300 | map_caption = River map, with major tributaries and selected dams. }} The '''Connecticut River''' is the largest [[river]] in [[New England]], flowing south from the [[Connecticut Lakes]] in northern [[New Hampshire]], along the border between New Hampshire and [[Vermont]], through [[Western Massachusetts]] and central [[Connecticut]] into [[Long Island Sound]] at [[Old Saybrook, Connecticut]]. It has a total length of {{convert|407|mi|km|0}}, and a drainage basin extending over {{convert|11250|sqmi|km2}}. The mean freshwater discharge into [[Long Island Sound]] is {{convert|19600|cuft|m3}} per second. The river is tidal up to [[Windsor Locks]], approximately {{convert|60|mi|km}} from the mouth. The source of the Connecticut River is the [[Fourth Connecticut Lake]] in New Hampshire. Some tributaries include the [[Ashuelot River|Ashuelot]], [[West River|West]], Miller's, Mill, [[Deerfield River|Deerfield]], White, and Chicopee rivers. (The [[Swift River (Ware River)|Swift River]], a tributary of the Chicopee, has been largely replaced by the [[Quabbin Reservoir]] which [[water supply network|provides water]] to [[Boston]].) The river carries a heavy amount of [[silt]], especially during the spring snow melt, from as far north as [[Quebec]]. The heavy silt concentration of the river forms a large [[sandbar]] near its mouth on Long Island Sound and has historically provided a formidable obstacle to navigation. The difficulty of navigation on the river is the primary reason that it is one of the few large rivers in the region without a major city near its mouth. The Connecticut River estuary and tidal wetlands complex is listed as one of the 1616 wetlands of international importance under the [[Ramsar Convention]] on Wetlands. ==History== [[Image:Cole Thomas The Oxbow (The Connecticut River near Northampton 1836.jpg|left|thumb|The Oxbow, Connecticut River near Northampton, 1836, by [[Thomas Cole]]]] The river's name is the French corruption of the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]] word "quinetucket" and means ''long tidal river''. The first European to see the river was the [[Dutch colonization of the Americas|Dutch]] explorer [[Adriaen Block]] in 1614. As a result of this exploration, the Dutch named the Connecticut River the "Fresh River", and it was the northeastern limits of the '''New Netherlands''' colony, and the original border between '''New Netherlands''' and '''New England'''. The first [[British colonization of the Americas|English]] colonist to record his visit was [[Edward Winslow]] from the [[Plymouth Colony]] in 1632. In 1633 the English built a trading post on the site of [[Windsor, Connecticut]], and the Dutch built one with a fort at the site of [[Hartford, Connecticut]]. As the number of English colonists increased, the Dutch abandoned their enterprise in 1654. The [[Fort at Number 4]], now [[Charlestown, New Hampshire]], was the northernmost English settlement on the river until the end of the [[French and Indian War]] in 1763. In the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)]], ending the [[American Revolutionary War]], the new border between New Hampshire and what was to become the [[Province of Canada]] was defined to include the "northwesternmost headwaters of the Connecticut" . Because there are several streams that could fit that description, a boundary dispute led to the short-lived [[Indian Stream Republic]], which existed from 1832 to 1835. At first the broad, fertile valley attracted agricultural colonies, but the volume and fall of the river contributed to the rise of manufacturing in the valley. The greatest single drop of {{convert|58|ft|m}} is at [[Holyoke, Massachusetts]]. Other important centers include Windsor and Hartford in Connecticut, [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], the largest city on the river, [[Lebanon, New Hampshire]], and [[Brattleboro, Vermont]]. [[Image:DSCN3850 connecticutriverfromsaybrookept e.JPG|thumb|left|The Connecticut River as seen near its mouth.]] In 1829 the [[Enfield Falls Canal]] was opened to circumvent shallows on the Connecticut River. The locks built for this canal gave their name to the town of [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].<ref>Connecticut Heritage (Dorothy A. DeBisschop). ''[http://www.our-oxford.info/other-history/W-locks.htm The Canal at Windsor Locks]''. Retrieved [[January 20]] [[2006]].</ref> In the late 1800s the river was used for massive logging drives from the far north, particularly the Nullhegan River basin in [[Essex County, Vermont]]. These spring drives were stopped after 1915, when pleasure boat owners complained about the hazards to navigation.<ref>{{cite book | author = Wheeler, Scott |title = The History of Logging in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom | publisher = The Kingdom Historical | year = September 2002}}</ref> The Connecticut River Flood Control Compact was established in 1953 in response to severe flooding. The [[Clean Water Act]] in 1965 has also had a major impact on the Connecticut River and its tributaries; since then, the river has<!--really need to link or describe what classes d and b are. Couldn't find template to flat there---> been restored from Class D to Class B. It was designated as one of the [[American Heritage Rivers]] in 1997. The towns along the lower end of the river have enacted a cap on further development along the banks, so that no buildings may be constructed except on existing foundations. ==Fish== The Connecticut River is a habitat to several species of [[anadromous]] fish, including the [[American shad]], [[American eel]], [[Striped Bass]] and the [[Sea lamprey]]. The [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] is undertaking an effort to repopulate the river with another species of migratory fish, the [[Atlantic salmon]]. For more than 200 years, Atlantic salmon have been [[extinct]] from the river due to [[dam]]ming. Several [[fish ladder]]s and fish elevators have been built to allow fish to resume their natural migration upriver each spring. ==Boating== The mouth of the river up to [[Essex, Connecticut|Essex]] is thought to be the busiest stretch of waterway in Connecticut. Neither local police departments nor the state Environmental Conservation Police patrol the area extensively (often only a few times a week). Several towns have no patrols at all, others keep boats available if needed.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/nyregion/30saybrook.html?ref=nyregion&pagewanted=print]Kaplan, Thomas, "River Watchers, Tackling Speeders and Thin Budgets", article in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Metro section, [[August 30]], [[2007]], accessed same day</ref> ==Angling the Connecticut== {{fly fishing waters}} [[Image:TrophyStretchConnecticuttRiver.jpg|thumb|left|The In-Between-Waters of the Trophy Stretch of the Connecticut River near 1st Connecticut Lake, New Hampshire]] [[Image:ConnecticuttRiverNearColebrook.jpg|thumb|left|Connecticut River near [[Colebrook, New Hampshire]]--Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout]] [[Image:Connecticut River bridge.jpg|thumb|[[Founders Bridge]] over the Connecticut River with a view of the [[Bulkeley Bridge]] further upstream]] [[Image:BillDoingGuideWork.jpg|thumb|right|Drift Boat Fishing Guide working the Connecticut River near Colebrook, New Hampshire]] The headwaters of the Connecticut River are at the northern tip of New Hampshire, near the [[Canada|Canadian]] border. Much of the beginning of the river's course in the town of [[Pittsburg, New Hampshire|Pittsburg]] is occupied by the [[Connecticut Lakes]], a chain of deep, cold water lakes that are home to [[lake trout]] and [[Atlantic Salmon|landlocked salmon]]. The river itself holds native [[brook trout]], [[rainbow trout]], large [[brown trout]], shad, small-mouth bass, striped bass, carp, catfish, American eel, and several other species of game fish. Landlocked salmon make their way into the river during spring spawning runs of bait fish and during their fall spawn. The river has fly-fishing-only regulations on five miles (8 km) of river. Most of the river from [[Lake Francis (Murphy Dam)|Lake Francis]] south is open to lure and bait as well. Two tail-water dams provide cold river water for miles downstream making summer fishing on the Connecticut River excellent. ==Water quality testing project== A program of water testing is in the preparation stages. Water samples will be drawn three days a week at three locations: in the Greenfield area, below the Holyoke Dam in the Chicopee-Springfield area, and in the White River heartland area of Vermont. The results of the testing will be on a yet-to-be-created website up to 48 hours after samples are collected, due to the time required to evaluate the samples.<ref>[http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=56995 Daily Hampshire Gazette article]</ref> ==Tributaries== Listed from south to north by location of mouth: {| |valign=top width=45%| *[[Black Hall River]] (CT) *[[Falls River (Connecticut)|Falls River]] (CT) *[[Eightmile River]] (CT) *[[Deep River (Connecticut)|Deep River]] (CT) *[[Salmon River (Connecticut)|Salmon River]] (CT) *[[Mattabesset River]] (CT) *[[Hockanum River]] (CT) *[[Park River (Connecticut)|Park River]] (CT) *[[Farmington River]] (CT) *[[Scantic River]] (CT) *[[Westfield River]] (MA) *[[Mill River (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Mill River]] (Springfield, MA) *[[Chicopee River]] (MA) *[[Manhan River]] (MA) *[[Mill River (Hampshire County, Massachusetts)|Mill River]] (Northampton, MA) *[[Fort River]] (Hadley, MA) *[[Mill River (Hatfield, Massachusetts)|Mill River]] (Hatfield, MA) *[[Mill River (Amherst, Massachusetts)|Mill River]] (Amherst, MA) *[[Sawmill River]] (MA) *[[Deerfield River]] (MA) *[[Fall River (Massachusetts)|Fall River]] (MA) *[[Millers River]] (MA) *[[Ashuelot River]] (NH) *[[West River (Vermont)|West River]] (VT) *[[Partridge Brook]] (NH) *[[Cold River (Connecticut River)|Cold River]] (NH) *[[Saxtons River]] (VT) | |valign=top width=45%| * [[Williams River (Vermont)|Williams River]] (VT) *[[Black River (Connecticut River)|Black River]] (VT) *[[Little Sugar River (New Hampshire)|Little Sugar River]] (NH) *[[Sugar River (New Hampshire)|Sugar River]] (NH) *[[Blow-me-down Brook]] (NH) *[[Ottauquechee River]] (VT) *[[Mascoma River]] (NH) *[[White River (Vermont)|White River]] (VT) *[[Mink Brook]] (NH) *[[Ompompanoosuc River]] (VT) *[[Waits River]] (VT) *[[Oliverian Brook]] (NH) *[[Wells River (Vermont)|Wells River]] (VT) *[[Ammonoosuc River]] (NH) *[[Stevens River]] (VT) *[[Passumpsic River]] (VT) *[[Johns River (New Hampshire)|Johns River]] (NH) *[[Israel River]] (NH) *[[Upper Ammonoosuc River]] (NH) *[[Paul Stream]] (VT) *[[Nulhegan River]] (VT) *[[Simms Stream]] (NH) *[[Mohawk River (New Hampshire)|Mohawk River]] (NH) *[[Halls Stream]] (VT) *[[Indian Stream]] (NH) *[[Perry Stream]] (NH) |} ==Crossings== [[Image:PostcardWillowIslandPortlandCt1910.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Willow Island in [[Portland, Connecticut]], 1910 postcard]] {{main|List of crossings of the Connecticut River}} The Connecticut River is a significant barrier to travel between western and eastern New England. Several major transportation corridors cross the river including [[Amtrak]]'s [[Northeast Corridor]], [[Interstate 95 in Connecticut|Interstate 95]] ([[Connecticut Turnpike]]) and [[Interstate 90]] ([[Massachusetts Turnpike]]). ==See also== *[[History of Connecticut]] *[[List of Connecticut rivers]] *[[List of Massachusetts rivers]] *[[List of New Hampshire rivers]] *[[List of Vermont rivers]] *[[Essex, Connecticut#The Great Attack|The Great Attack]] - the burning of American ships on the Connecticut River at Essex in 1814 ==Additional reading== * {{cite book | last = Bacon | first = Edwin M. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Connecticut River and the Valley of the Connecticut: Three Hundred and Fifty Miles from Mountain to Sea | publisher = G.P. Putnam's Sons | date = 1906 | location = New York | pages = | url = http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=faczgySbodgC&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=4122iUxeyg&sig=_pFq0IRYclCDdOkXevnr2e6A4QA&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPR1,M1 | doi = | id = {{LCC|F12.C7 B2}} | isbn = }} * {{cite book | last = Delany | first = Edmund Thomas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Connecticut River: New England's Historic Waterway | publisher = The Globe Pequot Press | date = 1983 | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-0871069801}} * {{cite book | last = Hard | first = Walter R. | title = The Connecticut (Rivers of America) | publisher = Rinehart & Company, Inc | location = New York, Toronto | date = 1947 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=dm4NAAAACAAJ | id = {{LCC|F12.C7 H3}} | isbn = 0932691277 }} == References == <references /> ==External links== {{Commons|Category:Connecticut River|Connecticut River}} *[http://www.ctriver.org/ Connecticut River Watershed Council] *[http://www.ctrivermuseum.org/ The Connecticut River Museum] *[http://www.ctriverfest.org Connecticut Riverfest] *[http://www.uvtrails.org Upper Valley Trails Alliance] *[http://www.crjc.org/ Connecticut River Joint Commissions] {{geolinks-US-river|([[Long Island Sound]])|41.2722|-72.3342|([[Fourth Connecticut Lake]])|45.2478|-71.2144}} [[Category:Connecticut River|*]] [[Category:Long Island Sound]] [[Category:American Heritage Rivers]] [[Category:Rivers of Connecticut]] [[Category:Rivers of Massachusetts]] [[Category:Rivers of New Hampshire]] [[Category:Rivers of Vermont]] [[de:Connecticut River]] [[es:Río Connecticut]] [[fr:Connecticut (fleuve)]] [[gl:Río Connecticut]] [[it:Connecticut (fiume)]] [[he:קונטיקט (נהר)]] [[nl:Connecticut (rivier)]] [[pl:Connecticut (rzeka)]] [[ru:Коннектикут (река)]] [[sl:Connecticut River]] [[sv:Connecticutfloden]] [[zh:康乃狄克河]]