Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Shetucket River

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- average
  
718 cu ft/s (20 m/s)

Country
  
United States of America

Length
  
32 km

Shetucket River kayakingctwithloucomwpcontentuploads201409s

- right
  
Quinebaug River, Little River (Shetucket River)

- location
  
Willimantic, Windham County, Connecticut, United States

- location
  
Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, United States

- max
  
1,243 cu ft/s (35 m/s) Annual mean, 1938

- min
  
337 cu ft/s (10 m/s) Annual mean, 1965

Sources
  
Willimantic, Willimantic River

Mouths
  
Quinebaug River, Norwich, Thames River, Yantic River

The Shetucket River is a tributary of the Thames River, 20.4 miles (32.8 km) long, in eastern Connecticut in the United States.

Contents

Map of Shetucket River, Connecticut, USA

It is formed at Willimantic by the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. It flows southeast and south. Approximately 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Norwich it receives the Quinebaug River and broadens into a wide estuary which stretches southeast for approximately 5 miles (8 km) and joins the Thames estuary on the south side of Norwich.

The river flows through an especially unspoiled rural section of southern New England, despite the historical prevalence of industry in the surrounding region. Parts of the rivers have been designated by the federal government as the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The National Park Service describes the river valley as the "last green valley" in the Boston-to-Washington megalopolis. In nighttime satellite photos, the valley appears distinctively dark amidst the lights of the surrounding urban and suburban regions.

Paddling the RiverEdit

The entire length of the river, as well as the lower part of the Natchaug River flowing into it, is a popular recreational paddling route.

Canoe/Kayak launch sites are located at the following locations:

  • Lauter Park off Route 195 - Willimantic (on Natchaug River 1 mile above Shetucket River)
  • Recreation Park on Plains Road - Windham
  • Baltic Riverside Park on Route 97 - Sprague
  • Occum Dam canoe portage - Sprague
  • Lisbon Canoe Launch off Route 169 - Lisbon
  • Greenville Dam canoe portage - Norwich
  • Howard Brown Park - Norwich
  • Short, marked portages are required at four hydroelectric dams: Scotland Dam, Occum Dam, Taftville Dam, and Greenville Dam.

    References

    Shetucket River Wikipedia