Black River (Connecticut River)

Upper Falls Covered Bridge over the Black River

The Black River is a right tributary of the Connecticut River in Windsor County in the U.S. state of Vermont.

The Black River has its origin in the small reservoir Black Pond in the Town of Plymouth. He initially flows in a southerly direction. Several smaller lakes are due to its headwaters: Amherst Lake, Echo Lake and Lake Rescue. The Vermont State Route 100 follows the upper reaches up to Ludlow. There, the Black River turns east. The Vermont State Route 103 and later the Vermont State Route 131 run along the river. The Black River passes through the places Proctorsville and Cavendish. Later, the river changes its direction to the south. He passed the place Perkinsville, which flows through the North Springfield Reservoir and flows past North Springfield. The Vermont State Route 106 follows the river to Springfield. The last few kilometers to its mouth accompanied the Vermont State Route 11 to Black River. He finally ends opposite the Fort at Number 4 in the Connecticut River. The Black River has a length of 65 km. Its catchment area covers 517 km ².

Hydropower plants

At the Black River are several hydroelectric plants. The easternmost of Cavendish Cavendish hydroelectric power plant has been in operation since 1907. Several hydropower plants with associated dams ( Fellows Dam, Gilman Dam, Comtu Falls, Lovejoy Dam ), probably dating from the early 20th century, are located in the center of Springfield.

Hydropower plants in downstream direction: