Housatonic River

Housatonic River in Kent, CT

Catchment area of ​​the Housatonic River

The Housatonic River is a 240 km long river in the northeastern United States.

It rises in western Massachusetts, flows in a southeasterly direction through Connecticut and ends at Milford Point in Long Iceland sound.

Geography

The Housatonic River rises five sources in the Berkshire Mountains in the city of Pittsfield in the far west of Massachusetts. It flows mainly in a southerly direction, first by the Berkshire Mountains, then into western Connecticut and ends at Milford Point in Long Iceland sound. In the lower reaches of the river is gaining momentum, reaching in places more than 1 km. The most important tributaries of the Housatonic River are Williams River, Green River and Konkaput River in Massachusetts and Tenmile River, Shepaug River, Pomperaug River, Naugatug River and Still River in Connecticut.

Dams

A total of five dams dam the river in Connecticut and are used for power generation: The dams at Falls Village, Bulls Bridge, Sherpaug, Stevenson and Derby. The reservoirs Lake and Lake Zoar Lillinonah emerged after the construction of the two dams Sherpaug Dam and Stevenson Dam.

Hydropower plants

On the Housatonic River are several hydroelectric plants.

In Milford Haven is the pumped storage power plant Rocky River, the water from the Housatonic River in the Candlewood Lake is pumping again or discharges into it. Below the Lake Lillinonah is the hydroelectric plant Shepaug, below the Lake Zoar is the hydroelectric plant Stevenson.

The hydropower plants in downstream direction:

Covered Bridges

On the Housatonic River are three wooden covered bridges:

• Built Bulls Bridge Covered Bridge, between Gaylordsville and Kent, 1842
• Built in West Cornwall Covered Bridge in Cornwall, 1841
• A spent and 1998 rebuilt bridge at Sheffield

History

Before the arrival of Europeans the valley of the Housatonic River was home to the Housatonic, a tribe of the Mahican. These are not to be confused with the Mohegan, the residential area was 150 km to the east. The Indians called the river " Usi -a- di - Enuk ", which translates as " below the mountains " is called. In Adriaen Block travel in 1614 along the Long - Iceland - Sund he drove up the Housatonic River. He called it River of Red Hill. By the 18th century, the flow of the whites " Potatuck " or " Great River " was called. During the colonial period, the settlers took advantage of the valley and the surrounding areas for agriculture. In the 19th century, hydropower has played a significant role and the remains of dams, water mills and furnaces for iron ore witness to the fact. Five dams jam today on the river in the lower reaches for power generation, while at the headwaters in Massachusetts agriculture is predominant.

From 1932 to 1977 there were significant problems with industrial effluents, especially of PCBs, which was led by General Electric in Pittsfield in the river. Although the water quality has improved in recent decades, the concentration of PCBs in the river water between Pittsfield and the Stevenson Dam is still nachgewiesem in Connecticut.

In the lower reaches of the river in New Milford and Brookfield tobacco is grown further south you will find steel plants and heavy industrial equipment. This section of the river is subject to tidal and forms the, but endangered, habitat for rare animals and plants. At the mouth of the Housatonic River are the most productive oyster hatcheries of the American Northeast.

Flora and Fauna

The 5045 km ² extensive catchment area of ​​the Housatonic River has a rich flora and fauna. The various landforms, geology and climate create ideal conditions for the habitat of certain plants and animals. One can divide the course of the river in five vegetation sections:

The open area is a habitat for pheasants, rabbits, red foxes and marmots, while can be found in the woods deer, gray foxes, gray squirrels, hares, porcupines, grouse and woodcock. Live mainly fur -bearing mammals, such as beavers, muskrats, raccoons, otters and mink on the river banks. The area is rich in water birds, including Canada geese, black, forest, teal and goldeneye ducks, as well as birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons, bald eagles and osprey.