Coginchaug River
Encyclopedia
The Coginchaug River in Connecticut
, with a watershed
of 39 square miles (101 km²) including forest
s, pasture
s, farmland, industrial
, and commercial
areas, is the predominant tributary
of the Mattabesset River. 15.5 miles (24.9 km) long, it flows mostly north from Myer Huber Pond in Guilford, Connecticut
(about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) by road south of the Durham
line, and about 400 feet (121.9 m) west of Route 77
) into Durham and then Middlefield
, meeting the Mattabesset in Middletown
, about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) upstream of the Connecticut River
. The name "Coginchaug" comes from a local Native American
name for the Durham area, and it was the original name for the town. It has been said to mean "The Great Swamp
", and is a reference to the meadows found in the central part of town.
In 2006, the Coginchaug was among Connecticut 85 waterways cited as of "lower quality", in view of elevated levels of bacteria
, including E. coli
. Efforts are currently under way by the Natural Resources Conservation Service
of the United States Department of Agriculture
to recommend practices to reduce the bacteria introduced into the river from untreated sewage
, sanitary sewer overflow
, agricultural runoff, leaking septic tank
s, etc.
, even though not for in-water activities like swimming). Flowing from Myer Huber Pond, it has low volume through difficult swamps continuing over 3 miles (5 km), which are likely to be impassable except soon after heavy rain. The main paddling route starts at Route 147 and continues downstream, north, through additional slow-moving waters and a swamp. There are many portage
s, including those at six dams and at Wadsworth Falls, the only major waterfall. Class II whitewater
is possible before it flows into the tidal marsh
of the Mattabesset River.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, with a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 39 square miles (101 km²) including forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
s, farmland, industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, and commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
areas, is the predominant tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mattabesset River. 15.5 miles (24.9 km) long, it flows mostly north from Myer Huber Pond in Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
(about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) by road south of the Durham
Durham, Connecticut
Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut. The population was 6,627 at the 2000 census. Every autumn, the town hosts the Durham Fair, the largest volunteer agricultural fair in New...
line, and about 400 feet (121.9 m) west of Route 77
Connecticut Route 77
Route 77 is a secondary state highway in southern Connecticut. It is a state-designated scenic road and runs from the Guilford town green, through North Guilford, into the town center of Durham.- Route description:...
) into Durham and then Middlefield
Middlefield, Connecticut
Middlefield is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,203 at the 2000 census. The town includes the village of Rockfall-History:...
, meeting the Mattabesset in Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) upstream of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. The name "Coginchaug" comes from a local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
name for the Durham area, and it was the original name for the town. It has been said to mean "The Great Swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
", and is a reference to the meadows found in the central part of town.
In 2006, the Coginchaug was among Connecticut 85 waterways cited as of "lower quality", in view of elevated levels of bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, including E. coli
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
. Efforts are currently under way by the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service , formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service , is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.Its name was changed in 1994 during the Presidency of...
of the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
to recommend practices to reduce the bacteria introduced into the river from untreated sewage
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
, sanitary sewer overflow
Sanitary sewer overflow
Sanitary sewer overflow is a condition whereby untreated sewage is discharged into the environment prior to reaching treatment facilities thereby escaping wastewater treatment. When caused by rainfall it is also known as wet weather overflow. It is primarily meaningful in developed countries,...
, agricultural runoff, leaking septic tank
Septic tank
A septic tank is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations...
s, etc.
Canoeing
The river has become a popular canoeing route (and in 2006 it was considered safe for canoeingCanoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, even though not for in-water activities like swimming). Flowing from Myer Huber Pond, it has low volume through difficult swamps continuing over 3 miles (5 km), which are likely to be impassable except soon after heavy rain. The main paddling route starts at Route 147 and continues downstream, north, through additional slow-moving waters and a swamp. There are many portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
s, including those at six dams and at Wadsworth Falls, the only major waterfall. Class II whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
is possible before it flows into the tidal marsh
Tidal marsh
A tidal marsh is a type of marsh that is found along coasts and estuaries of which the flooding characteristics are determined by the tidal movement of the adjacent estuary, sea or ocean . According to the salinity of the flooding water, freshwater, brackish and saline tidal marshes are...
of the Mattabesset River.
External links
- Connecticut Explorer's Guide, online paddling map of the Coginchaug River