Naugatuck River
Encyclopedia
The Naugatuck River is a 40.2 miles (64.7 km) river
in the US
state of Connecticut
. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley
. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River
in Derby, Connecticut
. One of the river's main uses is hydropower
, which is used to power industrial plant
s among the river. The Thomaston Dam, which was completed in 1960, creates a reservoir
on the river and helps to control flood
s.
Various Algonquian
bands originally inhabited the Naugatuck River Valley, often included in the Wappinger
tribe. The name "Naugatuck" comes from the Algonquian word for "lone tree by the fishing place". The valley was later settled by the English
. Given the high potential for water power and rocky soil, the Naugatuck Valley soon became an industrialized area, often associated with brass
works.
The East Branch of the Naugatuck River is 11.4 miles (18.3 km) long and originates in Winchester
as a tributary of Lake Winchester at an elevation of about 1375 feet (419.1 m). The West Branch, 5.9 miles (9.5 km) long, begins at the confluence of Jakes Brook, Hart Brook, and Hall Meadow Brook in the western part of Torrington, at an elevation of 780 feet (237.7 m). After winding through rural forested areas, the two branches enter downtown Torrington
and join just north of East Albert Street at about 500 feet (152.4 m) above sea level. From this point on, the Naugatuck River largely parallels Connecticut Route 8. The river enters a forested, hilly area between Connecticut Route 118
and Thomaston
. The Naugatuck River then flows through the largely industrialized cities of the Naugatuck River Valley
with periodic sections of forested areas before entering the Housatonic River at Derby
at about 30 feet (9.1 m) above sea level.
The Naugatuck River is a popular destination for fishing in northwestern Connecticut, though not on the same scale as the Farmington River
or Housatonic River
. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection stocks the river with broodstock Atlantic Salmon
between Route 118 in Harwinton
/Litchfield
and the Thomaston Dam, and from southern Naugatuck
to Beacon Falls
. The Naugatuck has a trout management area between Route 118 and the Thomaston Dam, and is considered a trophy trout stream the rest of its length between the confluence of the East and West Branches and the Kinneytown Dam in Seymour
.
Two crossings of the river are:
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Connecticut
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...
. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley
Naugatuck River Valley
The Naugatuck River Valley refers to the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the...
. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
in Derby, Connecticut
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
. One of the river's main uses is hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
, which is used to power industrial plant
Industrial process
Industrial processes are procedures involving chemical or mechanical steps to aid in the manufacture of an item or items, usually carried out on a very large scale. Industrial processes are the key components of heavy industry....
s among the river. The Thomaston Dam, which was completed in 1960, creates a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
on the river and helps to control flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s.
Various Algonquian
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
bands originally inhabited the Naugatuck River Valley, often included in the Wappinger
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
tribe. The name "Naugatuck" comes from the Algonquian word for "lone tree by the fishing place". The valley was later settled by the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
. Given the high potential for water power and rocky soil, the Naugatuck Valley soon became an industrialized area, often associated with brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
works.
The East Branch of the Naugatuck River is 11.4 miles (18.3 km) long and originates in Winchester
Winchester, Connecticut
Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,664 at the 2000 census. The Incorporated City of Winsted is located in Winchester.-Geography:...
as a tributary of Lake Winchester at an elevation of about 1375 feet (419.1 m). The West Branch, 5.9 miles (9.5 km) long, begins at the confluence of Jakes Brook, Hart Brook, and Hall Meadow Brook in the western part of Torrington, at an elevation of 780 feet (237.7 m). After winding through rural forested areas, the two branches enter downtown Torrington
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
and join just north of East Albert Street at about 500 feet (152.4 m) above sea level. From this point on, the Naugatuck River largely parallels Connecticut Route 8. The river enters a forested, hilly area between Connecticut Route 118
Connecticut Route 118
Route 118 is a state highway in northwestern Connecticut, running from the borough of Litchfield via the village of East Litchfield to the town center of Harwinton.-Route description:...
and Thomaston
Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,503 at the 2000 census.-History:The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled in the early 18th century. The town is known for clock making, which...
. The Naugatuck River then flows through the largely industrialized cities of the Naugatuck River Valley
Naugatuck River Valley
The Naugatuck River Valley refers to the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the...
with periodic sections of forested areas before entering the Housatonic River at Derby
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
at about 30 feet (9.1 m) above sea level.
The Naugatuck River is a popular destination for fishing in northwestern Connecticut, though not on the same scale as the Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
or Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection stocks the river with broodstock Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
between Route 118 in Harwinton
Harwinton, Connecticut
Harwinton is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,283 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a portmanteau of Hartford and Windsor, which is where its settlers came from.-Geography:...
/Litchfield
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
and the Thomaston Dam, and from southern Naugatuck
Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury, and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the...
to Beacon Falls
Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Beacon Falls is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,246 at the 2000 census. The population increased to 6,049 at the 2010 census. Beacon Falls is also home to the national-known Meteorologist Jim Cantore. Settlers from Derby, Connecticut settled Beacon...
. The Naugatuck has a trout management area between Route 118 and the Thomaston Dam, and is considered a trophy trout stream the rest of its length between the confluence of the East and West Branches and the Kinneytown Dam in Seymour
Seymour, Connecticut
Seymour is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. The population was 15,454 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Two crossings of the river are:
- Reynolds BridgeReynolds BridgeThe Reynolds Bridge in Thomaston, Connecticut is an open-spandrel concrete arch bridge carrying Waterbury Road over the Naugatuck River...
, a NRHP-listed open-spandrel concrete arch bridge which brings Waterbury Road over the river, in Thomaston (at 41°39′11"N 73°4′39"W) - A bridge (Frost Bridge?), which brings Frost Bridge Road over the river, in the first crossing to the south of the Reynolds Bridge crossing