Quaboag River

Infobox River | river_name = Quaboag River

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caption = Quaboag River at Warren
origin = Quaboag Pond
mouth = Three Rivers, Massachusetts
basin_countries =
length = 24 mi (39 km)
elevation = 594 ft (181 m)
mouth_elevation = 290 ft (88.39 m)
discharge = 132 ft³/s (3.74 m³/s)
watershed = 150 mi² (388.5 km²)The Quaboag River is a Massachusetts river that heads at Quaboag Pond south of East Brookfield, Massachusetts at an elevation of 594 feet (181 m) MSL. It continues to the town of Three Rivers, Massachusetts, at an elevation of 290 feet (88.39 m) MSL.

History

This river receives its name from Quaboag Pond, an Indian name meaning "red-water (place or pond)". At one time, this pond was called Podunk Pond and, contrary to USGS data (below), this source is "not" in Southbridge. Early industry started along the Quaboag River downstream from West Brookfield, where the river started a 300-foot (91.44 m) change in elevation providing significant waterpower. Major heavy industry was located in Warren, Massachusetts because of the available waterpower from the river. Many of the dams on the river, used to provide waterpower, were destroyed during floods and not repaired or replaced. Parts of them remain, providing a hint of the river’s powerful past.

Description

The Quaboag River heads at Quaboag Pond, flows through the towns of Brookfield, West Brookfield where Lake Wickaboag drains into it, and Warren before joining the Ware River and Swift River in Three Rivers, to form the Chicopee River. This river is therefore part of the Chicopee River Watershed.

Watershed

Numerous local brooks and streams from the towns of East Brookfield, Brookfield, West Brookfield, and Warren drain the watershed into the Quaboag River. Lake Lashaway in East Brookfield drains into Quaboag Pond and several other significant water sources drain into it. There are also several wetlands associated with this watershed, the two mayor ones being the "Great Swamp" south of Brookfield, and the "Allen Swamp" south of East Brookfield.

Recreational use

Whitewater kayakers and canoeists paddle the Quaboag from a put-in at Lucy Stone Park in Warren, downstream to a take-out along Route 67. The river is Class III and features several named rapids, Mousehole and Trestle Rapid above the dam, and, downstream, Angel's Field and Devil's Gorge, which contains an abrupt four-foot waterfall called Quaboag Drop. The river has a large watershed, holds its water well (is well formed), and is runnable at levels above four feet on the Brimfield [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis/uv/?site_no=01176000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 USGS gauge] . It contains one mandatory portage around an unrunnable dam next to a factory. This dam is shown in the title block.

Coordinates

*coord|42|10|50|N|72|21|54|W Mouth in Three Rivers
*coord|42|12|47|N|72|11|43|W Passage through Warren
*coord|42|11|45|N|72|04|13|W Head south of East Brookfield

References

* [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/7937/qupo.htm Podunk Pond reference]
*Gnis|609598|Quaboag River technical data
*Gnis|609834|Quaboag Pond data
* [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis/uv/?site_no=01176000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 Stream flow data]