Westfield River

The Westfield River in Metropolitan Springfield, Massachusetts, is a major tributary of the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The Westfield River has four major tributary branches that confluence in the City of Westfield, for which the river is named. The Westfield River flows 78.1 miles (125.7 km) before its confluence with the 420 miles (680 km) Connecticut River at West Springfield, directly across from the City of Springfield's Metro Center district. Known for its rapids, the Westfield River provides over 50 miles (80 km) of whitewater canoeing and kayaking.

The Westfield River is the Connecticut River's longest tributary in Massachusetts, although the Chicopee River's basin is much larger, and contributes more water to the Connecticut. The Connecticut's northern tributary, the Deerfield River, is nearly as long as the Westfield - only {{convert|2.1|mi} shorter than the Westfield.

During the mid-20th Century, the Westfield River was so polluted that it would change color based on the nature of the contaminant. Today, the river is clean enough for swimming. It is a state and locally managed river featuring native trout fishing and rugged mountain scenery in the context of a historical mill town settlement, (at Westfield.) Celebrated for its scenic beauty and white-water rapids, the river corridor also contains one of the largest roadless wilderness areas remaining in the Commonwealth and is home to several endangered species.

History

On its initial discovery by Massachusetts Bay Colony explorers John Cable and John Woodcock in 1635, the area stretching from the Westfield River's confluence with the Connecticut River to Westfield itself -- which, the next year, would all be encompassed in the settlement that came to be known as Springfield -- was named The Agawam River, after the name of the Native American tribe then occupying the area. Historical literature ofter refers to the City of Springfield as sitting at the confluence of the Connecticut River with the western "Agawam River" and eastern Chicopee River. The "Agawam River" is now known as the Westfield River, and should not be confused with Agawam River in southeastern Massachusetts, which was named in tribute to Springfield's peaceful Natives.

The Westfield River's Four Branches

The Westfield River runs for a total of 78.1 miles (125.7 km); the river rises in the Berkshire Hills in the northwestern region of the Commonwealth and flows southeastwardly to join the Connecticut River at West Springfield, Massachusetts - directly across from downtown Springfield.

The Westfield River has a 497 square miles (1,290 km²) drainage area consisting of several tributaries. These include the Main Stem from Huntington; the North Branch (sometimes called the East Branch), which has origins in the Berkshire Mountain hamlets of Savoy, Windsor, Cummington, Worthington, and Chesterfield; the Middle Branch, which has its origins in the Berkshire hamlet of Peru; and the West Branch, which has its origins in Washington and Becket.

Portions of the river's watershed have been designated the Westfield Creek Wild and Scenic River, and form part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

External links

• Westfield River Watershed Association
• The Westfield River Watershed Open Space and Recreation Plan Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 2003.
• USGS site
• Geographic Names Information System feature detail report – ID 619263