| Coginchaug River | |
|---|---|
 The Coginchaug River in Middletown in 2023 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| Cities | Middletown,Middlefield,Durham,Guilford |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Guilford, Connecticut,New Haven County,Connecticut,United States |
| • coordinates | 41°24′25″N72°42′19″W / 41.40694°N 72.70528°W /41.40694; -72.70528 |
| • elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
| Mouth | Mattabesset River |
• location | Middletown, CT,Connecticut |
• coordinates | 41°34′42″N72°39′30″W / 41.57833°N 72.65833°W /41.57833; -72.65833 |
• elevation | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Length | 16.1 mi (25.9 km) |
| Basin size | 39 sq mi (100 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Middletown, CT |
TheCoginchaug River inConnecticut, with awatershed including 39 sq mi of forests,pastures, farmland, industrial, and commercial areas, is the maintributary of theMattabesset River. It is 16.1 mi long, and the river flows northwards from a point approximately 1.8 mi south of theDurham line inGuilford, Connecticut, into Durham and thenMiddlefield, meeting the Mattabesset inMiddletown,[1] about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) upstream[2] of theConnecticut River. The name "Coginchaug" comes from a localNative American name for the Durham area and it was the original name for the town. It has been said to mean "The GreatSwamp."
In 2006, the Coginchaug was among Connecticut's 85 waterways cited to be of "lower quality", in view of the elevated levels ofbacteria, includingE. coli. Currently, efforts are being made by theNatural Resources Conservation Service of theUnited States Department of Agriculture to reduce the number of bacteria introduced into the river fromuntreated sewage,sanitary sewer overflow,agricultural runoff, leakingseptic tanks, etc.[1]
The river has become a popular canoeing route. In 2006, it was considered[3] safe forcanoeing, though it is not safe for in-water activities likeswimming[verification needed]. Flowing from Myer Huber Pond, it runs slowly through thick swamps which stretch over 3 miles (5 km) and are likely to be impassable except immediately after heavy rains.[verification needed] The main paddling route starts atRoute 147 and continues downstream, north, through additional slow-moving waters and a swamp. There are many[vague]portages, including those at six dams and atWadsworth Falls, the only major waterfall.Class IIwhitewater is possible before it flows into thetidal marsh of the Mattabesset River.
Media related toCoginchaug River at Wikimedia Commons
