Saco River

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Saco River
The Saco River in Conway, New Hampshire
The Saco River in Conway, New Hampshire
Origin Saco Lake, White Mountains
Mouth Gulf of Maine, North Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries United States
Basin area 1,293 mi² (15,200 km²)
The Saco River watershed
The Saco River watershed
The Saco River at Saco, Maine, seen from the bridge over U.S. Route 1
The Saco River at Saco, Maine, seen from the bridge over U.S. Route 1

The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of 1,703 square miles (4,410 km²) of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, 134 miles (216 km) from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000 people in thirty-five towns.

Contents

[edit] River's course

The river rises at Saco Lake in Crawford Notch in the White Mountains and flows generally south-southeast through Bartlett and Conway in Carroll County, New Hampshire before crossing into Oxford County, Maine.

Shortly after entering Fryeburg, Maine, the river branches into the "Old Course" Saco River and the more commonly used "Canal River". Constructed in the 1800s to be more convenient for farmers, the 6-mile (10 km) long canal is 15 miles (24 km) shorter than the old course[1] and is now considered to be the official course for the river, as the upstream end of the old course is largely silted over. The two channels merge again near Lovell, Maine.

After running through six hydropower stations and entering York County, the river crosses under Interstate 95 and passes between Saco and Biddeford, where it is bridged by U.S. Route 1. It enters Saco Bay on the Atlantic with Camp Ellis in Saco on the north shore and Hills Beach in Biddeford on the south shore.

The United States government maintains two river flow gages on the Saco river. The first is at Conway, New Hampshire ( 43°59′27″N, 71°05′29″W) where the rivershed is 385 square miles (997 km²). Flow here has ranged from 47,200 to 40 cubic feet per second. The second is at Cornish, Maine ( 43°48′29″N, 70°46′53″W) where the rivershed is 1,293 square miles (3,350 km²). Flow here has ranged from 46,600 to 244 cubic feet per second.[2]

[edit] Attractions

The Saco is a popular recreational river, drawing an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 people per summer weekend, mostly on the stretch from Swan's Falls (a campground maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club) to Brownfield, Maine. There are many sand beaches along the Saco and camping is allowed along these beaches for free. Obtain permit from State of Maine for fires along the beaches.[citation needed]

The Saco is a major attraction for canoeists. Several canoeing rentals are available throughout the river's distance.

[edit] Problems

Multiple violent and reportedly alcohol-related incidents in 2001 led to increased police patrols and efforts by livery companies, landowners, and government agencies to improve conditions.[3]

[edit] Major tributaries

The Saco River in Crawford Notch
The Saco River in Crawford Notch
The Saco River from the Covered Bridge Gift Shoppe
The Saco River from the Covered Bridge Gift Shoppe

Listed from source to mouth:

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. 1:24,000-scale Digital Line Graph data.
  2. ^ G.J. Stewart, J.P. Nielsen, J.M. Caldwell, A.R. Cloutier (2002). Water Resources Data - Maine, Water Year 2001 (PDF). Water Resources Data - Maine, Water Year 2001. Retrieved on 2006-05-07.
  3. ^ Zimet, Abby (July 2006). "This River is Rated R". Down East: The Magazine of Maine 52 (12): 76-79, 108-113. Down East Enterprise, Inc.. 

[edit] External links

On the Saco, Benjamin Champney (1817-1907).
On the Saco, Benjamin Champney (1817-1907).
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