Weymouth Fore River

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Map of the Weymouth watershed.
Map of the Weymouth watershed.

Weymouth Fore River is a small bay or estuary in Eastern Massachusetts and is part of the Massachusetts Bay watershed. The inland section of this bay is centered at 42°14′12″N 70°57′36″W / 42.23667, -70.96.

The headwater of Weymouth Fore River is formed by the confluence of the Monatiquot River and Smelt Brook in the Weymouth Landing area of Braintree.[1] From Weymouth Landing, the tidal river marks the boundary between Braintree and Weymouth, flowing NE for 0.5 miles and then N for 0.5 miles before widening considerably and turning WNW for 0.7 miles. At this point the river's western shore is now in Quincy at the south end of the former Fore River Shipyard. Here the river turns NNE for 1.0 miles as it passes through a heavily industrialized area around the former shipyard and is crossed by the Fore River Bridge, a temporary lift bridge which carries Massachusetts Route 3A between Quincy and Weymouth. A quarter mile beyond the bridge Weymouth Fore River is joined by Town River at Germantown, Quincy, gradually widening to nearly a mile as it travels the final 2.0 miles NE before ending as it enters Hingham Bay.

Recreation along Weymouth Fore River includes Smith Beach/Watson Park in East Braintree along the NW shore near Weymouth Landing at the river's south end and Wessagussett Beach on the SE shore in North Weymouth before the river enters Hingham Bay. The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum located in Quincy Point at the west end of the Fore River Bridge features the USS Salem (CA-139), a preserved heavy cruiser which is open to the public.

Weymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River

The major commercial enterprises located in the heavily industrialized area around the former shipyard include:

  • Quincy
    • Daniel J. Quirk, Inc., motor vehicle storage and distribution facility
    • Jay Cashman, Inc., heavy construction and marine equipment services
    • Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, sewage sludge heat-drying and pelletizing facility
    • Quincy Bay Terminal Company, short line freight rail service to CSXT South Braintree
    • Twin Rivers Technologies LP, oleochemical and biofuel production

[edit] References

  1. ^ Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
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