The Green River is a

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...

of the

Deerfield River Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield River was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its n ...

in southern

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

and northwestern

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The Green River had an influential role in the settlement and economic growth of the towns in its watershed.

Greenfield, Massachusetts Greenfield is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,768 at the 2020 census. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Val ...

, where the river ends, got its name from the Green River. The largest water user of the Green River is the Greenfield Water Department which draws 2.12 million gallons of water per day through a combination of surface and groundwater sources.

Geography

The Green River begins in

Marlboro, Vermont Marlboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,722 at the 2020 census. The town is home to both the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Marlboro College, which hosts the Marlboro Music School and Festi ...

, then goes east through Halifax, then Guilford, where it turns south into Massachusetts. It continues south and acts as the border for Colrain and

Leyden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration with ...

. In total it runs 31.5 miles (50.7 km), 14.8 in Vermont and 16.7 in Massachusetts. It runs into the Deerfield River which then runs just under two miles into the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

. Land use in the Massachusetts portion of the river (52.6 square miles) consists of 65% forest, 13% Agricultural, and 11% residential. The majority of the residential area is in Greenfield. The total drainage of the Green River sub-watershed is 89.8 square miles.

Interstate 91 Interstate 91 (I-91) is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of the region. The Interstate generally follows the course of the Connecti ...

is the only highway to cross over it. The Green River is part of the Deerfield River watershed, which is in the Connecticut River watershed.

Tributaries

;In Massachusetts * Greenfield: Wheeler Brook, Cherry Rum Brook, Arms Brook, Mill Brook, Allen Brook, Punch Brook, Hinsdale Brook, Glen Brook * Colrain: Workman Brook, Johnson Brook, Stafford Brook, Borden Brook * Leyden: Katley Brook, Hibbard Brook, Harris Brook, Thorne Brook ;In Vermont * Guilford: Roaring Brook, Hinesburg * Halifax: Pond Brook, Harrisville Brook

Ecology

The river's banks range from colder, forested mixed coniferous forests to broader floodplains as it widens near its mouth. Typical tree species include cottonwood, American linden (basswood), sycamore, willows, red and white oak, silver maple and more. Herbaceous species include Japanese knotweed, cocklebur, Jerusalem artichoke, ferns, and many spring ephemeral species including wild ginger, toothwort, trout lily and others. Overall Green River has been classified as a Class A public water supply and coldwater fishery. Northern Redbelly Dace were first discovered in the Green River sub-watershed in 1940. They represent the only known population of the species in Massachusetts. Also on a few occasions Atlantic Salmon and American Eels have been found in the sub-watershed while spawning.

Environmental issues

The river has a number of environmental issues. Most of the pollution comes from the last 3.7 miles of the river located primarily in Greenfield, Massachusetts. This has been due to

fecal coliform A fecal coliform (British: faecal coliform) is a facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-negative, non-sporulating bacterium. Coliform bacteria generally originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Fecal coliforms are capable of growth ...

, lack of

riparian zone A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the terrestrial biomes of the Earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks ar ...

s, and one dam in disrepair. The fecal problem can be linked to two sources: manured farmland, and sewage leakage in commercial Greenfield.

Recreation

The biggest recreation attraction on the Green River is the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. The recreation area was given to the town in two parts by a private owner, one part in 1929 and the other part in 1933. The area is 22 acres and is located on Nash's Mill Road in Greenfield, Massachusetts, west of downtown. This part of the river has a dam that is raised during the day in the summer months to make the river into a temporary pool.

Geography

Tributaries

Ecology

Environmental issues

Recreation

See also