The North Branch Pawtuxet River is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of w ...
in the
U.S.
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 territori ...
state of
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
. It flows approximately .
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
accessed April 1, 2011 There are 9 dams along the river's length.
Governor's Task Force on Dam Safety and Maintenance – Final Report, January 2001
/ref>
Course
The river is formed by the confluence of the Ponaganset and Moswansicut rivers in the area that is now flooded by the Scituate Reservoir
The Scituate Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in the state of Rhode Island. It has an aggregate capacity of and a surface area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²). It and its six tributary reservoirs—which make up a total surface a ...
, the primary drinking water supply for the city of Providence as well as other cities and towns in the metro area. From the reservoir, it flows southeast through the historic textile mill
Textile Manufacturing or Textile Engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful goods ...
villages of Hope, Arkright, Harris, Phenix, Lippitt and then into River Point, West Warwick
West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 31,012 at the 2020 census.
West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the wester ...
where it converges with the South Branch Pawtuxet River
The South Branch Pawtuxet River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately .U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 There are 11 dams along ...
to form the main branch of the Pawtuxet River
The Pawtuxet River, also known as the Pawtuxet River Main Stem and the Lower Pawtuxet, is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, ac ...
.
Crossings
Below is a list of all crossings over the North Branch Pawtuxet River. The list starts at the headwaters and goes downstream.
*Scituate
**Scituate Avenue ( RI 12) (Historic R.I. Bridge)
**Main Street ( RI 116)
**Colvin Street
*West Warwick
**Lincoln Avenue
**Fairview Avenue
**Main Street ( RI 115)
Tributaries
In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks also feed the North Branch Pawtuxet:
*Burlingame Brook
*Clarke Brook
*Lippitt Brook
See also
*List of rivers in Rhode Island
This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Rivers in bold are considered major rivers either geographically or historically.
By stream network
All rivers eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers are listed in order from we ...
*Moswansicut River
The Moswansicut River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately , including its portion within the Scituate Reservoir.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map acc ...
*Pawtuxet River
The Pawtuxet River, also known as the Pawtuxet River Main Stem and the Lower Pawtuxet, is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, ac ...
*Ponaganset River
The Ponaganset River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately .U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 There are three dams along the ri ...
*South Branch Pawtuxet River
The South Branch Pawtuxet River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately .U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 There are 11 dams along ...
*Scituate Reservoir
The Scituate Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in the state of Rhode Island. It has an aggregate capacity of and a surface area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²). It and its six tributary reservoirs—which make up a total surface a ...
References
*Maps from the United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
Rivers of Providence County, Rhode Island
Rivers of Kent County, Rhode Island
Rivers of Rhode Island
Tributaries of Providence River
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