The Mashpee River is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed April 1, 2011 tidal river
A tidal river is a river whose flow and level are influenced by tides. A section of a larger river affected by the tides is a tidal reach, but it may sometimes be considered a tidal river if it has been given a separate name.
Generally, tidal ri ...
on
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...
in
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee ( wam, Mâseepee) is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, on Cape Cod. The population was 15,060 as of 2020. The town is the site of the headquarters and most members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, one of two fed ...
.
The river arises in
Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds
Mashpee Pond and Wakeby Pond are adjoining ponds in Mashpee and Sandwich, Massachusetts. When considered together, these two ponds cover and constitute the largest freshwater pond on Cape Cod. This pair is deep at its deepest point. The F ...
, flows south a short distance, and drains into Pirate's Cove on
Popponesset Bay on the
Nantucket Sound
Nantucket Sound is a roughly triangular area of the Atlantic Ocean offshore from the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is long and wide, and is enclosed by Cape Cod on the north, Nantucket on the south, and Martha's Vineyard on the west. Betwe ...
. Conservation efforts began in 1915 or earlier, and much of the surrounding region is now part of the
Mashpee River Reservation owned and conserved by the nonprofit
Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations is a non-profit land conservation and historic preservation organization dedicated to preserving natural and historical places in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is the oldest land conservation nonprofit orga ...
.
References
The Trustees of Reservations: Mashpee River Reservation
Rivers of Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Rivers of Massachusetts
{{BarnstableCountyMA-geo-stub