The Agawam River is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed April 1, 2011 stream in southeastern
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
, USA, that is part of the
Wareham River estuary watershed. The Agawam River is named in honor of the peaceful Native Americans that helped the
Massachusetts Bay Colony establish its first
Connecticut River Valley
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 ...
settlement at
Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636, and helped it to flourish while many of the
Connecticut Colony settlements south of Springfield were attacked or destroyed by more war-like Native American tribes.
The Agawam River originates at
Halfway Pond, east of the
Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest is a state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of Boston. It is the largest publicly owned recreation area in this part of Mass ...
in
Plymouth, flows southwest through
Glen Charlie Pond and East Wareham, and drains into the
Wareham River near the center of
Wareham. As the estuary's major contributor of nutrients and fresh water, the Agawam was one of the most important
herring rivers in Massachusetts. Its herring runs have been operated by European settlers since 1632 and were officially established as a managed run in 1832.
Even today, it remains one of the few managed herring runs in Massachusetts, although few fish reach the river's spawning and nursery habitat. It includes of water bodies that could serve as habitat to
alewife, blueback
herring, and
American shad. Approximately 36% of this habitat is in Halfway Pond. Fishway retrofit projects aim to restore river herring population to historic levels, perhaps as many as 100,000+ fish annually.
The Agawam River receives discharges from the Wareham Sewage Treatment plant, which discharges per day of nitrogen-rich sewage
effluent.
References
External links
Buzzards Bay National Estuary ProgramEnvironmental Protection Agency - herringEnvironmental Protection Agency - restoration
{{authority control
Wareham, Massachusetts
Massachusetts natural resources
Rivers of Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Rivers of Massachusetts