Agawam River facts for kids
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The Agawam River is a stream about 17 kilometers (10.7 miles) long. It flows through southeastern Massachusetts, USA. This river is part of the larger Wareham River estuary system. The Agawam River gets its name from a peaceful group of Native Americans. They helped the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These Native Americans helped the first settlement in Springfield, Massachusetts grow strong. This was in 1636.
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Discovering the Agawam River
Where Does the Agawam River Flow?
The Agawam River starts at Halfway Pond. This pond is east of the Myles Standish State Forest. It is located in Plymouth. The river then flows southwest. It passes through Glen Charlie Pond and East Wareham. Finally, it empties into the Wareham River. This happens near the center of Wareham.
Why Is the Agawam River Important for Fish?
The Agawam River brings a lot of fresh water and nutrients to the estuary. This makes it a very important river for herring fish. For a long time, it was one of the most important herring rivers in Massachusetts. People have been managing the herring runs here since 1632. A "herring run" is where these fish swim upstream to lay their eggs. These runs were officially set up as managed areas in 1832.
Even today, the Agawam River has one of the few managed herring runs left. However, not many fish reach the places where they lay eggs. These places are called spawning habitats. The river system includes about 570 acres (2.3 square kilometers) of water. This area could be home to fish like alewife, blueback herring, and American shad. About 36% of this fish habitat is in Halfway Pond. Projects are underway to fix fishways. Fishways are special paths that help fish swim past dams. The goal is to bring the river herring population back to its old numbers. This could mean more than 100,000 fish each year.
Protecting the River's Health
The Agawam River receives water from the Wareham Sewage Treatment plant. This plant releases about 2.8 million liters (0.76 million US gallons) of treated water daily. This water contains nutrients. Scientists and environmental groups work to make sure this does not harm the river's ecosystem. They want to keep the river healthy for all its plants and animals.
