Jail Branch River facts for kids
The Jail Branch River is a natural waterway located in central Vermont. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger one, called the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River. All these rivers are part of the larger Lake Champlain watershed, which means their waters eventually make their way to Lake Champlain.
About the Jail Branch River
The Jail Branch River is about 16 miles long. It starts in a town called Washington, Vermont, and then flows north into Orange. As it travels, it passes by the East Barre Dam, which is an important structure built to control the river's flow.
Where Does the River Flow?
As the Jail Branch River continues its journey, several smaller streams, like Orange Brook, Baker Brook, Nelson Brook, and Nate Smith Brook, join it. The river then flows into the city of Barre. After that, it turns northwest and goes through East Barre. More streams, including Honey Brook, add their water to the Jail Branch. Finally, the river flows through a narrow valley right into the center of Barre, where it meets the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River.
The area of land that collects water for the Jail Branch River, known as its watershed, is quite large, covering about 31,050 acres. This river is also home to a healthy population of wild brook trout, and it has been kept very clean with few pollution issues in recent years.
The East Barre Dam: Protecting Barre
The East Barre Dam is a very important structure on the Jail Branch River. It was built after a huge flood in 1927. That flood was one of the worst in Vermont's history, causing a lot of damage, especially in the Winooski River Valley and its connecting rivers. Eighty-four people across the state lost their lives, and the downtown area of Barre was severely damaged by the overflowing Jail Branch and Stevens Branch rivers.
Today, the East Barre Dam helps protect the city of Barre from similar floods almost every year. While the area above the dam might still flood sometimes, the dam controls how much water flows into Barre. This greatly reduces the amount of flood damage the city experiences, keeping its residents and buildings safe.
