Nashua River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nashua River
Nashua River, just outside Groton, Massachusetts
Show map of Massachusetts Show map of New Hampshire Show map of the United States
Country	United States
States	Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Counties	Middlesex, MA Hillsborough, NH
Towns and cities	Lancaster, Shirley, Ayer, Groton, Pepperell (MA), Hollis, Nashua (NH)
Physical characteristics
Main source	Confluence of North Nashua River and South Nashua River Lancaster, MA 233 feet (71 m) 42°26′50″N 71°40′9″W / 42.44722°N 71.66917°W / 42.44722; -71.66917
River mouth	Merrimack River Nashua, NH 95 feet (29 m) 42°45′58″N 71°26′49″W / 42.76611°N 71.44694°W / 42.76611; -71.44694
Length	37.5 mi (60.4 km)
Basin features
Basin size	108 square miles (280 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Squannacook River, Nissitissit River Right: Still River
National Wild and Scenic River
Type:	Scenic
Designated:	March 12, 2019

The Nashua River is a river about 37.5 miles (60.4 km) long. It flows through parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. This river is a "tributary," which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The Nashua River flows into the Merrimack River.

The Nashua River starts in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts. It forms where two other rivers, the North Nashua River and the South Nashua River, meet. From there, it flows generally north-northeast, passing towns like Groton. Finally, it joins the Merrimack River in Nashua, New Hampshire. The area of land that collects water for the Nashua River, called its "watershed," covers a large part of north-central Massachusetts and a smaller part of southern New Hampshire.

The North Nashua River begins west of Fitchburg and Westminster. It flows about 30 miles (48 km) southeast past Fitchburg. It then meets the South Nashua River. The South Nashua River is considered the main part of the Nashua River on maps. It starts about 5 miles (8 km) after leaving the Wachusett Reservoir.

Exploring the Nashua River

A Look Back: The River's Past

The name "Nashua" comes from an old Algonkian word. It means "beautiful river with a pebbly bottom." This tells us that Native American people lived near and valued the river long ago.

For many years, especially during the time when America was first being settled and in its early days, the Nashua River was very important for businesses. Factories, especially paper mills, used the river's water. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, many paper mills and dye factories were built near Fitchburg. Sadly, these factories released waste and dyes into the river. This pollution made the river change colors downstream, which was a big problem for the environment.

Cleaning Up the Nashua River

In the mid-1960s, a determined person named Marion Stoddart began a big effort to clean up the Nashua River. She worked with many different groups, including business leaders and even the paper companies that were causing the most pollution. With help from the government, eight special water treatment plants were built or improved along the river. These plants helped clean the water before it went back into the river. Also, a wide protected area, called a "conservation buffer," was created along about half of the river and its two main branches.

By the early 1990s, much of the industry was still along the river. However, thanks to all the hard work, many parts of the river became clean enough for swimming again! Marion Stoddart's amazing work is even featured in a documentary movie called Marion Stoddart: Work of 1000.

The river's recovery has also led to more people enjoying it for fun activities. Places like Mine Falls Park in Nashua are now popular for recreation. A group of volunteers, the Nashua River Watershed Association, helps watch over the river's health from their base in Groton, Massachusetts.

In 2013, a special law was passed that named 27 miles (43 km) of the Nashua River a National Wild and Scenic River. This means it's a protected river because of its natural beauty and importance. This law was supported by Representative Niki Tsongas and groups like the Nashua River Watershed Association.

The Nashua River's Water System

The South Nashua River starts at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton, Massachusetts. This reservoir is like a large lake that holds water. The South Nashua River flows north from there and meets the North Nashua River in Lancaster. The North Nashua River flows southeast from towns like Fitchburg and Leominster to Lancaster.

From Lancaster, the Nashua River flows north. It winds its way through several towns in north-central Massachusetts, including Harvard, Groton, Dunstable, and Pepperell. Eventually, it flows into the Merrimack River in Nashua, New Hampshire.

The entire area that drains water into the Nashua River, its "watershed," covers about 538 square miles (1,393 km²). Most of this area (454 square miles or 1,176 km²) is in Massachusetts, and a smaller part (74 square miles or 192 km²) is in New Hampshire. The Nashua River itself flows for about 56 miles (90 km), with about 46 miles (74 km) of that in Massachusetts. Many smaller rivers feed into the Nashua River, including the Squannacook, Nissitissit, Stillwater, Quinapoxet, North Nashua, and South Nashua rivers. This watershed includes parts of 31 communities: 7 in southern New Hampshire and 24 in central Massachusetts. The biggest body of water in the watershed is the Wachusett Reservoir. This reservoir is very important because it provides drinking water for about two-thirds of the people in Massachusetts!

Main Parts of the River System

Here are some of the key parts of the Nashua River's water system:

• Wachusett Reservoir is the largest body of water in the area.
  • The Stillwater River flows into the Wachusett Reservoir from the northwest.
  • The Quinapoxet River also flows into the Wachusett Reservoir, coming from the west.
• The Wachusett Reservoir Dam is a large wall that holds back the water of the South Nashua River to form the reservoir.
• The North Nashua River joins the South Nashua River in Lancaster.
• The Squannacook River flows into the Nashua River where the towns of Shirley, Groton, and Ayer meet.
• The Nissitissit River joins the Nashua River in Pepperell.

Key Rivers that Feed the Nashua

Here is a table showing some of the main rivers that contribute water to the Nashua River system, along with the areas they drain and the towns they flow through:

More to Discover

• List of rivers of Massachusetts
• List of rivers of New Hampshire
• Nashua River Rail Trail
• Nashaway people