Ponaganset River facts for kids

The Ponaganset River is a cool river located in the state of Rhode Island in the U.S.. It flows for about 12.5 miles (that's about 20 kilometers!). Along its path, you'll find three dams.

Where the River Flows

The Ponaganset River starts its journey at the Ponaganset Reservoir in a town called Glocester. Here, the water flows freely from the lake, without any dams blocking its way.

From Glocester, the river travels generally southeast. It winds its way through Glocester and another town called Foster. Finally, it reaches Scituate and flows into the Scituate Reservoir. Long ago, the Ponaganset River used to join with the Moswansicut River. Together, they formed the North Branch Pawtuxet River. This area is now covered by the Scituate Reservoir.

River Crossings

Many roads cross over the Ponaganset River as it flows. Here are some of the main crossings, starting from where the river begins and moving downstream:

• In Glocester:
  • George Allen Road
• In Foster:
  • Hartford Avenue (also known as RI 101)
  • Winsor Road
  • Pine Tree Road
  • Old Danielson Pike
  • Danielson Pike (which is also U.S. 6)
  • Ram Tail Road
  • Central Pike
• In Scituate:
  • Ponaganset Road
  • Plainfield Pike (also known as RI 14)

River Helpers: Tributaries

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Ponaganset River gets water from many smaller streams, which are its tributaries. Besides many unnamed streams, here are some of the brooks that feed the Ponaganset River:

• Shippee Brook
• Winsor Brook
• Dolly Cole Brook