Salem Beverly Waterway Canal facts for kids
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The Salem Beverly Waterway Canal, sometimes called the Grand Wenham Canal, is a special waterway in Topsfield and Wenham, Massachusetts. It's like a big, open water pipe! This canal was built to move water, not boats or goods. It's also a fun place for people to go canoeing.
The canal was built in 1917. Its main job was to bring fresh water to the towns of Beverly, Massachusetts and Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem-Beverly Water Commission owns the canal and the land next to it. In 1974, the canal was made wider and deeper. Gravel roads were also built along each side. The canal carries water from the Ipswich River in Topsfield. It flows through the Wenham Swamp to Wenham. From there, a pipeline, also built in 1917, carries the water to Wenham Lake.
Why the Canal Was Built
Back in 1911, the State Board of Health was asked to study something important. They needed to find out if they could bring water from the Ipswich River. This extra water was needed because the water supply for the Salem and Beverly areas was getting low.
A report in 1912 strongly suggested that diverting water was a good idea. Many people felt that water needed for drinking should not just flow out into Ipswich Bay. At that time, Ipswich was no longer a busy port. So, people thought the river water was more important for drinking. Also, people weren't thinking much about protecting wetlands back then.
How the Canal Was Created
In 1913, a new group was formed called the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board. This board was given the right to take water from the Ipswich River. They could take water when the river had more than 20 million gallons flowing each day. They could take up to 2,500 million gallons each year, but only from December through May. This water was taken from a specific spot in Topsfield, which is about where the canal starts.
In 1917, workers dug the canal. It stretched from the Ipswich River through Wenham Swamp. It led to a pumping station in Wenham. From there, the water was pumped up to a nearby reservoir called Wenham Lake. The board decided not to build big dams or artificial lakes on the river or canal. They thought it would be too difficult. In fact, when there's a lot of water, three channels in the canal's bank let water flow freely. This water goes into or out of the swamp, which is part of the Ipswich River wetlands.
