Titicus River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Titicus River |
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The Titicus River in Ridgefield, CT
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York, Connecticut |
| Cities | Ridgefield, North Salem |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut |
| River mouth | Muscoot Reservoir North Salem, Westchester County, New York 41°19′38″N 73°39′34″W / 41.3273°N 73.6594°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 23.8 sq mi (62 km2) |
The Titicus River is a small but important river in the United States. It flows through parts of Connecticut and New York. This river is special because it helps supply drinking water to New York City.
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About the Titicus River
The Titicus River is about 8.5-mile-long (13.7 km). It starts in southwestern Connecticut and flows into southeastern New York. The river is a key part of New York City's water supply system.
It flows into the Titicus Reservoir, which is a large lake built to store water. The river is also part of the Croton River watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common river, lake, or ocean.
Where the River Starts
The Titicus River begins in Ridgefield, Connecticut. This is called its source or headwaters. It is one of the few rivers that start in Connecticut but are part of New York City's water system.
Its Journey to the Reservoir
After starting in Ridgefield, the river flows about one mile. It then forms the southern edge of the Kiahs Brook Reserve. This reserve is a protected natural area.
About half a mile further downstream, another stream called Kiahs Brook joins the Titicus River. From there, the river flows very close to Route 116.
Once the Titicus River crosses the border into New York, it continues to flow near New York 116. Eventually, it empties into the Titicus Reservoir.
Beyond the Titicus Reservoir
The journey of the Titicus River doesn't end at the Titicus Reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, it flows for another half mile. It even goes under I-684, which is a major highway. Finally, the Titicus River drains into the Muscoot Reservoir. This reservoir is another important part of New York City's water supply.
The River's Drainage Area
The Titicus River has a drainage area of 23.8 square miles (62 km2). This means that all the rain and snow that falls on this area eventually flows into the Titicus River. This large area helps collect a lot of water for the reservoirs.
