The Watershed
A view toward the Hoosic River from the top of its watershed, on Mount Greylock. Cheshire Reservoir, which holds Hoosic headwaters, is visible in the distance.
A watershed is the region that drains into a particular body of water such as a river or lake. This is why watersheds are also known as drainage basins. A river’s watershed extends all the way to the tops of the hills and ridges that surround the river valley. A drop of water falling anywhere inside the watershed boundaries will eventually make its way down to the river, either in a stream, or over the ground, or under the ground. Taking care of the river, then, means taking care of the whole area that drains into the river.
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Meet the Hoosic
Some Facts and Figures
The Hoosic is a three-state river. It is fed by streams that run down from the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Taconics of New York, and the sides of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts (3,491 ft.). It runs 70 miles from where it begins, at the Cheshire Reservoir in Massachusetts, to where it enters the Hudson river at Stillwater, NY. Altogether, the Hoosic and its tributaries drain 720 square miles of land. The river passes through several towns, but much of the watershed is farmland and forest.
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History
Just a few hundred million years…
The Natural Community
For the Hoosic’s natural community, the last five hundred years have been chaotic! Before then, the watershed was mostly forested, though Native Americans cleared fields and raised crops along river valleys. In some areas they also burned the woods regularly, thus managing the land to produce more wild game. Wolves, deer, and bison all roamed here. The Hudson River contained salmon; trout were abundant in tributaries such as the Hoosic, Walloomsac, Tomhannock and Kinderhook.
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State of the River
Potential Sub-pages: Habitat Bacteria PCBs Heavy Metals Other issues
Under construction. A summary of the watershed’s overall health will appear here. Meanwhile, see our “More About the Hoosic” page for links and resources related to environmental issues and water quality.
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Virtual Tour
The following is a collection of photos taken of the Hoosic in Massachusetts and Vermont.