Wood River (Pawcatuck River tributary)

River in Connecticut and Rhode Island, U.S.

Wood River
Watershed of the Wood River
Physical characteristics

Source	Cedar Swamp
• location	~1km east of Ekonk, Connecticut
• coordinates	41°39′07″N 71°49′48″W / 41.652°N 71.830°W / 41.652; -71.830
• elevation	390 ft, 120 m

Mouth	Confluence with the Pawcatuck River
• location	~1 km south of Alton, Rhode Island
• coordinates	41°25′41″N 71°43′08″E / 41.428°N 71.719°E / 41.428; 71.719
• elevation	40 ft, 12 m
Basin size	230 km², 90 square miles

National Wild and Scenic River
Designated	March 12, 2019

The Wood River is a river in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 25 miles (40 km) and is a major tributary of the Pawcatuck River. There are eight dams along the river's length.

Sources

The Wood River's source is in the swamps northwest of Porter Pond in Sterling, Connecticut. From there, it flows southeast to Hazard Pond, where the river crosses into Rhode Island. From the state line, it flows southeast past Escoheag Hill and over Stepstone Falls, then south through Beach Pond State Park where it receives the Flat River.

After receiving the Flat River, the Wood continues south through the Arcadia Management Area and into the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton, where it flows through the villages of Wyoming and Hope Valley. The river continues south through Hopkinton where it converges with the Pawcatuck River at the village of Alton. The Wood River serves as the border between Richmond and Hopkinton.

The upper Wood River, from its source to Stepstone Falls, is known locally as the Falls River.

Major resource to the community

The Wood River, located in Southwestern Rhode Island, is a protected and beneficial source of water to the Northeast Corridor. The Wood River is one of the last remaining pristine bodies of water in the Northeast between New York and Boston. According to the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, "The Pawcatuck Watershed provides drinking water to over 100,000 residents". There are various laws that have been created in order to preserve this natural source. The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association's (WPWA's) mission is to protect the land and water of the Wood-Pawcatuck River from any pollution, such as boating, in order to protect the water sources for more than ten towns. The River has been considered one of the most untouched for several years, thanks to the WPWA. The WPWA works to monitor the use of any non-electric-powered boats entering the river, as this could be a major cause of pollution. The Wood River is opposed to the use of any contaminating factors because so many people fish in the river and often eat the catch of the day. The water in the river is also used by visitors to and residents in the area.

There are several access points along the river. As well as being known as one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast, the Wood River's pure waters also offer a source for several other activities and family fun. Families can enjoy boating and fishing all year long. Many visitors come to Rhode Island and Connecticut to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and even hiking along the water's edge. With traffic being so heavy along the river, it is important to preserve the river. Cleanliness and fun at the river go hand in hand.

Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association

The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA) is the main reason why the Wood River has remained so pure over the years. The WPWA monitors the use of non-electric-powered boats entering the river, a potential source of pollution for the river, its eco-system and surrounding land. The WPWA is opposed to the use of any contaminating factors because many people fish in the river and often eat the catch of the day. The river is used by visitors to the area and local residents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stated that "The Pawcatuck Basin Aquifer System is the sole source of drinking water for the residents of that area; there are no viable alternative sources of sufficient supply; the boundaries of the designated area and project review area have been reviewed and approved by EPA; and if contamination were to occur, it would pose a significant public health hazard and a serious financial burden to the area's residents."

Crossings

Below is a list of all crossings over the Wood River. The list starts at the headwaters and goes downstream.

Sterling
- Porter Pond Road
West Greenwich
- Hazard Road
- Falls River Road
Exeter
- Ten Rod Road (RI 165)
- Arcadia Road
Richmond
- Skunk Hill Road
- Bridge Street
Hopkinton
- Main Street (RI 3)
- Switch Road
- Interstate 95
- Hope Valley Road
- Woodville Road
- Church Street

Tributaries

In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks and rivers feed the Wood:

Carson Brook
Kelley Brook
Flat River
Parris Brook
Roaring Brook
Baker Brook
Brushy Brook
Diamond Brook
Canonchet Brook

References

Maps from the United States Geological Survey

"Explore Designated Rivers". Rivers.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 1, 2011
Governor's Task Force on Dam Safety and Maintenance – Final Report, January 2001
Urso, Lori. "The Wood and Pawcatuck River". Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association. LODD Inc. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
Mendoza, Robert. "Chief of the Ground Water Management Section, EPA Region I". epa.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Retrieved 15 October 2014.

Rivers of Connecticut by drainage system

Long Island Sound

Black Rock Harbor	Ash Creek Rooster River
Bridgeport Harbor	Pequonnock River
Connecticut River Watershed	Blackledge River Coginchaug River Connecticut River Duck River Eightmile River Falls River Farmington River Hockanum River Hubbard River Jeremy River Lieutenant River Mattabesset River Nepaug River Pameacha Creek Park River Pequabuck River Podunk River Salmon River Scantic River
Housatonic River Watershed	Blackberry River East Aspetuck River Housatonic River Konkapot River Mad River Naugatuck River Pomperaug River Rocky River Schenob Brook Shepaug River Still River Ten Mile River Whiting River
Little Narragansett Bay (Pawcatuck River Watershed)	Ashaway River Green Fall River Pawcatuck River Shunock River Wood River
Milford Harbor	Wepawaug River
New Haven Harbor	Mill River Quinnipiac River West River
Norwalk Harbor (Norwalk River Watershed)	Norwalk River Silvermine River
Saugatuck River Watershed	Aspetuck River Saugatuck River
Thames River Watershed	Basset Brook Beaver Brook Bigelow Brook Fenton River Fishers Brook Five Mile River French River Hop River Little River Merrick Brook Moosup River Mount Hope River Natchaug River Oxoboxo River Pachaug River Quinebaug River Shetucket River Thames River Willimantic River Yantic River
Others	Black Hall River Byram River Cove River Farm River Hammonasset River Indian River Mianus River Mill River (Fairfield) Mystic River Niantic River Noroton River Oyster River Rippowam River

Upper New York Bay

Hudson River Watershed	Titicus River

Rivers of Rhode Island by drainage system

Block Island Sound

Point Judith Pond	Saugatucket River

Long Island Sound

Little Narragansett Bay (Pawcatuck River Watershed)	Ashaway River Beaver River Chipuxet River Flat River (Wood) Green Fall River Pawcatuck River Queen River Usquepaug River Wood River
Thames River Watershed	Moosup River

Narragansett Bay

Pettaquamscutt River Watershed	Mattatuxet River Pettaquamscutt River
Potowomut River Watershed	Hunt River Potowomut River
Providence River Watershed	Abbott Run Big River Blackstone River Branch River Carr River Chepachet River Chockalog River Clear River Congdon River Flat River (South Branch Pawtuxet) Mill River Millers River Mishnock River Moshassuck River Moswansicut River Nipmuc River Nooseneck River North Branch Pawtuxet River Pascoag River Pawtuxet River Peters River Pocasset River Ponaganset River Providence River Seekonk River Sevenmile River South Branch Pawtuxet River Stillwater River Ten Mile River West River Wilde River Woonasquatucket River
Sakonnet River Watershed	Maidford River Maiford River Quaket River Sakonnet River
Warren River Watershed	Barrington River Palmer River Runnins River Warren River
Others	Annaquatucket River Kickemuit River Maskerchugg River Pine River

v t e Pawcatuck River Watershed
Tributaries	Ashaway River Beaver River Chipuxet River Flat River Green Fall River Pawcatuck River Queen River Shunock River Usquepaug River Wood River

v t e Protected areas of Rhode Island
Federal	Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Chafee National Wildlife Refuge Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge Touro Synagogue National Historic Site Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge Roger Williams National Memorial
State Parks	Beavertail Blackstone River Greenway Brenton Point Burlingame Colt Fishermen's Memorial Fort Adams Fort Wetherill Goddard Memorial Haines Memorial Lincoln Woods Pulaski Rocky Point Snake Den World War II Veterans Memorial
State Beaches	Charlestown Breachway East Beach East Matunuck Misquamicut Roger Wheeler Salty Brine Scarborough
State Forests	George Washington Memorial Lincoln Woods Wickaboxet
Wild and Scenic Rivers	Ashaway River Beaver River Chipuxet River Green Fall River Pawcatuck River Queen River Usquepaug River Wood River
Other protected areas	Arcadia Management Area East Bay Bike Path Ell Pond George Washington State Campground

41°25′42″N 71°43′08″W / 41.42839°N 71.7189°W / 41.42839; -71.7189

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