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Is the water clean enough for safe swimming? |
The State of NH undertook a major study
of the river's water quality in 2004 to help
answer this question. In most places, and at most
times, the river today is clean enough for
swimming, but there are still areas and weather
conditions where swimming is not advised. Details
here. |
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Look before you leap |
The Connecticut River is not a lake. The river's
depth varies greatly, and water that is plenty deep
for jumping and diving may be only inches deep a
few feet away. Unseen logs and other debris may be
floating just below the surface. Don't jump off
bridges, and never, ever swim below a dam! |
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Watch for boats |
State boating law requires that boats must slow
down to headway speed within 150' of a swimmer. Be
sure approaching boaters can see you. |
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What about water skiing? |
Watch for floating debris, particularly after
heavy rains. Boats towing water skiers should use
only those areas of the river wide enough to allow
a turn while maintaining skier speed, staying 150'
from shore at all times except when getting
underway and dropping off. Boats towing water
skiers have right of way. |
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What can you do to help protect and improve water quality? |
Everyone in our watershed plays a part in determining water quality in the river that flows through it. Here's what you can do. |
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Is the water clean enough for safe swimming?
The presence of E. coli bacteria in the water is a primary concern for swimming. Bacteria can reach rivers through poorly functioning septic systems or drainage from areas where animals are concentrated, whether they are moose or cows, especially where they have direct access to a tributary or the river itself. Bacteria can also reach rivers through runoff, such as stormwater washing over a city street where dog walkers do not pick up after their pets, and especially through combined sewer overflows, where runoff from heavy storms can overwhelm a wastewater treatment plant and send untreated sewage into the river. Bacteria counts are variable, but are likely to be higher in the river after a heavy storm.
At the request of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, assisted by the Environmental Protection Agency, conducted an intensive water quality study during the summer of 2004, on the 275 miles of the river between the Canadian and Massachusetts borders. Here is what is currently known about the safety of swimming for the mainstem and many tributaries, arranged in regions from north to south. (Updated to reflect 2004 assessment - results are considered preliminary and will be final once further quality control checks are complete When final, DES will post these data here).
Further information on the quality of New Hampshire waters can be found on the NH Department of Environmental Services' site.
Headwaters ~ Riverbend ~ Upper Valley ~ Mt. Ascutney Region ~ Wantastiquet Region
Headwaters Region (Pittsburg to Maidstone/Northumberland)
SAFE for swimming:
- First, Second Third, and Fourth Connecticut Lakes
- Connecticut River from First Connecticut Lake to Lake Francis
- Lake Francis
- Connecticut River from Lake Francis to Indian Stream
- Connecticut River from the Upper Ammonoosuc River to the confluence of the Israel's River in Lancaster
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION about safety of swimming, due to conflicting or insufficient data:
- Connecticut River between each of the four Connecticut Lakes
- Connecticut River from Indian Stream to the confluence of Bishop Brook
- Connecticut River from Canaan Dam to the confluence of the Mohawk River in Colebrook
- Connecticut River from Cone Brook to the confluence of the Nulhegan River in Bloomfield
- New Hampshire tributaries other than Bishop Brook
- Vermont tributaries
UNSAFE for swimming, due to bacteria from unknown sources:
- Connecticut River from the confluence of Bishop Brook to Canaan Dam
- Connecticut River from the Mohawk River in Colebrook to the confluence of Cone Brook
- Connecticut River from the Nulhegan River to the confluence of the Upper Ammonoosuc River in Groveton (this reach includes the designated "Natural Segment")
- Halls Stream and Bishop Brook
Riverbend Region (Guildhall/Lancaster to Ryegate/Haverhill)
SAFE for swimming:
- Connecticut River from the Israel's River to Mt. Orne Covered Bridge, (as tested five times in 2004, although in previous years, this section was not safe for swimming)
- Connecticut River from the confluence of the John's River in Dalton throughout the rest of the Riverbend region
- Israel's and Ammonoosuc Rivers
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION about safety of swimming:
- other New Hampshire tributaries
- Vermont tributaries in this region
UNSAFE for swimming, due to bacteria from unknown sources:
- Oliverian and Clark Brooks
Upper Valley (Bradford/Piermont to Hartford/Lebanon)
SAFE for swimming:
- Connecticut River throughout the region, to the confluence of the White River
- Lower Mink Brook
- White River
- Ompompanoosuc River
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION about safety of swimming:
- other Upper Valley tributaries
UNSAFE for swimming:
- Connecticut River from the White River to the confluence of Blow Me Down Brook in Cornish, due to possible bacterial contamination from combined sewer overflows. The 2004 assessment found that swimming was safe based on tests conducted on five different days near the Westboro Rail yard in West Lebanon, under the Interstate 89 bridge, and at Sumner Falls; however, the State of NH will still list this section as not supporting swimming because of the presence of combined sewer overflows in Lebanon. This means that river contamination is more likely to occur during and immediately after heavy storms. This reach also receives treated wastewater from the three plants serving Hanover, Lebanon, and White River Junction.
- Waits River in Bradford from the powerhouse to the Connecticut River mainstem, due to bacteria from an unknown source
- Mascoma River in Lebanon due to bacterial contamination
Mt. Ascutney Region (Hartland/Plainfield to Rockingham/Charlestown)
SAFE for swimming:
- Connecticut River from Blow-Me-Down Brook in Cornish to the Bellows Falls Dam
- Little Sugar River
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION about safety of swimming:
- other tributaries to the Connecticut River in this area
UNSAFE for swimming:
- Connecticut River from Lebanon to Blow-Me-Down Brook in Cornish. The 2004 assessment found that swimming was safe based on tests conducted on five different days under the Interstate 89 bridge just above this reach in Lebanon and at Sumner Falls; however, the State of NH will still list this section as not supporting swimming because of the presence of combined sewer overflows in Lebanon. This means that river contamination is more likely to occur during and immediately after heavy storms. The area just upstream also receives treated wastewater from the three plants serving Hanover, Lebanon, and White River Junction.
- lower Sugar River, due to unknown sources of bacteria
Wantastiquet Region (Westminster/Walpole to Vernon/Hinsdale)
SAFE for swimming:
- the entire Connecticut River in this region
- lower Cold River in Walpole
- Ashuelot River in Hinsdale is largely safe for swimming, although it has not been assessed near its confluence with the mainstem.
- Vermont tributaries except those listed below
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION about safety of swimming:
- other New Hampshire tributaries
UNSAFE for swimming:
- lower nine miles of Partridge Brook in Westmoreland due to unknown sources of bacteria
- Sackett's Brook in Putney
- Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro
- Newton Brook in Vernon