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Black River (Lake Memphremagog)

January 16, 2023

This article is about the river in Orleans County, northern Vermont. For the river in southeast Vermont, see Black River (Connecticut River).

The Black River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over 30 miles (48 km) long, in northern Vermont in the United States. It is one of the four major rivers in Orleans County. It is the longer but least powerful of the two rivers contained solely within the county.[1] There are no longer any damsites.

Black River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateVermont
RegionNortheast Kingdom
CityNewport, Vermont
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Elligo
 • locationCraftsbury, Vermont, Orleans County, Vermont, United States
 • coordinates44°36′3″N 72°21′22″W / 44.60083°N 72.35611°W / 44.60083; -72.35611
 • elevation872 ft (266 m)
MouthLake Memphremagog
 • location
Newport (city), Vermont, Orleans County, Vermont, United States
 • coordinates
44°56′39″N 72°12′16″W / 44.94417°N 72.20444°W / 44.94417; -72.20444Coordinates: 44°56′39″N 72°12′16″W / 44.94417°N 72.20444°W / 44.94417; -72.20444
 • elevation
682 ft (208 m)
Length30 mi (48 km)
Basin size134 sq mi (350 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationNewport city, Vermont
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • left(from the mouth), Stony Brook, Ware Brook, Stony Hill Brook, Lamphear Brook, McCleary Brook, Shalney Branch, Regers Branch, Seaver Branch, Mud Pond discharge, Lake Elligo discharge
 • right(from the mouth), Allen Brook, Lords Creek, Heart Pond discharge, Little Homer Pond discharge

It is paralleled much of the way by Vermont Route 14, taking advantage of the terrain of the Black River Valley.

Course

The Black River is 26 miles (42 km) in length, originates east of Great Hosmer Pond with headwater tributaries flowing west off Ames Hill in Albany. It drains 134 square miles (347 km2) of land. This river has the lowest gradient of the three main rivers in the basin with an average slope of about 8 feet (2.4 m) per 1 mile (1.6 km). The Black River watershed contains over 600 acres (243 ha) of lakes and ponds, the three largest being Elligo Pond, Little Hosmer Pond and Great Hosmer Pond.[2]

The current is slow. The drop from the source to Lake Memphremagog, including the falls at Irasburg and Coventry, is 190 feet (58 m).[2]

Albany (starts)

The Black River, after beginning on the east side of Great Hosmer Pond in the southern portion of the town of Albany. It flows south-southwesterly through a relatively narrow valley.[2]

Craftsbury

It continues in a generally southerly flow into the town of Craftsbury entering a wider valley east of Duck Pond. Whitney Brook, and then the drainage from Little Hosmer and Great Hosmer Ponds, join the river. It meanders further south then is confined briefly just north of Craftsbury village. South of Craftsbury village, the river reverses course and flows northwesterly with Lake Elligo outlet stream joining the river from the east. The river twists and turns its way north through a broad valley, which contains many significant floodplain and wetland communities (see section below). The river flows the length of the town of Craftsbury.[2]

The river drains Lake Elligo. The Black River is the main river in town and is the northern drain from that lake. The river was called Elligo-sigo by the natives.

The western branch of the Black River proceeds northwest from Elligo Lake. In about .5 miles (0.8 km), Whetstone Brook enters into it from the east. Within 1 mile (1.6 km), it is joined by the eastern branch of the river.

The eastern branch of the Black River exits Hosmer Pond towards the southeast. About a mile after leaving the pond, it is joined by Whitney Brook entering from the northeast. Within 1 mile (1.6 km) it turns south, then curves around to the west, then heads northwest to join its western branch.

The conjoined river proceeds northwest. In .5 miles (0.8 km), it is joined by Cass Brook entering from the south. In a little over 1 mile (1.6 km), it is joined by a brook entering from the south, draining Mud Pond.

The river curves north, then northeast. It is joined by a brook draining Page Pond from the northeast. It then turns northwest and back northeast again. It is joined by a small brook entering from the northwest, on the Albany line.

Albany (the second time)

The Black River flows through the central part of the town from south to north, having a number of quite considerable tributaries. It continues meandering in a more northeasterly fashion on the western side of Great Hosmer Pond. It winds through Albany and into Irasburg east of Potters Pond.[2]

The river continues northeast through Albany. It curves east and is joined by Rogers Brook entering from the north.

It turns northeast again, and is joined by McLeary Brook entering from the north. The river turns east again, then back northeast. It meanders, then turns east and Lamphean Brook enters from the north. The river then crosses into Irasburg.

Irasburg

The Black river is the principal water-course. It flows through the town in a northerly direction, receiving a number of small streams. The current is generally slow. It enters east of Potters Pond. It continues its tortuous route northeast and then east to the village of Irasburg. Just upstream of the village, the very sinuous Lords Creek enters. This creek is about 10 miles (16 km) long and drains a watershed that is 17 square miles (44 km2). Downstream of Irasburg, the Black River continues north in a narrower valley with less meandering. It then flows into the town of Coventry.[2]

The river continues in a northeasterly direction. When Lords Creek enters it from the east, the river turns westerly. It resumes its northeasterly course and Brigham Brook drains into it.

It turns north. When Allen Brook empties into it, the river turns northwest.

Lord's Creek enters it from the southeast, about .5 miles (0.8 km) beyond the village of Irasburg. The river proceeds in a northern direction about two miles (3 km) and crosses into Coventry.

Coventry

The Black River follows an east-northeasterly course through the central part of Coventry, until it joins the South Bay of Lake Memphremagog in Newport. For about the last 4.7 miles (7.6 km), the river is part of the state's South Bay Wildlife Management Area.[2]

Just after crossing into Coventry, the river is intersected by Ware Brook. A half a mile north, Stony Brook enters. As US Route 5 starts to parallel it, there are falls of 25 feet (8 m) in two tiers. From there the river proceeds north to enter Lake Memphremagog from the west side of the South Bay.

Newport city

The river enters Lake Memphremagog in the extreme eastern part of the town, near the village, in the South Bay


History

Dams

In 1883, there were several saw mills and a grist mills in Irasburg.[3]


List of cities and towns

In upstream order:


See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ The other being the Barton River
  2. ^ a b c d e f g [1] August 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine retrieved July 17, 2008
  3. ^ Child, Hamilton. (May 1887). Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883-1884. Hamilton Child.

References and external links

  • Map of Black River
  • Report on the Geology of Vermont
  • Report of the State Geologist on the Mineral Industries
  • [2][dead link] retrieved July 17, 2008

January 16, 2023
black, river, lake, memphremagog, this, article, about, river, orleans, county, northern, vermont, river, southeast, vermont, black, river, connecticut, river, black, river, tributary, lake, memphremagog, over, miles, long, northern, vermont, united, states, f. This article is about the river in Orleans County northern Vermont For the river in southeast Vermont see Black River Connecticut River The Black River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog over 30 miles 48 km long in northern Vermont in the United States It is one of the four major rivers in Orleans County It is the longer but least powerful of the two rivers contained solely within the county 1 There are no longer any damsites Black RiverLocationCountryUnited StatesStateVermontRegionNortheast KingdomCityNewport VermontPhysical characteristicsSourceLake Elligo locationCraftsbury Vermont Orleans County Vermont United States coordinates44 36 3 N 72 21 22 W 44 60083 N 72 35611 W 44 60083 72 35611 elevation872 ft 266 m MouthLake Memphremagog locationNewport city Vermont Orleans County Vermont United States coordinates44 56 39 N 72 12 16 W 44 94417 N 72 20444 W 44 94417 72 20444 Coordinates 44 56 39 N 72 12 16 W 44 94417 N 72 20444 W 44 94417 72 20444 elevation682 ft 208 m Length30 mi 48 km Basin size134 sq mi 350 km2 Discharge locationNewport city VermontBasin featuresTributaries left from the mouth Stony Brook Ware Brook Stony Hill Brook Lamphear Brook McCleary Brook Shalney Branch Regers Branch Seaver Branch Mud Pond discharge Lake Elligo discharge right from the mouth Allen Brook Lords Creek Heart Pond discharge Little Homer Pond dischargeIt is paralleled much of the way by Vermont Route 14 taking advantage of the terrain of the Black River Valley Contents 1 Course 1 1 Albany starts 1 2 Craftsbury 1 3 Albany the second time 1 4 Irasburg 1 5 Coventry 1 6 Newport city 2 History 2 1 Dams 2 2 List of cities and towns 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 References and external linksCourse EditThe Black River is 26 miles 42 km in length originates east of Great Hosmer Pond with headwater tributaries flowing west off Ames Hill in Albany It drains 134 square miles 347 km2 of land This river has the lowest gradient of the three main rivers in the basin with an average slope of about 8 feet 2 4 m per 1 mile 1 6 km The Black River watershed contains over 600 acres 243 ha of lakes and ponds the three largest being Elligo Pond Little Hosmer Pond and Great Hosmer Pond 2 The current is slow The drop from the source to Lake Memphremagog including the falls at Irasburg and Coventry is 190 feet 58 m 2 Albany starts Edit The Black River after beginning on the east side of Great Hosmer Pond in the southern portion of the town of Albany It flows south southwesterly through a relatively narrow valley 2 Craftsbury Edit It continues in a generally southerly flow into the town of Craftsbury entering a wider valley east of Duck Pond Whitney Brook and then the drainage from Little Hosmer and Great Hosmer Ponds join the river It meanders further south then is confined briefly just north of Craftsbury village South of Craftsbury village the river reverses course and flows northwesterly with Lake Elligo outlet stream joining the river from the east The river twists and turns its way north through a broad valley which contains many significant floodplain and wetland communities see section below The river flows the length of the town of Craftsbury 2 The river drains Lake Elligo The Black River is the main river in town and is the northern drain from that lake The river was called Elligo sigo by the natives The western branch of the Black River proceeds northwest from Elligo Lake In about 5 miles 0 8 km Whetstone Brook enters into it from the east Within 1 mile 1 6 km it is joined by the eastern branch of the river The eastern branch of the Black River exits Hosmer Pond towards the southeast About a mile after leaving the pond it is joined by Whitney Brook entering from the northeast Within 1 mile 1 6 km it turns south then curves around to the west then heads northwest to join its western branch The conjoined river proceeds northwest In 5 miles 0 8 km it is joined by Cass Brook entering from the south In a little over 1 mile 1 6 km it is joined by a brook entering from the south draining Mud Pond The river curves north then northeast It is joined by a brook draining Page Pond from the northeast It then turns northwest and back northeast again It is joined by a small brook entering from the northwest on the Albany line Albany the second time Edit The Black River flows through the central part of the town from south to north having a number of quite considerable tributaries It continues meandering in a more northeasterly fashion on the western side of Great Hosmer Pond It winds through Albany and into Irasburg east of Potters Pond 2 The river continues northeast through Albany It curves east and is joined by Rogers Brook entering from the north It turns northeast again and is joined by McLeary Brook entering from the north The river turns east again then back northeast It meanders then turns east and Lamphean Brook enters from the north The river then crosses into Irasburg Irasburg Edit The Black river is the principal water course It flows through the town in a northerly direction receiving a number of small streams The current is generally slow It enters east of Potters Pond It continues its tortuous route northeast and then east to the village of Irasburg Just upstream of the village the very sinuous Lords Creek enters This creek is about 10 miles 16 km long and drains a watershed that is 17 square miles 44 km2 Downstream of Irasburg the Black River continues north in a narrower valley with less meandering It then flows into the town of Coventry 2 The river continues in a northeasterly direction When Lords Creek enters it from the east the river turns westerly It resumes its northeasterly course and Brigham Brook drains into it It turns north When Allen Brook empties into it the river turns northwest Lord s Creek enters it from the southeast about 5 miles 0 8 km beyond the village of Irasburg The river proceeds in a northern direction about two miles 3 km and crosses into Coventry Coventry Edit The Black River follows an east northeasterly course through the central part of Coventry until it joins the South Bay of Lake Memphremagog in Newport For about the last 4 7 miles 7 6 km the river is part of the state s South Bay Wildlife Management Area 2 Just after crossing into Coventry the river is intersected by Ware Brook A half a mile north Stony Brook enters As US Route 5 starts to parallel it there are falls of 25 feet 8 m in two tiers From there the river proceeds north to enter Lake Memphremagog from the west side of the South Bay Newport city Edit The river enters Lake Memphremagog in the extreme eastern part of the town near the village in the South BayHistory EditDams Edit In 1883 there were several saw mills and a grist mills in Irasburg 3 List of cities and towns Edit In upstream order Newport Vermont Coventry Vermont Irasburg Vermont Albany Vermont Craftsbury VermontSee also EditList of rivers of VermontFootnotes Edit The other being the Barton River a b c d e f g 1 Archived August 29 2007 at the Wayback Machine retrieved July 17 2008 Child Hamilton May 1887 Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties VT 1883 1884 Hamilton Child References and external links EditMap of Black River Report on the Geology of Vermont Report of the State Geologist on the Mineral Industries 2 dead link retrieved July 17 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black River Lake Memphremagog amp oldid 1050049356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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