Jail Branch River
Encyclopedia
The Jail Branch River is a river
in central Vermont
. It is a tributary of the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River
and part of the Lake Champlain
watershed
.
The Jail Branch rises in Washington, Vermont
, and flows north into Orange
, where it comes under the influence of the East Barre
flood control dam. Turning northwest, the river passes through East Barre and descends through a narrow valley to the center of Barre, where it enters the Stevens Branch just south (upstream) of the downtown.
On May 26, 2005, the Jail Branch was the site of the drowning
of three children, whose bodies were found in Barre at 5:45 a.m. local time. The drowning was attributed to the steep riverbank, which could have caused the children to slip and fall into the river.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in central Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It is a tributary of the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
and part of the Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
The Jail Branch rises in Washington, Vermont
Washington, Vermont
Washington is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,047 at the 2000 census. The town is believed to be named after George Washington, the town may also be named after Washington, CT as there are records of individuals moving eponymous town in Connecticut to Vermont...
, and flows north into Orange
Orange, Vermont
Orange is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 965 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.0 square miles , of which 38.8 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is water...
, where it comes under the influence of the East Barre
Barre (town), Vermont
Barre is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,924 at the 2010 census. Barre town almost completely surrounds Barre city, which is incorporated separately from the town of Barre.-Geography:...
flood control dam. Turning northwest, the river passes through East Barre and descends through a narrow valley to the center of Barre, where it enters the Stevens Branch just south (upstream) of the downtown.
On May 26, 2005, the Jail Branch was the site of the drowning
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
of three children, whose bodies were found in Barre at 5:45 a.m. local time. The drowning was attributed to the steep riverbank, which could have caused the children to slip and fall into the river.