Monatiquot River
Encyclopedia
The Monatiquot River is a 4.9 miles (7.9 km) river in Braintree, Massachusetts
, formed by the confluence of the Farm River and Cochato River
(42.19475°N 71.0127 °W) in the Braintree Municipal Golf Course, flowing in swampy meanders to the northeast, and emptying into the tidal Weymouth Fore River
estuary. Its drainage area is 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²).
The river was a key aspect of colonial Braintree for its river herring
. Later its strong flow was useful for early industry such as grist mills. It has remained a relatively clean river to date, with wildlife including birds, turtle
s, muskrat
s and fish, but recently has been polluted by sediments from the Graziano Inc. concrete batching operation.
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, formed by the confluence of the Farm River and Cochato River
Cochato River
The Cochato River is a stream rising from Avon, Massachusetts and running several miles north to its confluence with the Monatiquot River in Braintree. It is part of the Weymouth Fore River watershed and empties into Boston Harbor....
(42.19475°N 71.0127 °W) in the Braintree Municipal Golf Course, flowing in swampy meanders to the northeast, and emptying into the tidal Weymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River is a small bay or estuary in eastern Massachusetts and is part of the Massachusetts Bay watershed.The headwater of Weymouth Fore River is formed by the confluence of the Monatiquot River and Smelt Brook in the Weymouth Landing area of Braintree...
estuary. Its drainage area is 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²).
The river was a key aspect of colonial Braintree for its river herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
. Later its strong flow was useful for early industry such as grist mills. It has remained a relatively clean river to date, with wildlife including birds, turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s, muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
s and fish, but recently has been polluted by sediments from the Graziano Inc. concrete batching operation.