Saco River
Encyclopedia
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire
and southwestern Maine
in the United States
. It drains a rural area of 1703 square miles (4,410.7 km²) of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland
, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean
at Saco Bay
, 136 miles (218.9 km) from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000 people in thirty-five towns. The name "Saco" comes from the Eastern Abenaki
word [sɑkohki], meaning "land where the river comes out".
The river rises at Saco Lake in Crawford Notch
in the White Mountains
and flows generally south-southeast through Bartlett
and Conway
in Carroll County, New Hampshire
before crossing into Oxford County, Maine
.
Shortly after entering Fryeburg, Maine, the river branches into the "Old Course" Saco River
and the more commonly used "Canal River". Constructed in the 1800s to be more convenient for farmers, the 6 miles (10 km) long canal is 15 miles (24.1 km) shorter than the old course and is now considered to be the official course for the river, as the upstream end of the old course is largely silted over. The two channels merge again near Lovell, Maine
.
After running through six hydropower
stations and entering York County
, the river crosses under Interstate 95
and passes between Saco
and Biddeford
, where it is bridged by U.S. Route 1
. It enters Saco Bay
on the Atlantic with Camp Ellis in Saco on the north shore and Hills Beach in Biddeford on the south shore.
s on the Saco river. The first is at Conway, New Hampshire
(43°59′27"N 71°05′29"W) where the river's watershed
is 385 square miles (997 km²). Discharge
(stream flow) here averages 962 cuft/s and has ranged from a minimum of 40 cuft/s to a maximum of 47200 cuft/s. The second is at Cornish, Maine
(43°48′29"N 70°46′53"W) where the watershed is 1293 square miles (3,348.9 km²). Flow here averages 2756 cuft/s and has ranged from a minimum of 244 cuft/s to a maximum of 46600 cuft/s.
The Saco is a popular recreational river, drawing an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 people per summer weekend, mostly on the stretch from Swan's Falls (a campground formerly maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club
and now maintained by the Saco River Recreation Council), to Brownfield, Maine
.
On many weekends, the river develops an atmosphere akin to a fraternity party, with large flotillas of canoes and rafts floating down the river stopping for grilling, beer pong and passing out.
There are many sand beaches along the Saco when not at flood stage and camping is allowed along some of these beaches for free. Misuse, including large quantities of garbage left behind by users and illegal fires, as well as discourtesy toward landowners, has led many beaches to be posted and monitored. A permit is required from the State of Maine for campfires along any unposted river beaches.
The Saco is a major attraction for canoeists. One area of the river, Walker's Rip, is a set of rapids that has caused less talented canoers to capsize, although it can be navigated successfully. Several canoeing
rentals are available throughout the river's distance.
The Saco river is also famous for sport fishing, even though the number of fish in it has decreased tremendously throughout time.
Local legends have held that the river is subject to the Saco Curse of Squandro
.
Listed from source to mouth:
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New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and southwestern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains a rural area of 1703 square miles (4,410.7 km²) of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Saco Bay
Saco Bay (Maine)
Saco Bay is a small arcuate embayment of the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic coast of Maine in the United States. The name derives "from a map of the coastline made in 1525 by the Spanish explorer Esteban Gómez...
, 136 miles (218.9 km) from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000 people in thirty-five towns. The name "Saco" comes from the Eastern Abenaki
Eastern Abnaki language
Eastern Abnaki is an extinct language once spoken by the Penobscot in the coastal area of the state of Maine, United States. The last known speaker died in the 1990s in Penobscot, Maine.-External links:* at Native-languages.org....
word [sɑkohki], meaning "land where the river comes out".
Course
Crawford Notch
Crawford Notch is the steep and narrow gorge of the Saco River in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, located almost entirely within the town of Hart's Location...
in the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
and flows generally south-southeast through Bartlett
Bartlett, New Hampshire
Bartlett is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2010 census. Bartlett includes the villages of Glen, Lower Bartlett and Intervale. It is set in the White Mountains, surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest...
and Conway
Conway, New Hampshire
Conway is a town, the largest in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,115 at the 2010 census. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west and north. Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake State Park are in the west...
in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Carroll County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,666 people, 18,351 households, and 12,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² . There were 34,750 housing units at an average density of 14/km²...
before crossing into Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
.
Shortly after entering Fryeburg, Maine, the river branches into the "Old Course" Saco River
Old Course Saco River
The Old Course Saco River is a river in the town of Fryeburg in western Maine in the United States. It was the route of the Saco River until the early 1800s, when the river's current course was dug to shorten its length considerably.-References:**...
and the more commonly used "Canal River". Constructed in the 1800s to be more convenient for farmers, the 6 miles (10 km) long canal is 15 miles (24.1 km) shorter than the old course and is now considered to be the official course for the river, as the upstream end of the old course is largely silted over. The two channels merge again near Lovell, Maine
Lovell, Maine
Lovell is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census. Lovell is the site of Kezar Lake, a resort area.-History:...
.
After running through six hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
stations and entering York County
York County, Maine
York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States....
, the river crosses under Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
and passes between Saco
Saco, Maine
Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems , a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics...
and Biddeford
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...
, where it is bridged by U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
. It enters Saco Bay
Saco Bay (Maine)
Saco Bay is a small arcuate embayment of the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic coast of Maine in the United States. The name derives "from a map of the coastline made in 1525 by the Spanish explorer Esteban Gómez...
on the Atlantic with Camp Ellis in Saco on the north shore and Hills Beach in Biddeford on the south shore.
Stream flow
The United States government maintains two stream gaugeStream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
s on the Saco river. The first is at Conway, New Hampshire
Conway, New Hampshire
Conway is a town, the largest in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,115 at the 2010 census. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west and north. Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake State Park are in the west...
(43°59′27"N 71°05′29"W) where the river's 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...
is 385 square miles (997 km²). Discharge
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
(stream flow) here averages 962 cuft/s and has ranged from a minimum of 40 cuft/s to a maximum of 47200 cuft/s. The second is at Cornish, Maine
Cornish, Maine
Cornish is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,269 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
(43°48′29"N 70°46′53"W) where the watershed is 1293 square miles (3,348.9 km²). Flow here averages 2756 cuft/s and has ranged from a minimum of 244 cuft/s to a maximum of 46600 cuft/s.
Attractions
Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
and now maintained by the Saco River Recreation Council), to Brownfield, Maine
Brownfield, Maine
Brownfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center.-History:...
.
On many weekends, the river develops an atmosphere akin to a fraternity party, with large flotillas of canoes and rafts floating down the river stopping for grilling, beer pong and passing out.
There are many sand beaches along the Saco when not at flood stage and camping is allowed along some of these beaches for free. Misuse, including large quantities of garbage left behind by users and illegal fires, as well as discourtesy toward landowners, has led many beaches to be posted and monitored. A permit is required from the State of Maine for campfires along any unposted river beaches.
The Saco is a major attraction for canoeists. One area of the river, Walker's Rip, is a set of rapids that has caused less talented canoers to capsize, although it can be navigated successfully. Several canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
rentals are available throughout the river's distance.
The Saco river is also famous for sport fishing, even though the number of fish in it has decreased tremendously throughout time.
Problems
Multiple violent and reportedly alcohol-related incidents in 2001 led to increased police patrols and efforts by livery companies, landowners, and government agencies to improve conditions.Local legends have held that the river is subject to the Saco Curse of Squandro
Squandro
Squandro was sachem of the Sokokis tribe in 1675, an American Indian tribe that lived near the Saco River at Saco in Maine. Squandro gained respect among whites because his tribe lived in peace with white settlers for about 50 years. Legend dictates that Squandro returned a white girl who had...
.
Major tributaries
- Dry RiverDry River (New Hampshire)The Dry River is a 9.0 mile long river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine...
- Sawyer RiverSawyer RiverThe Sawyer River is a 9.1 mile long river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine....
- Rocky Branch
- Ellis River
- East Branch Saco RiverEast Branch Saco RiverThe East Branch of the Saco River is a 13.2 mile long river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine....
- Swift RiverSwift River (Saco River)The Swift River is a river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine....
- Cold River/Charles River
- Outlet, Kezar Lake
- Kezar River
- Shepards RiverShepards RiverThe Shepards River is a river in western Maine and eastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is part of the Saco River drainage basin.The Shepards River rises in the town of Eaton, New Hampshire, among foothills of the White Mountains...
- Tenmile River
- Ossipee RiverOssipee RiverThe Ossipee River is an river in eastern New Hampshire and western Maine in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows southeast to the Atlantic Ocean at Saco, Maine....
- Little Ossipee River
External links
- EPA Saco River Watershed Profile
- Saco River Profile at MaineRivers.org
- Real-time flow data for the Conway, NH and Cornish, ME gages
- Saco River Cleanup, an annual event sponsored by the Saco River Recreation Council
- Saco Valley Canoe
- Saco River Canoe
- River Run Canoe
- "Popular river struggles with balancing act", Portland Press Herald, Aug. 11, 2002