The Piscataquog River

The Piscataquog River consists of three branches: South, Middle and North, all of which were designated into the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program in July 1993. The three branches run through the communities of Deering, Francestown, Lyndeborough, New Boston, Weare, Goffstown and Manchester in south-central New Hampshire.

Despite its proximity to Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire, the Piscataquog River is predominantly a quiet stream with a total length of approximately 57 miles that is free-flowing for 95.7 percent of its length, a claim few streams can make. Much of the land along the river is protected and open to the public, providing for multi-recreational and educational use as well as affording excellent water quality.

Today the river offers a multitude of values to New Hampshire's southern populations. During the spring high waters, the river is frequently utilized for canoeing and kayaking and is said to be an ideal training ground for beginning whitewater enthusiasts. The summer offers fishing along the private pools and deep forest-lined stretches of ripples. For those with a thirst for regional chronicles, scores of historical sites echoing early colonial commerce line its riverbanks.

Open Space Protection
For 22 years the Piscataquog Watershed Association, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the New England Forestry Foundation, the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, riverfront towns, state agencies and dozens of private landowners and river stewards have worked to protect the watershed of the Piscataquog River. As a result, 4,356 acres of land along the river are protected as well as 8.5 percent of the open space within the Piscataquog Watershed. Large tracts of the protected land are carefully managed for both timber production and protection of natural habitat.

Geology
The Piscataquog is rich in geologic formations, especially glacial deposits. Most notable is an esker train along the South Branch which runs four miles along the river unveiling the remnants of a stream which once coursed its way through glacial ice. Other significant formations include glacial kettles, a gorge on the Lyndeborough/New Boston town line, and “the plains,” a glacial deposit of sand and gravel which may have been the site of New Boston's first settlement. An ever-running natural spring southeast of the Lyndeborough/New Boston town line is yet another geologic highlight of the area.

History
Stands of large white pine and red oak growing in the Piscataquog River watershed drew attention to the area, attracting settlers to harvest the massive trees, some of which were reserved by the King of England for British Navy ship masts. The Piscataquog River provided essential resources for these early inhabitants. In the late 1700s and into the 1800s, the primary use of the river was as a source of power for numerous mills and shops. A site along the Piscataquog River holds claim to being home to the first shoe factory in the nation, which produced nearly 23,000 pairs of boots in its first year. Francestown, Deering, Weare, and New Boston still contain many reminders of their early history in the ruins of the water-powered mills and long-forgotten stone masons along the river’s banks. The lower segment of the Piscataquog was an important link in the transportation of cargo around Manchester. Dam locks were built at the river’s mouth in 1818 to facilitate boats passage to and from the Merrimack River.

Wildlife and Plant Resources
Due to the extensive natural and protected lands along the river, the Piscataquog supports diverse habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and plant species, including several endangered and threatened species. Bird species observed in the Piscataquog Watershed on the state endangered list include the pied-billed grebe and peregrine falcon. Those on the threatened species list include the common loon, osprey, northern harrier, cooper's hawk, and the common nighthawk. In addition to a multitude of mammals living in the watershed, several species of reptiles and amphibians of special concern have also been observed. They are the eastern hognose snake, Blanding's turtle, eastern box turtle, and spotted turtle. The river also supports some of the world’s finest populations of the state-listed endangered brook floater mussel.

Wildflowers deserving special protection that are now surviving within the Piscataquog Watershed include the small spike-rush; gall-of-the-earth; one-sided rush; piled-up sedge; and slender crabgrass. A plant species of particular distinction which inhabits the watershed, is the small whorled pogonia. The largest-known populations of this perennial wildflower are found in central New Hampshire and Maine. Initially given federal listing as endangered in 1982, habitat protection efforts have allowed the species to be reclassified as threatened. Biologists hope that with continued landowner awareness and concern, the plant will continue to make a recovery.

Also of note in the watershed is a large ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana) community found along the banks of Dudley Brook and at its confluence with the Middle Branch of the Piscataquog River. The tree community is unusual in that this species does not normally cluster in such a massive group. Numerous wildlife species including wild turkey and ruffed grouse are attracted to the area for the nuts these trees produce.

Fishing
The Piscataquog River is a relatively steep gradient stream with a predominantly cobble and gravel substrate, dominated by riffle/pool habitat. The three branches of the Piscataquog River, together with its tributaries and lakes, provide both the novice and knowledgeable anglers fine and rewarding fishing. It is a favored fishery of the Manchester Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which has selected the river for its “Adopt-a-River Program.” The Piscataquog River is considered to be one of the two most important salmon nursery tributaries in southern New Hampshire. The river yields higher production levels of juvenile parr, on average, than any other site. With the many diversified river bottoms and several impoundments, the river supports a large warm water fishery as well as a notable trout fishery.

Boating
The Piscataquog River is home to hundreds of boating enthusiasts. Whether it is on the quiet, more private sections or on the lakes, boaters can enjoy three seasons of rural New Hampshire at its finest. The lakes provide space for waterskiing as well as other recreational endeavors favored by the boating public. The numerous access points along the river often include not only launch sites and parking, but bathhouses, restrooms, and picnic areas as well. Some of this access is offered free of charge while other sites charge various fees.

For further information about the N.H. Rivers Management and Protection Program visit the DES website at www.des.nh.gov/rivers or contact Steve Couture, Rivers Coordinator, 29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095; (603) 271-8801; scouture@des.state.nh.us.