Farm+River

**Drainage Basin: South Central Coast** toc
 * Farm River**

=1. About this Watershed= The Farm River originates below the Pistapaug Mountain, in an area where Durham, Northford, and Wallingford, CT meet. Pistapaug Mountain, as pictured, can be seen to the left of Route 17 traveling north. To the right of Route 17, a residential area is located, which from casual observation appears to "dip". It is in this residential area where the head waters are nestled. Unviewable from the road, the head waters originate in a lightly wooded area between Hyla Lane and Ginny Drive in Northford, CT. On Hyla Lane, a slight stream can be seen piped under the road and continuing southward. The Farm River co ntinues its journey along Route 17, then to Route 22, winding through farms and residential areas. It flows into Page’s Mill Pond, near the intersection of Mill Road and Totoket Road in North Branford, CT where a water fall can be observed. Continuing southward, it “runs” into Route 80 where it follows (or is followed) down Route 80 to Route 100. Trickling past the west side of Lake Saltonstall, it ends it’s 16 mile journey just south of Lake Saltonstall, where it flows into the East Haven River.1]



1a. Map of watershed
media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Farm+River+CT&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.610437,53.261719&ie=UTF8&ll=41.521945,-72.710266&spn=0.481298,0.832214&t=p&z=10&iwloc=A&output=embed" width="322" height="267"  =2. Geology= Connecticut has four main terranes, which are geological regions reflective of the past. Each terrane relates to a plate (plate tectonics) and is named accordingly. New Haven consists of the remnants of the Newark plate.5] The area comprising the Farm River consists geologically of volcanic rocks, such as basalt, as well as sedimentary rocks, such as brownstone, shale, and conglomerate. Also found in its layers are igneous rocks, such as dolerite.6]  =3. Hydrology= Add text and links here.  =4. History= The Farm River’s name when Indians occupied the area was Taphamshashack, which translated to “at the place of cold springs”. Throughout history the river has been called other names in confusion, such as the Muddy River and the Stoney River. Early settlers to the area used the land alongside the river mainly for farming. “Primitive roads for the transport of farm produce to market were laid along the Farm River”. Both Forest Road and Totoket Road run alongside the river(3). In addition to farming, the stream was used for industrial purposes, creating water-powered mills. “The first damming of the river was recorded in 1697 when William Hoadley was granted the privilege of setting up a sawmill if he would agree to sell boards at five shillings and not take more than half a log to pay for the sawing of it.” “Fulling mills, in which cloth was shrunk and cleaned, and barkers’ mills, in which hides were tanned, started up in the early 1700’s.”(3) “Besides these manufactories there were the ever-present gristmills. The Rogers family dammed up the river, shaped a large millpond, and erected mills that ground grain into flour and corn into meal on the west bank and cut up logs on the east bank. The family ran the business from 1734 to 1880, when the Page family took over, continuing the operations until about 1930. Page’s Pond on the Mill Road is a familiar landmark today.”(3) The East Haven portion of the river had similar activity in history. In the upper end, Daniel Holt raised dairy cattle alongside the river. His home is one of the oldest buildings in the town. Farther down the river, where the Farm River meets up with runoff from Lake Saltonstall, Iron Works was built and operated. Eventually, the facility was turned into a fulling/carding mill and then into a gristmill.(3)  =5. Human Use & Impact=


 * __Bridges over the Farm River__**

“Over the years many bridges have been constructed, most of them of modern design. Starting from Interstate 95, one can drive up to the headwaters of the Farm River in Pistapaug Pond, tracing the river’s course using various highways and counting the bridges." The first bridge is located off of North High Street on Willow Road in East Haven, CT, in a residential area. The second and third bridges constructed of cement are located on Hellstrom Road, which travels in a u-shape off of North High Street. Continuing north on North High Street, taking a right onto Corbin Road will lead one to the fourth bridge. Bridge five, found on Maple Street, leads residents to the Pit, a popular local ball field3]

Continuing on down North High Street approximately half mile passed Maple Street, one will run into Route 80. Taking a right turn here will lead eventually into North Branford. Before leaving East Haven, the final bridge (number 6) in this town is located right off of Route 80, on River Road.(3)

The remainder of the bridges are located in North Branford and Northford, CT. The seventh bridge to count is located directly on Route 80, an older bridge located near local business and across from Totoket Valley Mobile Home and RV park. Shortly after this bridge, a left onto Totoket Road will bring travelers to the eighth bridge. Once past this bridge a scenic drive winds through part of a local dairy farm where vegetables are frequently sold at a roadside stand. Eventually a right turn on Mill Road will bring you to the ninth bridge, where a water fall can be observed.(3)

At the end of Mill Road, travelers can turn left and follow Route 22 (Forest Road) a short ways, to Augur Road, where the tenth bridge will lead you to more local agricultural and horse farms. The Augur family, still residing in the area, farms its vast acres and runs a popular roadside stand on Mill Road.

Returning to Route 22, and heading north a traveler will eventually run into Route 17, through the Northford Center. The final bridges on the Farm River are located on Mansfield Drive and the old Mill Pond Tavern, currently known as Cedars Restaurant. (3)

__**Development**__ In addition to building bridges over the river, local towns are starting to curb development in an effort to control flooding. The Town of North Branford in recent years has proposed bans on development.(7) East Haven has obtained permits to clear brush and logs from the banks of the river. Concern over the loss of habitat for fish had the town compromising with environmentalists to clear some but not all the brush.8]

 =6. Flora (Plants)= A variety of trees outline the river along its banks, including willow trees. Swamp grasses and low lying shrubs are also observed.

 =7. Fauna (Animals)=  Here on Page's Pond, a heron came to feed. The river is also host to a variety of ducks, snapping turtles, frogs, salamanders, and fish.

=8. Lesson Plans & Field Studies=

On April 29, 2009, a group of students representing East Haven High School's Environmental Science club (accompanied by a member from Project SEARCH) tested the Farm River. Meeting at a location off of North High Street, East Haven, the results were as follows:

Water Temp = 17.1 degrees C pH = 8.20 DO = 10.50 mg/l TDS = 200 mg/l Alkalinity = 88 mg/l Total Hardness = 112 mg/l Ca Hardness = 76 mg/l Mg Hardness = 36 mg/l Nitrates = 0.54 mg/l Orthophosphates = 0.05 mg/l Ammonia = 0.04 mg/l  =9. Personal Stories=  "One by one, the trout jumped but no matter how high they hurled themselves, they fell back to the churning water below. The fish had fought their way up the Farm River only to reach a roadblock in front of Lindsay Suter’s home: a 10-foot stone dam.

Months after moving to this former mill house, Suter looked up one morning to witness nature in a poignant struggle against man. Moved to act, Suter is, with the help of two environmental groups and the state, designing an aluminum fish ladder to get the trout safely past his house.

Once it’s built, possibly by next fall, miles of new spawning ground will be opened not only to brown trout but to other migratory fish." (Remainder of article can be viewed at http://www.wickedlocal.com/norwich/news/environment/x1908587485)(4)

=10. Community Groups=  =11. Recreation= Farm River is used mainly for fishing. Low depth, narrowness, and overgrown brushy areas make navigating the river by boat, canoe or kayak difficult.
 * Friends of the Farm River**, a local community group, focuses its attention on the Farm River from its mouth to Route 1. Using education and outreach, this group is committed to raising awareness of the environmental impacts of the river.(1)

 =12. Related Links= http://www.farmriverfriends.org/ http://connecticutwatertrails.com/CWTA%20-%20New%20Haven%20County%20Water%20Trails%20-%20North%20Branford%20-%20Pistapaug%20Pond.htm  =13. Notes/Sources= 1. "About FFRE". __Farmriverfriends__.2008 Friends of the Farm River 1 July 2009 http://www.farmriverfriends.org/about_us.html. 2. pictures by Dianne Ruggiero 3. Townsend, Doris. "The Farm River and Its Role in New Haven County History" Journal of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, vol 44 (1998) 4. Martineau, Kim. " TO HELP FISH CLIMB:A WITNESS TO TROUT STRUGGLES AT DAM HELPS BUILD THEM A WAY" __ Hartford Courant __ 29 November 2007 5. Alter, Lisa. "Geology of Connecticut". __Yale__ 1995 Yale-New Haven Teaching Institute 1 July 2009 http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/5/95.05.01.x.html#a 6. "Generalized Bedrock Geological Map of Connecticut". __The Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey__ 1990. Department of Environmental Protection. 1 July 2009 http://sahallquist.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/ctgeomap_big.jpg 7. O'Leary, Patrick. "Riverside Construction ban is a good step". __East Haven Advertiser__ 27 January 2001. 8. McGurk, Joe. "East Haven gets permit for Farm River work". __New Haven Register__ 8 May 2002