Kennebec River

[[Image:Kennebec River Map.png|thumb|292px|right|The course of the Kennebec River]] [[Image:Kennebec River icebreaking.jpg|thumb|A U.S. Coast Guard cutter breaks ice on the Kennebec River near [[Bath, Maine]]; March 2005]] The Kennebec River is a {{convert|170|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[river]] that is entirely within the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maine]]. It rises in [[Moosehead Lake]] in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward. It is joined at [[The Forks, Maine|The Forks]] by the [[Dead River (Kennebec River)|Dead River]], also called the West Branch then continues southward past the cities of [[Madison, Maine|Madison]], [[Skowhegan, Maine|Skowhegan]], [[Waterville, Maine|Waterville]], and the state capital [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]]. At [[Richmond, Maine|Richmond]] it flows into [[Merrymeeting Bay]], a {{convert|16|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} freshwater tidal bay into which also flow the [[Androscoggin River]] and five smaller rivers. The Kennebec then runs past the shipbuilding center of [[Bath, Maine|Bath]], thence to the [[Gulf of Maine]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Ocean tides affect the river height as far north as Augusta. Tributaries of the Kennebec River include the [[Carrabassett River]], [[Sandy River (Kennebec River)|Sandy River]], and [[Sebasticook River]]. The name "Kennebec" comes from the [[Eastern Abnaki language|Eastern Abenaki]] /kínipekʷ/, meaning "large body of still water, large bay".

Shipbuilding

The [[Virginia (pinnace)|Virginia of Sagadahoc]], the first oceangoing vessel built in the New World by English-speaking shipwrights, was launched into the river. Hundreds of wooden and steel vessels have since been launched on the Kennebec, particularly in [[Bath, Maine|Bath]], the so-called "City of Ships", including the [[Wyoming (schooner)|Wyoming]], one of the largest wooden [[schooner]]s ever built. The sole remaining shipyard is the [[Bath Iron Works]], one of the few yards still building warships for the [[United States Navy]]. The USCGC Kennebec was named after this river.

Ice industry

In 1814 [[Frederic Tudor]] began to establish markets in the [[West Indies]] and the [[southern United States]] for ice. In 1826 Rufus Page built the first large [[ice house (building)|ice house]] near Gardiner to supply Tudor. The ice was harvested by farmers and others who were inactive due to the winter weather. The ice was cut by hand, floated to an ice house on the bank, and stored until spring. Then, packed in sawdust, it was loaded aboard ships and sent south.

Flood of 1987

On April 1, 1987, over {{convert|6|ft}} of melting snow and {{convert|4|to|6|in}} of rain in the mountains forced the river to flood her banks. By April 2, 1987, the river had crested at {{convert|34.1|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the normal {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}} flood stage, meaning the river rose {{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}}. At the flood's peak the flow topped out at an estimated {{convert|194,000|cuft/s|m3/s}}. It caused about $100 million in damage (171 million in 2008 dollars), flooding 2,100 homes, destroying 215, and damaging 240 others. Signs of the flood can still be found around the towns and cities that line the river.

Natural resources

Prior to the industrial era, the river contained many [[anadromous fish]], in particular the [[Atlantic salmon]]. The exploiting of [[hydroelectric power]] in the region reduced the runs of such fish. The removal of dams on the river has been a controversial local issue in recent years. The removal of the [[Edwards Dam]] in 1999 has led to increased anadromous activity on the river.

Statistics

The river drains a total area of {{convert|5869|sqmi|km2}}, and on average discharges {{convert|5.893|e9USgal|m3}} per day into [[Merrymeeting Bay]] at a rate of {{convert|9111|cuft/s|m3/s}}. The United States government maintains three river flow gauges on the Kennebec river. The first is at Indian Pond (45.51114°N 69.81080°W) where the rivershed is {{convert|1590|sqmi|km2}}. Flow here has ranged from {{convert|161|to|32900|ft3/s|m3/s|lk=on}}. The second is at [[Bingham, Maine|Bingham]] (45°3′6"N 69°53′12"W) where the rivershed is {{convert|2715|sqmi|km2}}. Flow here has ranged from {{convert|110|to|65200|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}. The third is at [[Sidney, Maine|North Sidney]] (44°28′21"N 69°41′09"W) where the rivershed is {{convert|5403|sqmi|km2}}. Flow here has ranged from {{convert|1160|to|232000|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}. Two additional river stage gauges (no flow data) are in [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]] (44°19′06"N 69°46′17"W) and [[Gardiner, Maine|Gardiner]] (44°13′50"N 69°46′16"W); both of these gauge heights are affected by ocean tides. Before the river was dammed, it was navigable as far as Augusta. The founder of [[Colby College]] sailed his [[sloop]], Hero, up to Augusta and a longboat to [[Waterville, Maine|Waterville]] where he founded the college.

External links

{{AmCyc Poster|Kennebec (river)|Kennebec River}} *[http://mainerivers.org/kennebec.htm MaineRivers.org] Kennebec River profile *Real-time flow or stage data for the [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01042500 The Forks], [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01046500 Bingham], [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01049265 North Sidney], [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01049320 Augusta], and [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01049505 Gardiner] gages. *[http://www.kennebec-chaudiere.com/ Kennebec-Chaudiere] Kennebec-Chaudiere International Corridor {{Maine}}