Salmon River State Forest
Encyclopedia
Salmon River State Forest is one of the state forests of Connecticut.
, Marlborough
, Colchester
, East Haddam
, and East Hampton
. Included in the forest area is 1300 acres (5.3 km²) that are lease
d from the United States government.
The Salmon River
joins the Connecticut River
a short distance from East Haddam. It is probably the largest stream and watershed
whose sources and mouth are entirely within the limits of Connecticut
.
The towns in this area were settled during the early part of the 18th century and were typical of the early New England
settlements. Streams and ponds were dammed to furnish waterpower for gristmill
s, tanneries, and later paper mills.
History
The first purchase of lands which comprise the Salmon River State Forest was made by the State Board of Fisheries and Game in 1934. The Forest now contains nearly 6000 acres (24.3 km²) located in the towns of HebronHebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
, Marlborough
Marlborough, Connecticut
Marlborough is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the census-designated place of Terramuggus. The population was 5,709 at the 2000 census. Marlborough is a suburban/rural upper middle class bedroom community of Hartford...
, Colchester
Colchester, Connecticut
Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN...
, East Haddam
East Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, and East Hampton
East Hampton, Connecticut
East Hampton is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,352 at the 2000 census. The town center village is listed as a census-designated place...
. Included in the forest area is 1300 acres (5.3 km²) that are lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
d from the United States government.
The Salmon River
Salmon River (Connecticut)
The Salmon River is formed at the confluence of the Blackledge and Jeremy rivers about one mile west of North Westchester, Connecticut. It runs for to Salmon Cove near Moodus where it flows into the Connecticut River....
joins the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
a short distance from East Haddam. It is probably the largest stream and 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...
whose sources and mouth are entirely within the limits of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The towns in this area were settled during the early part of the 18th century and were typical of the early New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
settlements. Streams and ponds were dammed to furnish waterpower for gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s, tanneries, and later paper mills.
Activities
Salmon River has field sports, fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and an area for picnicking that includes picnic tables.Features
- Comstock's BridgeComstock's BridgeComstock's Bridge, also known as the Comstock Covered Bridge, is located in East Hampton, Connecticut. The bridge was built in 1840 to span the Salmon River and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1976....
is the only remaining covered bridgeCovered bridgeA covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in eastern Connecticut. This bridge spans the Salmon River near Route 16Route 16 (Connecticut)Route 16 is a primary state route connecting Middletown and Colchester via Route 66. It begins in East Hampton at Route 66 then has an interchange with Route 2 in Colchester. It then runs through Colchester center, then goes to the outskirts of Lebanon town as a rural collector...
in East Hampton. - Airline State ParkAirline State ParkThe Airline State Park is a rail trail located in Connecticut.-History:It follows a rail line that was known as the Air Line. It was conceived as a high speed passenger rail line from Boston to New York City, shaving off the old route...
(a rail trailRail trailA rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
) follows the former railroad bed and features the 137 feet (41.8 m) high Lyman Viaduct. - A handicap accessible fly fishingFly fishingFly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
area and a disabled veterans fishing area. - The first sawmill in Marlborough was built in 1751 on the Blackledge RiverBlackledge RiverThe Blackledge River begins southeast of Manchester, Connecticut just north of Route 534 in a gully near Converse Road. The Blackledge runs for until it flows into the Salmon River. A popular whitewater paddling route begins at West Road about south of Gay City State Park...
.