Shawsheen River

[[Image:Shawsheen River, Pinehurst MA.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Shawsheen River in [[Billerica, Massachusetts|Billerica]]]] [[Image:Shawsheen River (Massachusetts) map.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Shawsheen River]] The '''Shawsheen River''' is a {{convert|26.7|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the [[Merrimack River]] in northeast [[Massachusetts]]. The name has had various spellings. According to Bailey's history of Andover, the spelling Shawshin was the most common in the old records, although Shawshine, Shashin, Shashine, Shashene, Shawshene, and later, Shawsheen, are found. The name, says Bailey, is said to mean "Great Spring". The river runs generally northward through the towns of [[Bedford, Massachusetts|Bedford]], [[Billerica, Massachusetts|Billerica]], [[Wilmington, Massachusetts|Wilmington]], [[Tewksbury, Massachusetts|Tewksbury]], [[Andover, Massachusetts|Andover]], and [[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]], where it joins the Merrimack. Like its parent, the river has played an important role in the development of the area, including industrial development, with many mills built to take advantage of the river's power. Today there are trails and parks located along several sections of the river, and a preservation effort is carried out by the Shawsheen River Watershed Association. In June 2001, the Merrimack River Watershed Council determined that the Shawsheen River failed to meet water quality standards. This situation was largely attributed to [[stormwater]] runoff via town, private and state [[storm drain]] systems. As a result of increased pollutants, major portions of the Shawsheen River are now listed as impaired waters on the 303(d) list of the [[Clean Water Act]]. ==External links== * [http://www.shawsheen.org Shawsheen River Watershed Association] * [http://www.mass.gov/envir/water/shawsheen/shawsheen.htm Shawsheen River Watershed] {{coord missing|Massachusetts}}