Class II-III Pawcatuck River, RI

The Pawcatuck River and its associated tributaries run through a rural, wooded landscape amongst a series of towns that grew up on the banks of the watercourses, historically as mill villages. Vestiges of the textile and fabric dyeing industry can still be found on the banks of the rivers.

The watershed is the most rural, least developed in Rhode Island, with approximately 87 percent of the land undeveloped or in agriculture and approximately 75 percent forested. The estuary of the Pawcatuck River winds its way through the more highly developed communities of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. Development pressure is high in this region as is typical in the states along the Atlantic coastline.

This section of the Pawcatuck River includes passage through and around rock ramps and a horseshoe dam. There are also forest and wetland scenary. In the upper reaches you may be apt to run into challenging, rocky obstacles.

 

For More Information Visit:

Wood-Pawcatuck Rivers Watershed - rivers.gov