DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIBECTOR WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 281 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES 1910 PART I. NORTH ATLANTIC COAST PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF M. 0. LEIGHTON BY C. C. BABB, C. C. COVEKT AND R. H. BOLSTER WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction.............................................................. 7 Authority for investigations............................................. 7 Scope of investigations................................................ 7 Publications.......................................................... 8 Definition of terms..................................................... 12 Convenient equivalents................................................ 12 Explanation of data.................................................... 14 Accuracy and reliability of field data and comparative results............ 15 Use of the data........................................................ 17 Cooperative data...................................................... 17 Cooperation and acknowledgments..................................... 18 Division of work...................................................... 20 List of gaging stations maintained in north Atlantic coast drainage basins...... 21 St. John River............................................................. 27 General features of area drained........................................ 27 St. John Eiver near Dickey, Maine..................................... 29 St. John Eiver at Fort Kent, Maine..................................... 30 St. John River at Van Buren, Maine.................................... 33 Allagash River near Allagash, Maine.................................... 37 St. Francis River near St. Francis, Maine................................ 39 Madawaska River at Ste. Rose du Degele, Province of Quebec, Canada... 42 Aroostook River at Fort Fairfield, Maine................................ 44 St. Croix River............................................................. 47 General features of area drained........................................ 47 St. Croix River near Woodland, Maine................................... 48 Grand Lake, Maine ................................................... 51 West Branch of St. Croix River at Baileyville, Maine..................... 51 Machias River............................................................ 52 General features of area drained........................................ 52 Machias River at Whitneyville, Maine.................................. 53 Union River basin......................................................... 56 General features of area drained.. ....................................... 56 River and lake surveys in Union River basin........................... 57 West Branch of Union River at Amherst, Maine.......................... 58 Union River at Ellsworth, Maine....................................... 59 Green Lake at Green Lake, Maine...................................... 60 Green Lake Stream at Lakewood, Maine................................ 61 Branch Lake near Ellsworth, Maine.............................. ^..... 64 Branch Lake Stream near Ellsworth, Maine............................. 65 Penobscot River...........:.............................................. 68 General features of area drained........................................ 68 River surveys in Penobscot River basin................................ 70 West Branch of Penobscot River at Millinocket, Maine.................. 70 Penobscot River at West Enfield, Maine................................ 73 East Branch of Penobscot River at Grindstone, Maine.................... 76 3 4 CONTENTS. Penobscot River Continued. rage. Mattawamkeag River at Mattawamkeag, Maine.......................... 78 Piscataquis River near Foxcroft, Maine.................................. 81 Cold Stream Pond at Enfield and Lincoln, Maine....................... 83 Kenduskeag Stream near Bangor, Maine................................. 83 Kennebec River.......................................................... 86 General features of area drained........................................ 86 River surveys in Kennebec River basin................................ 88 Moose River near Rockwood, Maine..................................... 89 Moosehead Lake at east outlet, Maine................................... 92 Kennebec River at The Porks, Maine.................................... 93 Kennebec River at Bingham, Maine................................... 96 Kennebec River at Waterville, Maine.................................. 98 Kennebec River at Gardiner, Maine................ 1.................. 100 Dead River near The Forks, Maine.................................... 102 Sandy River near Farmington, Maine................................... 104 Sebasticook River at Pittsfield, Maine.................................. 106 Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine.......................................... 109 Cobbosseecontee Stream at Gardiner, Maine............................. 109 Androscoggin River....................................................... 112 General features of area drained...............................1......... 112 River surveys in Androscoggin River basin............................... 113 Rangeley Lake, Maine ................................................ 113 Androscoggin River at Errol dam, N. H................................. 114 Androscoggin River at Shelburne, N. H.................................. 116 Androscoggin River at Rumford Falls, Maine............................ 117 Lake Auburn, Maine.................................................. 119 Presumpscot River......................................................... 119 General features of area drained........................................ 119 Sebago Lake,Maine................................................... 120 Presumpscot River at outlet of Sebago Lake, Maine...................... 121 Saco River................................................................. 123 General features of area drained........................................ 123 Saco River near Center Conway, N. H................................... 124 Saco River at West Buxton, Maine.................................... 125 Merrimac River............................................................ 127 General features of area drained........................................ > 127 Pemigewasset River at Plymouth, N. H................................. 128 Merrimac River at Franklin Junction, N. H.............................. 131 Merrimac River at Garvins Falls, N. H................................. 133 Merrimac River at Lawrence, Mass...................................... 135 Souhegan River at Merrimac, N. H..................................... 139 South Branch of Nashua River at Clinton, Mass......................... 141 Sudbury River at Framingham and Lake Cochituate at Cochituate, Mass.. 143 Taunton River............................................................ 145' Generarfeatures of area drained........................................ 145 Matfield River at Elmwood, Mass........................................ 146 Satucket River near Elmwood, Mass..................................... 147 Blackstone River........................................................... 148 Branch River at Branch Village, R. I.................................... 148 Woonasquatucket River..................................................... 149 Woonasquatucket River at Olneyville, R. I.............................. 150 Pawtuxet River basin...................................................... 151 Pawtuxet River at Harris, R. I........................... ,. ............ 151 CONSENTS. Pawcatuck River basin. .................................................... 152 Wood River at Hope Valley, E. I. ..................................... 152 Connecticut River. ......................................................... 153 General features of area drained. ....................................... 153 Connecticut River at Orford, N. H. .................................... 155 Connecticut River at Sunderland, Mass. ................................. 157 Passumpsic River near St. Johnsbury, Vt. .............................. 159 White River near Sharon, Vt. .......................................... 162 Ashuelot River at Hinsdale, N. H. ...................................... 165 Millers River at Wendell, Mass. .......................................... 166 Moss Brook at Wendell, Mass...... .................................... 168 Deerfield River........................................................ 171 General features of area drained ..................................... 171 Deerfield River at Hoosac Tunnel, Mass. ............................ 171 Deerfield River at Shelburne Falls, Mass. ........................... 172 Chicopee River. ...................................................... 174 General features of area drained. .................................... 174 Ware River near Ware, Mass. ....................................... 174 Swift River at West Ware, Mass... ................................ 175 Quaboag River at West Brimfield, Mass. ............................ 176 Westfield River.. .................................................... 177 Westfield River at Knightville, Mass......... ....................... 178 Middle Branch of Westfield River at Goss Heights, Mass. ............ 180 Westfield Little River near Blandford, Mass. ......................... 181 Housatonic