Shepaug River | |
Name Other: | (Also called Sheppang, Sheppog, Shippang, Shippaug, and Shippoack) |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Subdivision Name1: | United States |
Subdivision Type2: | States |
Subdivision Name2: | Connecticut |
Subdivision Type4: | Towns |
Subdivision Name4: | Warren, Washington, Roxbury, Southbury |
Length: | 26miles |
Source1: | Shepaug Reservoir |
Source1 Location: | Warren, Connecticut |
Source1 Coordinates: | (41.7234°N -73.2941°W) |
Source1 Elevation: | 820feet |
Mouth: | Lake Lillinonah |
Mouth Location: | Southbury, Connecticut |
Mouth Coordinates: | (41.4693°N -73.3107°W) |
Mouth Elevation: | 197feet |
River System: | Housatonic |
Basin Size: | 45400.46acres |
Custom Label: | Gradient |
Custom Data: | 20 to 30 fpm |
The Shepaug River is a 26adj=midNaNadj=mid[1] river in western Connecticut, in the United States.
The river originates at the south end of the Shepaug Reservoir in the town of Warren. The reservoir is fed at its northern end by the West Branch Shepaug River and East Branch Shepaug River. The Shepaug runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it joins the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah dammed by the hydroelectric Shepaug Dam. The river's watershed area comprises approximately 150sqmi, which encompasses the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, Torrington, Warren, Litchfield, Washington, Morris, New Milford, Roxbury, Bridgewater, and Southbury.
The vicinity of the Shepaug River has been inhabited by humans since around 4000 B.C., though according to archaeology, there was a decline in population around 1000 B.C.[2]
The river is a primary source of drinking water for the city of Waterbury, and has been the subject of regional litigation over how much water may be removed from the river.