Piscataquog River
The Piscataquog River is a 34.7-mile-long (55.8 km)[1] river located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Gulf of Maine.
| Piscataquog River | |
|---|---|
 Everett Lake and Dam on the Piscataquog River in Weare, NH | |
   | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Towns and city | Deering, Weare, New Boston, Goffstown, Manchester |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Deering Reservoir |
| • location | Deering |
| • coordinates | 43°3′9″N 71°50′23″W |
| • elevation | 913 ft (278 m) |
| Mouth | Merrimack River |
• location | Manchester |
• coordinates | 42°58′35″N 71°28′16″W |
• elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Length | 34.7 mi (55.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Dudley Brook, Choate Brook, Stark Brook, Gorham Brook |
| • right | Center Brook, South Branch Piscataquog River, Bog Brook |
The Piscataquog River begins at the outlet of Deering Reservoir, a lake in Deering, New Hampshire. The river takes a winding course north, then east, then south, then east again through Hillsborough County to reach the Merrimack River in Manchester. On its way, it passes through the town of Weare, where it is impounded in two reservoirs — Weare Reservoir (or "Lake Horace") and Everett Lake. Everett Lake is part of the watershed-spanning Hopkinton-Everett flood control reservoir — a canal crossing the drainage divide connects Everett Lake to Hopkinton Reservoir, which impounds the Contoocook River.
The Piscataquog proceeds south from the Everett Dam along the eastern side of Weare, entering Goffstown shortly before the river's junction with the South Branch, the Piscataquog's largest tributary. From Goffstown to the river's mouth there are two small reservoirs and several additional dams, each constructed for hydroelectric power or older industrial development. In west Manchester, the Piscataquog passes under the Nazaire Biron Bridge and reaches the Merrimack River just upstream of the Queen City Bridge.