Editing Souhegan River

{{short description|River in New Hampshire, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Souhegan River
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Souhegan Wilton.jpg
| image_caption      = The Souhegan River in [[Wilton, NH]]
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = New Hampshire#USA
| pushpin_map_size   = 250 px
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[New Hampshire]]
| subdivision_type3  = County
| subdivision_name3  = [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough]]
| subdivision_type4  = Towns
| subdivision_name4  = [[New Ipswich, New Hampshire|New Ipswich]], [[Greenville, New Hampshire|Greenville]], [[Wilton, New Hampshire|Wilton]], [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]], [[Amherst, New Hampshire|Amherst]], [[Merrimack, New Hampshire|Merrimack]]
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|33.8|mi|km|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Confluence of [[West Branch Souhegan River|West Branch]] and [[South Branch Souhegan River|South Branch]]
| source1_location   = [[New Ipswich, New Hampshire|New Ipswich]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|42|43|52|N|71|50|47|W|type:river|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|927|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Merrimack River]]
| mouth_location     = [[Merrimack, New Hampshire|Merrimack]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|42|51|41|N|71|29|14|W|type:river|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|95|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = Blood Brook, [[Stony Brook (Souhegan River tributary)|Stony Brook]], [[Purgatory Brook]], Beaver Brook, [[Baboosic Brook]]
| tributaries_right  = Tucker Brook, Great Brook
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Souhegan River''' is a tributary of the [[Merrimack River]] in the northeastern United States. It is {{Convert|33.8|mi}} long,<ref>[http://www.granit.unh.edu New Hampshire GRANIT state geographic information system]</ref> with a drainage area of {{convert|171|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, and flows north and east through southern [[New Hampshire]] to the Merrimack River. The river begins in [[New Ipswich, New Hampshire]], at the junction of the river's [[South Branch Souhegan River|South Branch]] and [[West Branch Souhegan River|West Branch]]. Flowing northeast, it passes through the center of [[Greenville, New Hampshire|Greenville]] and descends through a narrow valley to [[Wilton, New Hampshire|Wilton]], where it turns east.  The river valley broadens below Wilton, and the river passes through the center of [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]], crosses the southern portion of [[Amherst, New Hampshire|Amherst]], and enters the town of [[Merrimack, New Hampshire|Merrimack]].  Shortly upstream of the town center, the river passes over Wildcat Falls, then crosses under the [[Everett Turnpike]] and [[U.S. Route 3]] to reach the Merrimack River.

The river is used for [[water supply|water supplies]], a small amount of [[hydropower]], and recreation. There are 28 threatened or [[endangered species]] sharing the [[drainage basin|watershed]] with 35,000 people. It is part of the New Hampshire Rivers Management Protection Program.

It was one of two rivers studied by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to reach data and recommendations about allowable "instream flow".<ref>[http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/rivers/instream/souhegan/study_task5.htm NHDES Souhegan River instream flow study]</ref>

== Etymology==
The name "Souhegan" comes from the language of the Native American [[Algonquin language|Algonquins]], meaning "waiting and watching place".  Tribal fishermen set [[Fishing weir|weirs]] across the [[rapids]], and then waited and watched for fish, including [[salmon]], [[alewives]], [[sturgeon]], and [[eel]]s.

[[Souhegan High School]], which serves the towns of Amherst and [[Mont Vernon, New Hampshire|Mont Vernon]], is named after the river.

The name of [[Skowhegan, Maine]], comes from the same term.

==See also==
{{portal|New Hampshire}}
* [[List of rivers of New Hampshire]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.souheganriver.org/ Souhegan Watershed Association]
* [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01094000 Souhegan River river gauge]—[[United States Geological Survey]]
* [https://guidesly.com/fishing/waterbodies/Souhegan-River-New-Hampshire River entry at Guidesly.com]
[[File:Souhegan River, Milford, NH.jpg|thumb|left|The Souhegan in Milford, New Hampshire (1906)]]

{{Merrimack River}}
{{Rivers of New Hampshire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rivers of New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Merrimack River]]
[[Category:New Hampshire placenames of Native American origin]]