Nashua River

Nashua River
Nashua River, just outside Groton, Massachusetts
Nashua River is located in Massachusetts
Nashua River
Nashua River is located in New Hampshire
Nashua River
Nashua River is located in the United States
Nashua River
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesMassachusetts, New Hampshire
CountiesMiddlesex, MA
Hillsborough, NH
Towns and citiesLancaster, Shirley, Ayer, Groton, Pepperell (MA), Hollis, Nashua (NH)
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of North Nashua River and South Nashua River
 • locationLancaster, MA
 • coordinates42°26′50″N 71°40′9″W / 42.44722°N 71.66917°W / 42.44722; -71.66917
 • elevation233 feet (71 m)
MouthMerrimack River
 • location
Nashua, NH
 • coordinates
42°45′58″N 71°26′49″W / 42.76611°N 71.44694°W / 42.76611; -71.44694
 • elevation
95 feet (29 m)
Length37.5 mi (60.4 km)
Basin size108 square miles (280 km2)
Discharge 
 • average150 cu ft/s (4.2 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSquannacook River, Nissitissit River
 • rightStill River
TypeScenic
DesignatedMarch 12, 2019[1]

The Nashua River, 37.5 miles (60.4 km) long,[2] is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, at the confluence of the North Nashua River and South Nashua River, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the Merrimack at Nashua, New Hampshire. The Nashua River watershed occupies a major portion of north-central Massachusetts and a much smaller portion of southern New Hampshire.

The North Nashua River rises west of Fitchburg and Westminster. It flows about 30 miles (48 km) generally southeast past Fitchburg, and joins the South Nashua River,[3] shown on USGS topographic maps as the main stem of the Nashua River,[4] about 5 miles (8 km) below its issuance from the Wachusett Reservoir.

  1. ^ "Explore Designated Rivers". Rivers.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed October 3, 2011
  3. ^ "Nashua River, Massachusetts & New Hampshire". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Nashua River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.