Westfield River

Westfield River
Agawam River (archaic)
Westfield River in Huntington ("The Main Stem")
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Region	Metropolitan Springfield
District	Hampden County, Massachusetts
Municipality	Westfield, Massachusetts
Tributaries
- right	Middle Branch, West Branch, East Branch, Main Stem
Source	North Branch Westfield River
- elevation	1,734 ft (529 m)
- coordinates	42°34′09″N 73°01′54″W / 42.56917°N 73.03167°W / 42.56917; -73.03167
Source confluence	debouch of the Swift River
- elevation	922 ft (281 m)
- coordinates	42°26′39″N 72°51′31″W / 42.44417°N 72.85861°W / 42.44417; -72.85861
Mouth	Connecticut River
- elevation	39 ft (12 m)
- coordinates	42°05′03″N 72°35′08″W / 42.08417°N 72.58556°W / 42.08417; -72.58556Coordinates: 42°05′03″N 72°35′08″W / 42.08417°N 72.58556°W / 42.08417; -72.58556
Length	78.1 mi (126 km)
Basin	517 sq mi (1,339 km2)
The Westfield River and its major tributaries.
Website: http://www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org/map.html

The Westfield River is a major tributary of the Connecticut River located in Metropolitan Springfield, Massachusetts. With four major tributary branches that converge in the City of Westfield, it flows 78.1 miles (125.7 km) before its confluence with the Connecticut River at Agawam, across from the City of Springfield's Metro Center district, and beside Six Flags New England. Known for its whitewater rapids and scenic beauty, the Westfield River provides over 50 miles (80 km) of whitewater canoeing and kayaking, in addition to one of the largest roadless wilderness areas remaining in the Commonwealth.

The Westfield River is the Connecticut River's longest tributary in Massachusetts, although the Chicopee River's basin is much larger, and contributes more water to the Connecticut. The Connecticut's northern tributary, the Deerfield River, is nearly as long as the Westfield—only 2.1 miles (3.4 km) shorter than the Westfield.

During the mid-20th Century, the Westfield River was so polluted that it would change color based on the nature of the contaminant. Today, the river is clean enough for swimming. It is a state and locally managed river featuring native trout fishing and rugged mountain scenery in the context of a historical mill town settlement (at Westfield).

On its initial discovery by Massachusetts Bay Colony explorers John Cable and John Woodcock in 1635, the area stretching from the Westfield River's confluence with the Connecticut River to Westfield itself—which, the next year, would all be encompassed in the settlement that came to be known as Springfield—was named The Agawam River, after the name of the Native American tribe then occupying the area. Historical literature often refers to the City of Springfield as sitting at the confluence of the Connecticut River with the western Agawam River and eastern Chicopee River. This Agawam River is now known as the Westfield River, and should not be confused with Agawam River in southeastern Massachusetts, which was named in tribute to Springfield's peaceful Natives.