Tributaries and Subwatersheds

The Winooski River watershed drains approximately 1,080 square miles in central Vermont, encompassing all of Washington County, about half of Chittenden County, and portions of Lamoille and Orange Counties. The river has seven major tributaries: Little River, North Branch and Kingsbury Branch enter from the north and the Huntington River, Mad River, Dog River and Stevens Branch enter from the south.

Click here to look at a great map of the whole watershed and its many subwatersheds. 

The Winooski River's main stem originates in Coits Pond in Cabot, so we refer to the subwatershed covering much of Cabot, Marshfield, and Plainfield as the Headwaters. The Headwaters Community Partnership has been monitoring water quality and planting trees throughout their community for more than a decade. 

Kingsbury Branch begins in Woodbury, flows through Calais, and enters the Winooski River in East Montpelier. It is 12 miles long and has a watershed area of 34,500 acres.

Stevens Branch begins in Williamstown, flows through Barre, and enters the Winooski River in Berlin. It is 13 miles long and has a watershed area of 82,800 acres. The Jail Branch begins in the town of Washington, flows through the town of Orange and enters the Stevens Branch in Barre. It is 16 miles long and passes through a retention dam built after the 1927 flood. The watershed area is 31,050 acres.

North Branch begins in Elmore and flows through Worcester, Middlesex, and East Montpelier and enters the Winooski River in Montpelier. It is 18 miles long and passes through a retention dam built after the 1927 flood. It has a watershed area of 48,300 acres.

Dog River begins in Roxbury, flows through Northfield, and enters the Winooski River in Berlin. It is 18 miles long and has a watershed area of 60,030 acres. The Mad/Dog chapter of Trout Unlimited is active in this subwatershed, and an important partner in restoring the health of this river system. Norwich University also coordinates the Dog River Conservancy, a research, education, and outreach program. 

Mad River begins in Granville, flows through Warren and Waitsfield and enters the Winooski River in Moretown. It is 26 miles long and has a watershed area of 91,080 acres. Friends of the Mad River have been doing amazing work in this subwatershed for more than 30 years!

Little River begins in Morristown, flows through Stowe and enters the Winooski River in Waterbury. 15 miles long and passes through a retention dam built after the 1927 flood. It has a watershed area of 71,070 acres.

Huntington River begins in Fayston, flows through Buel’s Gore, Starksboro, Huntington, and enters the Winooski River in Richmond. It is 20 miles long and has a watershed area of 43, 470 acres.

The Lower Tributaries include Mill Brook, which flows through Jericho. It is 9.5 miles long and has a watershed area of 10,350 acres. Muddy Brook outlets from Shelburne Pond, flowing through Shelburne, South Burlington and Williston to the Winooski River. It is 5.5 miles and has a watershed area of 16, 560 acres. Allen Brook flows through Williston. It is 10 miles long and has a watershed area of 6,900 acres. Alder Brook flows through the town of Essex. It is 10 miles long and has a watershed area of 6,762 acres.