Story Archives of 'rivers'

The first in a series of Merrimack River Minutes.

Tonight on The Front Porch, We’ll take a look at two local rivers and the lives of the people they impact.

The Epsom community is faced with what to do with the Suncook River now that it has straightened out and gone off of its man-made course, impacting businesses and wildlife along the way. Some say the river should keep its new, natural path, while others want it moved back to the way it was. We'll talk with Wildlife Biologist Eric Orff about the situation. He's the vice chair of the group New Hampshire Friends of the Suncook River.

We'll also talk with writer Charles Fish about his new book, In the Land of the Wild Onion: Travels Along Vermont's Winooski River. Fish takes us down the Green Mountain State's second-largest river and uses it to show just how interconnected the ecosystem is. He uses his book to examine the river not only through his own eyes, but through those of scientists, farmers, trappers and power plant operators.

The National Guard is asking the curious to stay clear of the Merrimack River in Manchester.

The river is expected to crest there later this afternoon.

NHPR Correspondent Debra Daigle is on the scene.

A journey down the 400 plus miles of the Connecticut River takes you not only through four New England states, but through a swath of history. Find out how the river helped develop New Hampshire, from the early days of the settlers through modern times. Laura's guest is Michael Tougias, lecturer and author of fifteen books about New England's history and outdoors. He is also a syndicated columnist for a number of newspapers, including the Springfield Union and the Taunton Gazette.

But first we'll check in with Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff about the economy, about security and about the President's campaign

The Connecticut River is New England's dominant waterway and drains much of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. For five centuries its natural beauty and rich history have inspired an enormously diverse array of writers. A major transportation artery and power source, the Connecticut has been the main avenue for colonial settlements, Indian raids and border conflicts, as well as historic floods and hurricanes, epic log drives, farms and industries, sport and quiet reflection. Upper Valley resident, writer, and avid fisherman W.D. Wetherell has complied and edited This American River, a collection of writings about the Connecticut from writers such as Henry David Thoreau, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Sylvia Plath, and Bill McKibben. He calls the river the heart of New England.