Mill River (Connecticut)

[2] The river is dammed in southern Hamden to form Lake Whitney, which is operated as a reservoir by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

The lower portion of the river is a fresh tidal system because of the existence of tide gates that cyclically block flow near State Street in New Haven.

English Station, an abandoned power plant, lies on Ball Island in the New Haven terminus of the river.

In 2018 a plan for protecting and restoring the Mill River Watershed was developed through collaboration between Save the Sound and Connecticut DEEP.

Within a week the broken pipe was replaced and city officials announced water samples from the river showed safe levels of bacteria.

Mill River, Hamden, Connecticut. Sleeping Giant Mountain in background.
Map showing the Mill River and other rivers draining to New Haven Harbor, with their combined watersheds.
The Mill River tide gates near State St, New Haven, at slack tide.