Paleoindians hunted and lived in the watershed 10,000 years ago. The oldest documented site is in Moretown along the Mad River. The land back then was much like the Arctic tundra. Hunters tracked caribou, wooly mammoths and mastodons.

Around 1400AD, Abenaki Indians cleared trees along the Winooski River in the Intervale near Burlington. There is archeological evidence showing that maize (corn) was being planted at that time. The Abenakis named the river for the wild onions growing along its banks.

"Winooskik" was the name of an Abenaki band and village that was located near the mouth of the Winooski River.

Samuel de Champlain led the French into the area in 1609. They cut lumber along the Winooski's banks but did not settle here until 150 years later. During the hostilities between natives and Europeans (1660's to 1790's), the Winooski River was a "water highway" to the Connecticut River and to English colonies to the south. Champlain remarked in his diary at the extensive cornfields growing at the mouths of rivers on the east side of Lake Champlain, the Winooski River being one of them.

After the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars ended, the Allen brothers formed the Onion River Land Company and land speculation flourished. Ira Allen built sawmills, a forge and a gristmill powered by the Winooski Falls in what is now the City of Winooski. The Allens' land investments led to the development of Burlington and several other towns along the main branch of the Winooski River and its tributaries.

Waterpower from the Winooski River and its tributaries was the only source of power in the early 1800's. Machine and granite works, along with sash, blind, box, furniture, shoe, butter and cheese factories popped up along rivers and streams. Saw, grist, cotton, woolen and paper mills flourished in most towns in the watershed.

The first cotton mill was established in Montpelier in 1810. A woolen mill was built on the North Branch in 1820. The Champlain Mill in Winooski was built in 1912 and produced worsted (twisted yarn) dress goods.

Prior to the Civil War, sheep grazed the hillsides and streambanks. The watershed was only 20% forested. Merino sheep outnumbered people six to one. After the war, the railroads came and travel on waterways declined.

In the early 1800's, plans were drawn up for the "Onion River Navigation and Tow Path Company" to build a 100-mile canal from Lake Champlain to the Connecticut River. Plans were abandoned with the coming of the railroad.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Winooski River Valley became a large producer and exporter of butter and cheese for the Boston market. In the 1920's the dairy industry moved to fluid milk production.

Since the completion of Interstate 89, agricultural land use in the watershed has declined. Between 1987 and 1997, farmland in Washington County decreased by 21%. In Chittenden County the decrease was 10%.

In 1929, Chittenden County had 19 milk plants and 15 cream plants. Today there are five milk plants in the entire watershed.

We travel on highways now, not rivers. Over the centuries we have distanced ourselves from our early connection with the rivers and streams of our watershed. It's easy to forget that most of the sites for our towns and cities were chosen because they were on waterways.

Recreation is now our most visible connection with our waters.

This huge water supply - our watershed - falls into the background of most of our lives until there is a flood or a need for a water filtration plant. Did a drought affect your well? Has your driveway washed out lately? Any water in your basement? Maybe the Winooski River drainage basin is a bigger part of your life than you realize.