York River Watershed
Ridge Brook drains a large forested wetland between Cutts Road and Wilson Road in the northern part of Kittery. The brook flows north through an emergent wetland that has been converted to farmland. It crosses into Eliot through a natural marsh, which borders a large junk car lot.
Libby Brook begins near the northbound rest stop on the turnpike. It crosses under the highway and runs through a half mile of dense forest until it enters York.
Johnson Brook drains an emergent wetland on Kittery’s border with York near Route 1. There is little development bordering the wetland.
Spruce Creek Watershed
Wilson Creek begins as two small streams run south on either side of Route 1 where it meets Cutts Road. This area is heavily developed; the Kittery Trading Post and outlet stores are nearby, as well as a large trailer park. The two streams converge and run for a tenth of a mile before joining Spruce Creek.
Spruce Creek flows into Kittery through a farm field west of Wilson Road. It crosses several more farms as it weaves through scattered stands of trees. Turning east, the creek passes under a bridge on a small dirt road where it begins to transition from fresh to salt water. Spruce Creek begins to widen where it flows under Picott Road and becomes more influenced by tides. The creek passes the turnpike and Route 1 and broadens greatly as it begins to form its estuary. The estuary is bordered by development on all sides, with lawns and pavement right down to the shore. Finally, Spruce Creek flows past Kittery Point and then empties into Portsmouth Harbor.
Southside Drainages
Cutts Pond and Deerings Pond are fed by several scattered wetlands west of Brave Boat Harbor Road. They are both only a few acres in size and bordered by scattered development. The two ponds are drained by small brooks that run south across Pepperell Road and empty into Pepperell Cove.
There are multiple small streams that flow into Brave Boat Harbor. These streams meet the incoming tide and form a large tidal marsh area on Kittery’s border with York. There is very sparse development around the marsh, a large portion of which is managed by the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
Piscataqua River Watershed
Legion Pond is located between Route 1 and State Road. It is 4.5 acres in size and is surrounded by development. A small stream empties the pond on its south shore and flows west through a marsh and into the Piscataqua River.
Kittery Club Pond is situated along Martin Road. It is only 1.5 acres in size and is bordered by the road on the north shore and a stand of deciduous trees on the south shore. A small stream runs out of the pond through the trees. It runs into the backyards of a few homes on Dennett Road where it crosses into another small woodland and empties into Spinney Creek Pond.
Spinney Creek Pond is a 127 acre freshwater impoundment that is separated from the Piscataqua River by Eliot Road. It is fed by Spinney Creek which drains a small wetland area 500 feet inland. The shores of Spinney Creek Pond are highly developed on the Eliot and Kittery sides.
By the time it reaches Kittery, the Piscataqua River is a wide marine channel that forms the border of Kittery and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There is extremely heavy development along the shoreline with salt marshes and clam flats scattered among numerous wharves and piers. The most significant development is the Navy Shipyard which dominates a Seavey Island in the middle of the river. The Piscataqua River flows around the island and passed Pepperell cove where it empties into the Gulf of Maine.
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