Shepaug River

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Shepaug River

| name_native =

| name_native_lang =

| name_other = (Also called Sheppang, Sheppog, Shippang,
Shippaug, and Shippoack)

| name_etymology =

| image = Roxbury Falls 073.JPG

| image_caption = Roxbury Falls on the Shepaug River

{{Location map+ |embed=yes

| Connecticut

| relief = 1

| caption = Source and mouth of Shepaug River in Connecticut

| width = 300

| places =

{{Location map~ | Connecticut

| label = Source

| position = right

| mark = Red pog.svg

| marksize = 4

| link =

| lat_deg = 41.723354

| lon_deg = -73.294079

}}

{{Location map~ | Connecticut

| label = Mouth

| position = left

| mark = Blue pog.svg

| marksize = 4

| link =

| lat_deg = 41.4692620

| lon_deg = -73.3106729

}}

}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United States

| subdivision_type2 = States

| subdivision_name2 = Connecticut

| subdivision_type3 =

| subdivision_name3 =

| subdivision_type4 = Towns

| subdivision_name4 = Warren, Washington, Roxbury, Southbury

| subdivision_type5 =

| subdivision_name5 =

| length = {{convert|26|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max = {{convert|30|ft}}

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location=

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg =

| discharge1_max =

| source1 = Shepaug Reservoir

| source1_location = Warren, Connecticut

| source1_coordinates= ({{coord|41.723354|-73.294079|format=dms}})

| source1_elevation = {{convert|820|ft|abbr=on}} {{cite gnis|210808|Shepaug Reservoir

}}

| mouth = Lake Lillinonah

| mouth_location = Southbury, Connecticut

| mouth_coordinates = ({{coord|41.4692620|-73.3106729|format=dms}})

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|197|ft|abbr=on}} {{cite gnis|210809|Shepaug River}}

| progression =

| river_system = Housatonic

| basin_size = {{convert|45,400.46|acre|abbr=on}}

| tributaries_left =

| tributaries_right =

| custom_label = Gradient

| custom_data = 20 to 30 fpm

| extra =

}}

The Shepaug River is a {{convert|26.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed April 1, 2011 river in western Connecticut, in the United States.

The river originates at the south end of the Shepaug Reservoir in the town of Warren. The reservoir is fed at its northern end by the West Branch Shepaug River and East Branch Shepaug River. The Shepaug runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it joins the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah ({{Coord|41.5102|-73.3190|display=inline}}) dammed by the hydroelectric Shepaug Dam. The river's watershed area comprises approximately {{convert|150|sqmi|km2}}, which encompasses the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, Torrington, Warren, Litchfield, Washington, Morris, New Milford, Roxbury, Bridgewater, and Southbury.

The vicinity of the Shepaug River has been inhabited by humans since around 4000 B.C., though according to archaeology, there was a decline in population around 1000 B.C.{{cite book |title=Now That the Buffalo's Gone |last=Josephy |first=Alvin M. Jr.|year=1984 |isbn=0-8061-1915-2 |page=34}}

The river is a primary source of drinking water for the city of Waterbury, and has been the subject of regional litigation over how much water may be removed from the river.