Clam River (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
The Clam River is a tributary
of the St. Croix River
, about 50 miles long, in Northwestern Wisconsin
in the United States
. In its history, it has been known by the names Kayeskikan, Kiesca-seba, Shell River.
The North Fork of the Clam River begins as a small, intermittent stream in western Washburn County
. It flows through wetland
s west of Shell Lake
, and rapidly enlarges in size as it is fed by a number of trout
streams including Krantz Creek, the South Fork of the Clam River, Sand Creek, Spencer Creek, Indian Creek, Clam River Springs and Bass Lake Springs. The river widens noticeably after taking on Spencer Creek (Spencer Lake Springs). There are three operating dam
s on the river: one on the South Fork in the town of Clam Falls
, another at Clam Dam County Park near Webster
, and another immediately before the river joins the St. Croix. Beneath its confluence with the Clam, the St. Croix is regarded as one of Wisconsin's "big rivers".
culture can be found near the river, including burial mounds, sacred sites, and village sites (most of which are on private property). The burial mounds at Spencer and Clam Lakes have been dated to the end of the Middle Woodland Period, ca 500-700 AD.
Numerous other points of historical interest exist on or nearby the Clam River, including the old Arbuckle House and Logging Dam. This house served as a stopping place for travelers along the old Stillwater
to La Pointe
Mail Road
. Several logging dams are also known to have existed along the river, demonstrating the river’s significance as a channel of commerce during the logging
era.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
, about 50 miles long, in Northwestern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In its history, it has been known by the names Kayeskikan, Kiesca-seba, Shell River.
The North Fork of the Clam River begins as a small, intermittent stream in western Washburn County
Washburn County, Wisconsin
Washburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,036. Its county seat is Shell Lake.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. It flows through wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s west of Shell Lake
Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Shell Lake is a city in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,309 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washburn County.-Geography:Shell Lake is located at ....
, and rapidly enlarges in size as it is fed by a number of trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
streams including Krantz Creek, the South Fork of the Clam River, Sand Creek, Spencer Creek, Indian Creek, Clam River Springs and Bass Lake Springs. The river widens noticeably after taking on Spencer Creek (Spencer Lake Springs). There are three operating dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s on the river: one on the South Fork in the town of Clam Falls
Clam Falls, Wisconsin
Clam Falls is a town in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Clam Falls and Lewis are located in the town.-History:...
, another at Clam Dam County Park near Webster
Webster, Wisconsin
There are two municipalities named Webster in Wisconsin:*Webster, Burnett County, Wisconsin, a village*Webster, Vernon County, Wisconsin, a town...
, and another immediately before the river joins the St. Croix. Beneath its confluence with the Clam, the St. Croix is regarded as one of Wisconsin's "big rivers".
History
Evidence of human habitation in the vicinity of the Clam River dates back nearly 1,500 years. Several sites associated with Woodland PeriodWoodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
culture can be found near the river, including burial mounds, sacred sites, and village sites (most of which are on private property). The burial mounds at Spencer and Clam Lakes have been dated to the end of the Middle Woodland Period, ca 500-700 AD.
Numerous other points of historical interest exist on or nearby the Clam River, including the old Arbuckle House and Logging Dam. This house served as a stopping place for travelers along the old Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
to La Pointe
La Pointe, Wisconsin
La Pointe is a town in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The town includes all of the Apostle Islands. There is also an unincorporated community named La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands . The population was 246 at the 2000 census...
Mail Road
Post road
For other uses, see Post Road .A post road is a road designated for the transportation of postal mail. In past centuries only major towns had a post house, and the roads used by post riders or mail coaches to carry mail among them were particularly important ones or, due to the special attention...
. Several logging dams are also known to have existed along the river, demonstrating the river’s significance as a channel of commerce during the logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
era.
Recreation
The Clam River and some of its tributaries are listed as Class I trout streams, a category reserved by the Wisconsin DNR for “[h]igh quality trout waters that have sufficient natural reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout, at or near carry capacity”. Most of the best trout fishing can be found on public land within 5–10 miles of the headwaters. Several warmer water species can also be found in the river and the lakes and flowages it traverses. Typically, the river is navigable by canoe or kayak for most of its course, though parts of the river are prone to snags. The number of snags in the river increased greatly on July 1, 2011 when a windstorm yielding hurricane-force gusts caused extensive damage in the vicinity of the river. This storm knocked down thousands of acres of forest, and a significant number of trees fell directly into the river.See also
- List of Wisconsin rivers
- Mound builder (people)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wisconsin