Raccoon River
Encyclopedia
The Raccoon River is a 30.8 miles (49.6 km) tributary
of the Des Moines River
in central Iowa
in the United States
. As measured using the longest of its three forks, its length increases to 226 miles (363.7 km). Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
.
During the Great Flood of 1993
, the Raccoon River flooded the water treatment
facility of Des Moines, shutting off the city's supply of drinking water.
The north and south forks join in Dallas County just west of Van Meter
, and the Raccoon River flows generally eastwardly into Polk County
, past Walnut Woods State Park
and West Des Moines
. It joins the Des Moines River just south of downtown Des Moines.
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 Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
in central Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As measured using the longest of its three forks, its length increases to 226 miles (363.7 km). Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
During the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
, the Raccoon River flooded the water treatment
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
facility of Des Moines, shutting off the city's supply of drinking water.
Course
The Raccoon River flows for much of its length as three streams:- The North Raccoon River is, by far, the longest of the three, at 196 miles (315.4 km). It rises north of MarathonMarathon, IowaMarathon is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 302 at the 2000 census. The food writer Richard Olney grew up in Marathon.-Geography:Marathon is located at ....
in northeastern Buena Vista CountyBuena Vista County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and initially flows southwardly into Sac CountySac County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,350 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,429 housing units, of which 4,482 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, where it turns southeastward for the remainder of its course through CalhounCalhoun County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,867 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,108 housing units, of which 4,242 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, CarrollCarroll County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,816 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,376 housing units, of which 8,683 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, GreeneGreene County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and DallasDallas County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 66,135 in the county, with a population density of . There were 27,260 housing units, of which 25,240 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties. It passes the towns of Sac CitySac City, IowaSac City is a city in and the county seat of Sac County, Iowa, United States, located in the rolling hills along the valley of the North Raccoon River, in one of America's prime agricultural regions. U.S. Route 20 bisects the city, forming its Main Street, and the city is one of 45 designated Main...
, JeffersonJefferson, IowaJefferson is a city in Greene County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is...
, PerryPerry, IowaPerry is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 7,633 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and AdelAdel, IowaAdel is a city along the North Raccoon River in Dallas County in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,435 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dallas County and the birthplace of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick....
. The Adel Island dam in Adel is the only dam along its course. - The Middle Raccoon River, 92 miles (148.1 km) long, rises in northwestern Carroll County and flows generally southeastwardly through Guthrie and Dallas counties, past CarrollCarroll, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,103 in the city, with a population density of . There were 4,698 housing units, of which 4,357 were occupied....
, Coon RapidsCoon Rapids, IowaCoon Rapids is a city in Carroll and Guthrie counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,305 at the 2010 census unchanged from the 2000 census. The small portion of Coon Rapids that lies in Guthrie County is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical...
, Springbrook State ParkSpringbrook State ParkSpringbrook State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located approximately west of the city of Yale. The park contains a spring-fed lake and timber-covered rolling hills along the Middle Raccoon River.-Background:...
, PanoraPanora, IowaPanora is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, LindenLinden, IowaLinden is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 226 at the 2000 census and 199 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and RedfieldRedfield, IowaRedfield is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States, along the Middle Raccoon River. The population was 833 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The three dams located along its course are the Lake Panorama dam and the Lennon Mill dam at Panora, and the Redfield dam at Redfield. Even though the Lake Panorama dam, completed in 1970, was built for recreational purposes only, it has provided some additional benefits by controlling flooding along the Middle Raccoon River. The Middle Raccoon River flows into the South Raccoon River about 1 miles (1.6 km) south of Redfield. - The South Raccoon River, about 72 miles (115.9 km) long, rises in northeastern Audubon CountyAudubon County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,119 in the county, with a population density of . There were 2,972 housing units, of which 2,617 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and flows generally southeastwardly through GuthrieGuthrie County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,954 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,756 housing units, of which 4,544 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Dallas counties, past the town of Guthrie CenterGuthrie Center, IowaGuthrie Center is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States, along the South Raccoon River. The population was 1,668 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Guthrie County....
. South of Redfield, after the Middle Raccoon River flows into the South Raccoon River, a flow gage operated jointly by the United States Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of EngineersThe United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
(Rock Island District), the United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(Iowa District), and the Iowa Department of TransportationIowa Department of TransportationIn the U.S. state of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation is the state government organization responsible for the organization, construction, and maintenance of the primary highway system...
provides data about potential flooding threats.
The north and south forks join in Dallas County just west of Van Meter
Van Meter, Iowa
Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, along the Raccoon River. The population was 866 at the 2000 census and is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and the Raccoon River flows generally eastwardly into Polk County
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
, past Walnut Woods State Park
Walnut Woods State Park
Walnut Woods State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located in suburban West Des Moines. Within the Des Moines metropolitan area, the park preserves a bottomland hardwood forest featuring the largest natural stand of black walnut trees in North America. The Raccoon River meanders through the ...
and West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
. It joins the Des Moines River just south of downtown Des Moines.
Sources
- Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry
- DeLormeDeLormeDeLorme is a major vendor of business-to-business and consumer mapping and GPS products and technologies. It is based in Yarmouth, Maine, United States....
(1998). Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-214-5. - GNIS entries for , , ,
External links
- Map of Raccoon River basin - Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website
- South Raccoon River gage near Redfield - US Army Corps of Engineers website
- North Raccoon River at Perry - National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website
- Middle Raccoon River at Panora - NOAA website
- South Raccoon River at Redfield - NOAA website
- Raccoon River at Van Meter - NOAA website
- Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Drive - NOAA website