Upper Iowa River
Encyclopedia
The Upper Iowa River is a 156 miles (251.1 km) tributary of the Mississippi River
in the upper Midwest of the United States
.
Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota
, in Mower County
(Le Roy
and Lodi
township
s) near the border with Iowa
. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard
, Winneshiek
, and Allamakee
, and finally into the Upper Mississippi River
. Along its course, it passes through the Iowa cities
of Chester
, Lime Springs, Florenceville
, Kendallville, and Decorah
. Its watershed comprises nearly 641000 acres (2,594 km²).
The Upper Iowa and its tributaries are part of the Driftless Area of Iowa, a region that was ice-free during the last ice age
. Unlike areas to the south and west, the area was not planed down by glaciation or covered in glacial drift
, with the result that there are steep, high-walled canyons that little resembles what one normally sees in Iowa rivers in the western and southern regions of the state. The lack of any serious development makes this the only river in Iowa eligible for designation as a National Wild and Scenic River
. It has not yet attained this status, partly because much of the land and the riverbottom itself are privately owned.
It is an excellent river for canoe
ing, taking paddlers through the scenic bluff
country. Many put their canoes in at Kendallville or down river from there, but some more intrepid paddlers prefer to start at Lime Springs by the Lidtke Mill
or at Florenceville.
A number of wildlife refuges and preserves dot the river's basin. Bird sightings on the river usually include bald eagle
s, great blue heron
s, turkey vulture
s, and barn swallow
s.
In April 2007, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation announced the purchase of 1224 acres (5 km²) of additional land; currently off limits to the public, stabilization and restoration work will be done to the riverbank, with removal of non-native vegetation and replanting with more appropriate species.
The Upper Iowa was sometimes historically called the "Iowa River", creating confusion with the larger Iowa River
to the south. The Upper Iowa was also called the "Oneota River", and the large number of Late Prehistoric sites along its bluffs caused the early archaeologist Charles R. Keyes
to name the Oneota Culture
for the 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...
in the upper Midwest of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, in Mower County
Mower County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
(Le Roy
Le Roy Township, Minnesota
Le Roy Township is a township in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 396 at the 2000 census. The town in the township with the largest population is Le Roy with 925 people. The township is also home to Lake Louise State Park, the only Minnesota State Park in Mower County...
and Lodi
Lodi Township, Minnesota
Lodi Township is a township in Mower County, Minnesota, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 249. The largest town contained within the township is Taopi with 93 people. The remainder of the township is unincorporated area....
township
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
s) near the border with 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...
. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard
Howard County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,566 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,367 housing units, of which 3,944 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Winneshiek
Winneshiek County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 21,056 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,721 housing units, of which 7,997 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and Allamakee
Allamakee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and finally into the Upper Mississippi River
Upper Mississippi River
The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River upstream of Cairo, Illinois, United States. From the headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, the river flows approximately 2000 kilometers to Cairo, where it is joined by the Ohio River to form the Lower Mississippi...
. Along its course, it passes through the Iowa cities
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Chester
Chester, Iowa
Chester is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 127 in the 2010 census, a decrease of 15.9% from the 151 population in the 2000 census...
, Lime Springs, Florenceville
Florenceville, Iowa
Florenceville is an unincorporated village located in Howard County, Iowa, United States. It is adjacent to the village of Granger, Minnesota.-Geography:...
, Kendallville, and Decorah
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
. Its watershed comprises nearly 641000 acres (2,594 km²).
The Upper Iowa and its tributaries are part of the Driftless Area of Iowa, a region that was ice-free during the last ice age
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
. Unlike areas to the south and west, the area was not planed down by glaciation or covered in glacial drift
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
, with the result that there are steep, high-walled canyons that little resembles what one normally sees in Iowa rivers in the western and southern regions of the state. The lack of any serious development makes this the only river in Iowa eligible for designation as a National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
. It has not yet attained this status, partly because much of the land and the riverbottom itself are privately owned.
It is an excellent river for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing, taking paddlers through the scenic bluff
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
country. Many put their canoes in at Kendallville or down river from there, but some more intrepid paddlers prefer to start at Lime Springs by the Lidtke Mill
Lidtke Mill
Lidtke Mill is a historic site on the Upper Iowa River located in the "Old Town" area of Lime Springs, Iowa. At one time, it not only milled grains but also provided hydroelectric power to surrounding communities. The footprints of a worker nearly electrocuted there can still be seen in the floor...
or at Florenceville.
A number of wildlife refuges and preserves dot the river's basin. Bird sightings on the river usually include bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s, great blue heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
s, turkey vulture
Turkey Vulture
The Turkey Vulture is a bird found throughout most of the Americas. It is also known in some North American regions as the Turkey Buzzard , and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John Crow or Carrion Crow...
s, and barn swallow
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas...
s.
In April 2007, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation announced the purchase of 1224 acres (5 km²) of additional land; currently off limits to the public, stabilization and restoration work will be done to the riverbank, with removal of non-native vegetation and replanting with more appropriate species.
The Upper Iowa was sometimes historically called the "Iowa River", creating confusion with the larger Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
to the south. The Upper Iowa was also called the "Oneota River", and the large number of Late Prehistoric sites along its bluffs caused the early archaeologist Charles R. Keyes
Charles R. Keyes
For the Iowa geologist, see Charles Rollin Keyes.Charles Reuben Keyes was a pioneering Iowa archaeologist, and linguist. He is best remembered as the founder of modern Iowa archaeology. While his early work dealt with lingusitcs, by the 1920s Keyes focused his research almost exclusively on...
to name the Oneota Culture
Oneota
Oneota is a designation archaeologists use to refer to a cultural complex that existed in the eastern plains and Great Lakes area of what is now the United States from around AD 900 to around 1650 or 1700. The culture is believed to have transitioned into various Macro-Siouan cultures of the...
for the river.
External links
- Statistics on watershed (*.pdf) (retrieved 5 April 2007)
- Water level (NOAA) (retrieved 31 March 2007)
- Watershed map (retrieved 31 March 2007)
- Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (retrieved 21 March 2007)
- Upper Iowa River Watershed Project (retrieved 31 March 2007)
- Lime Springs to French Creek Bridge *pdf format (retrieved 31 March 2007)
- Kayaking site (retrieved 31 March 2007)
- Acquisition of 1224 acres (from Waukon, Standard) (retrieved 5 April 2007)