Root River (Minnesota)

Root River
The North Branch of the Root River in Olmsted County Park
The Root River in Minnesota
Native nameHokah (Dakota)
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesMinnesota
CountiesFillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
CitiesChatfield, Forestville, Hokah, Houston, Lanesboro, Rushford, Peterson, Preston, Stewartville, Whalan
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates43°48′24″N 92°10′14″W / 43.8066305°N 92.1704397°W / 43.8066305; -92.1704397 (Root River Source)
MouthMississippi River
 • coordinates
43°45′43″N 91°15′06″W / 43.7619120°N 91.2518017°W / 43.7619120; -91.2518017 (Root River Mouth)
Length80 miles (130 km)
Discharge 
 • location43°45′43″N 91°15′06″W / 43.7619°N 91.2518°W / 43.7619; -91.2518
Basin features
River systemMississippi River
Tributaries 
 • leftKinney Creek, Lynch Creek, Mill Creek, Money Creek, North Branch Root River, Raaen Creek, Rush Creek, Torkelson Creek, Trout Run
 • rightDiamond Creek (Root River tributary), Ferndale Creek, Gribben Creek, Middle Fork Root River, Partridge Creek, South Branch Root River, Rice Creek, South Fork Root River
BridgesMoen's Bridge

The Root River flows for 80 miles (130 km)[1] through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. The Root River is formed by three branches, the North, South and Middle branches of the Root River and the South Fork Root River. It is an excellent river for canoeing and fishing. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota, to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin and east of Hokah, Minnesota.

History and description

Root River is an English translation of the Dakota-language name Hokah.[2]

The Root River is formed by the merger of its North Branch Root River and Middle Fork Root River in Chatfield, Minnesota. A mile and a half north of Lanesboro, Minnesota it is joined by the South Branch Root River.[2][3][4][5] The South Fork Root River joins the Root River near Houston, Minnesota.[6][7]

The South Branch Root River rises in Mower County as agricultural drainage ditches, which disappear underground, re-emerging as a much cooler stream[8] at Mystery Cave near Preston, Minnesota. The 48°F water creates superb conditions for brook trout.[4][7]

The Root River and its tributaries lie within Minnesota's Driftless Area, a region which missed being glaciated during the last ice age, i.e., the Wisconsinian glaciation.[7]

At Houston, the Root River's discharge was 845.2 cubic feet per second in 1961.[9][10]

Fish and wildlife

Many fish species such as brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel catfish, crappies, shorthead redhorse, river redhorse, golden redhorse, silver redhorse, Longnose Sturgeon, greater redhorse, black redhorse, northern hogsuckers, and white suckers inhabit the river. The Root River system provides habitat to a number of bird species. Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles can be found in the area. Blue herons, wild turkeys, and wood ducks are also commonly seen. Numerous mammals can be spotted in the region including deer, gray fox, red fox, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and badgers.

Trail

The Root River State Trail is a 42-mile-long (68 km) trail for bicycling, hiking, skating, skiing, etc. It begins in Fountain and continues through Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and Houston.

2007 flood

As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the river rose to 19 feet (5.8 m), about a foot short of the height of the dike protecting the town of Houston.[11]

Root River by Houston, Minnesota
Looking West

Maps

Major Rivers in Southeast Minnesota
Map
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Maps: terms of use
10km
6miles
North Branch Upper Iowa River
North Branch Upper Iowa River
Little Cedar River
Little Cedar River
Little Cedar River
Cedar River
Cedar River
Cedar River
South Fork Root River
South Fork Root River
South Fork Zumbro River
South Fork Zumbro River
South Branch Root River
South Branch Root River
North Branch Root River
North Branch Root River
Middle Fork Root River
Middle Fork Root River
Root River
Root River
Root River mouth
Root River mouth
The sources of major rivers in Southeast Minnesota are indicated
The Southeast Minnesota Root River and its major tributaries

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Root River (Minnesota).

References

  1. ^ "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved Feb 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 196.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Branch Root River
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Branch Root River
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Branch Root River
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Fork Root River
  7. ^ a b c "Root River and Tributaries" (PDF). Minnesota DNR. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "South Branch Root River". Minnesota Public Radio. 1998. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  9. ^ "Search". USGS.
  10. ^ "ROOT RIVER BELOW SOUTH FORK NEAR HOUSTON, MN". USGS. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  11. ^ Meryhew, Richard; Terry Collins; Allie Shah (2007-08-20). "6 reported dead in floods in southeastern Minnesota". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-08-24.