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.
Root River
The North Branch of the Root River in Olmsted County Park
Kinney Creek, Lynch Creek, Mill Creek, Money Creek, North Branch Root River, Raaen Creek, Rush Creek, Torkelson Creek, Trout Run
• right
Diamond Creek (Root River tributary), Ferndale Creek, Gribben Creek, Middle Fork Root River, Partridge Creek, South Branch Root River, Rice Creek, South Fork Root River
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]
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]
Maps
Major Rivers in Southeast Minnesota
Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues.
^"ROOT RIVER BELOW SOUTH FORK NEAR HOUSTON, MN". USGS. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
^Meryhew, Richard; Terry Collins; Allie Shah (2007-08-20). . Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
External links
Minnesota DNR canoeing guide for the Root River
Minnesota DNR trail guide for the Root River State Trail.
May 04, 2023
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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 Root RiverThe North Branch of the Root River in Olmsted County ParkThe Root River in MinnesotaNative nameHokah Dakota LocationCountryUnited StatesStatesMinnesotaCountiesFillmore Houston Mower Olmsted WinonaCitiesChatfield Forestville Hokah Houston Lanesboro Minnesota Rushford Peterson Preston Stewartville WhalanPhysical characteristicsSource coordinates43 48 24 N 92 10 14 W 43 8066305 N 92 1704397 W 43 8066305 92 1704397 Root River Source MouthMississippi River coordinates43 45 43 N 91 15 06 W 43 7619120 N 91 2518017 W 43 7619120 91 2518017 Root River Mouth 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 2518Basin featuresRiver systemMississippi RiverTributaries 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 RiverBridgesMoen s Bridge Contents 1 History and description 2 Fish and wildlife 3 Trail 4 2007 flood 5 Maps 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory and description EditRoot 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 EditMany 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 EditThe 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 EditAs 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 Maps EditMajor Rivers in Southeast Minnesota Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues Interactive fullscreen map The sources of major rivers in Southeast Minnesota are indicated The Southeast Minnesota Root River and its major tributariesSee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Root River Minnesota List of Minnesota rivers List of longest streams of MinnesotaReferences Edit The National Map U S Geological Survey Retrieved Feb 9 2011 a b Upham Warren 1920 Minnesota Geographic Names Their Origin and Historic Significance Minnesota Historical Society p 196 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System North Branch Root River a b U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System South Branch Root River U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Middle Branch Root River U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System South Fork Root River a b c Root River and Tributaries PDF Minnesota DNR Retrieved March 24 2021 South Branch Root River Minnesota Public Radio 1998 Retrieved July 21 2007 Search USGS ROOT RIVER BELOW SOUTH FORK NEAR HOUSTON MN USGS Retrieved March 24 2021 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 External links EditMinnesota DNR canoeing guide for the Root River Minnesota DNR trail guide for the Root River State Trail Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Root River Minnesota amp oldid 1072593785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
