The Souris River (/ˈsʊərɪs/; French: rivière Souris) or Mouse River (as it is alternatively known in the U.S., a calque of its French name) is a river in central North America. Approximately 435 miles (700 km) in length, it drains about 23,600 square miles (61,100 km2) in Canada and the United States.
Rising in southern Saskatchewan in the Yellow Grass Marshes north of Weyburn, the river wanders southeast into the U.S. through North Dakota beyond Minot to its most southern point at Velva, and then back north into Canada in southwestern Manitoba.
Flowing east, it passes through the communities of Melita, Hartney, Souris, and Wawanesa prior to the confluence with the Assiniboine River near Treesbank, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Brandon. The main tributaries of the Souris in Manitoba are the Antler River, Gainsborough Creek, and Plum Creek. The elevation at the confluence is approximately 1,120 feet (340 m) above sea level.
At the end of the last ice age, over 10,000 years ago, the rapid draining of former Glacial Lake Regina eroded a large channel that is now occupied by the much smaller contemporary Souris River.[3] Also, much of the drainage basin is fertile silt and clay deposited by another former glacial lake, Lake Souris.
During the period from 1930 to 1941 severe drought conditions prevailed and PFRA constructed four stock watering dams. In 1937 the Snyder and Ross Dams were built near Melita. In 1938 the Napinka Dam was built and the Hartney Dam was built in 1941. These were all stop log dams with a total capacity of 2,400 acre-feet (3,000,000 m3). The Souris Dam was originally built in 1911 and was rebuilt in 1935. The Wawanesa Dam was completed in 1951 storing about 320 acre-feet (390,000 m3) of water.
Most of the annual flow of the Souris River comes from snow melt and spring rains. The annual flow volume varies dramatically from 3,400 acre-feet (4,200,000 m3) in 1937 to 2,100,000 acre-feet (2.6 km3) in 1976. It is expected that the total runoff for 2011 at Wawanesa will exceed 3,800,000 acre-feet (4.7 km3) about a one in 500-year event. The average annual runoff is equivalent to 3 mm over the entire Souris River watershed.[4]
Two large dams in Saskatchewan, Rafferty Dam and Grant Devine Dam were built, in part, to reduce flood peaks on the Souris River.
In summer 2011, a historic flood affected much of the Souris River basin, overtopping levees and causing the evacuation of about 11,000 residents in Minot as well as significant damage to farmland and other property along the length of the river.
The channel capacity of the river in Manitoba varies from about 150 cubic feet per second (4.2 m3/s) near the border, to about 1,400 cu ft/s (40 m3/s) through Melita, to about 1,100 cu ft/s (31 m3/s) near Lauder and 1,700 cu ft/s (48 m3/s) near Hartney. North of Hartney the capacity increases to more than 3,000 cu ft/s (85 m3/s). The drop between the border and Hartney is only about six inches per mile (9.5 cm/km).
^Rannie, William .F. (2002). B.D. Thraves (ed.). "The Role of the Assiniboine River in the 1826 and 1852 Red River Floods" (PDF). Prairie Perspectives: Geographical Essays. Regina: University of Regina, Department of Geography. 5: 56–75.
^Eugene F. Kozera, P. Eng. (2011). "Recent Flooding and Flood Mitigation in Manitoba" (PDF). Province of Manitoba.
^"Water Survey of Canada - SOURIS RIVER AT MELITA (05NF001)". Environment Canada.
^"Water Survey of Canada - SOURIS RIVER AT WAWANESA (05NG001)". Environment Canada.
^"Daily Water Levels and Forecasts Souris River May 23, 2011" (PDF). Province of Manitoba. 2011.
^"Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan - Preliminary Engineering Report" (PDF). North Dakota State Water Commission. February 29, 2012.
^"2011 Post-Flood Report for the Souris River Basin – Revised March 2012" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District. March 2012.
^"Daily Flood Sheet Souris River July 12, 2014" (PDF). Province of Manitoba. 2014.
Media related to Souris River at Wikimedia Commons
USGS Canoeing Information
West Souris River Conservation District
Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
April 11, 2023
souris, river, souris, valley, redirects, here, rural, municipality, saskatchewan, rural, municipality, souris, valley, ʊər, french, rivière, souris, mouse, river, alternatively, known, calque, french, name, river, central, north, america, approximately, miles. Souris Valley redirects here For the rural municipality in Saskatchewan see Rural Municipality of Souris Valley No 7 The Souris River ˈ s ʊer ɪ s French riviere Souris or Mouse River as it is alternatively known in the U S a calque of its French name is a river in central North America Approximately 435 miles 700 km in length it drains about 23 600 square miles 61 100 km2 in Canada and the United States Souris RiverMouse River Riviere SourisThe river in the town of Souris ManitobaThe Red River drainage basin with the Souris River highlightedLocationCountriesCanadaUnited StatesProvincesManitobaSaskatchewanStateNorth DakotaCitiesMinot NDSouris MBWeyburn SKMelita MBPhysical characteristicsSourcenorth of Weyburn locationSaskatchewan coordinates49 49 53 N 103 47 46 W 49 83139 N 103 79611 W 49 83139 103 79611MouthAssiniboine River locationManitoba Canada coordinates49 39 54 N 99 34 07 W 49 66500 N 99 56861 W 49 66500 99 56861 Coordinates 49 39 54 N 99 34 07 W 49 66500 N 99 56861 W 49 66500 99 56861Length435 mi 700 km Basin size23 600 sq mi 61 000 km2 Discharge locationWeyburn SK river mile 97 9 river kilometre 157 6 Basin featuresRiver systemRed River drainage basinTributaries leftAntler rightGainsborough 1 2 Saskatchewan Highway 9 in the upper Souris River Valley Rising in southern Saskatchewan in the Yellow Grass Marshes north of Weyburn the river wanders southeast into the U S through North Dakota beyond Minot to its most southern point at Velva and then back north into Canada in southwestern Manitoba Flowing east it passes through the communities of Melita Hartney Souris and Wawanesa prior to the confluence with the Assiniboine River near Treesbank about 25 miles 40 km southeast of Brandon The main tributaries of the Souris in Manitoba are the Antler River Gainsborough Creek and Plum Creek The elevation at the confluence is approximately 1 120 feet 340 m above sea level At the end of the last ice age over 10 000 years ago the rapid draining of former Glacial Lake Regina eroded a large channel that is now occupied by the much smaller contemporary Souris River 3 Also much of the drainage basin is fertile silt and clay deposited by another former glacial lake Lake Souris Contents 1 Flow rates and flood potential 2 Tributaries 3 Cities along the river 4 Rural Municipalities along the river 5 Bridges across the river 6 Fish species 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksFlow rates and flood potential EditDuring the period from 1930 to 1941 severe drought conditions prevailed and PFRA constructed four stock watering dams In 1937 the Snyder and Ross Dams were built near Melita In 1938 the Napinka Dam was built and the Hartney Dam was built in 1941 These were all stop log dams with a total capacity of 2 400 acre feet 3 000 000 m3 The Souris Dam was originally built in 1911 and was rebuilt in 1935 The Wawanesa Dam was completed in 1951 storing about 320 acre feet 390 000 m3 of water Most of the annual flow of the Souris River comes from snow melt and spring rains The annual flow volume varies dramatically from 3 400 acre feet 4 200 000 m3 in 1937 to 2 100 000 acre feet 2 6 km3 in 1976 It is expected that the total runoff for 2011 at Wawanesa will exceed 3 800 000 acre feet 4 7 km3 about a one in 500 year event The average annual runoff is equivalent to 3 mm over the entire Souris River watershed 4 Two large dams in Saskatchewan Rafferty Dam and Grant Devine Dam were built in part to reduce flood peaks on the Souris River In summer 2011 a historic flood affected much of the Souris River basin overtopping levees and causing the evacuation of about 11 000 residents in Minot as well as significant damage to farmland and other property along the length of the river The channel capacity of the river in Manitoba varies from about 150 cubic feet per second 4 2 m3 s near the border to about 1 400 cu ft s 40 m3 s through Melita to about 1 100 cu ft s 31 m3 s near Lauder and 1 700 cu ft s 48 m3 s near Hartney North of Hartney the capacity increases to more than 3 000 cu ft s 85 m3 s The drop between the border and Hartney is only about six inches per mile 9 5 cm km Location 1882 Peak Flow cfs Estimated 5 6 7 8 1976 Peak Flow cfs 9 2011 Peak Flow cfs 10 11 12 Minot 22 813 3 13 9 350 26 900Westhope 18 500 14 12 400 30 400Melita 30 017 5 15 21 300 26 800Souris N A 24 800 28 200Wawanesa 39 905 6 16 26 200 27 800Tributaries Edit Grant Devine Dam and Reservoir on Moose Mountain Creek Long Creek Short Creek Moose Mountain Creek Des Lacs River Livingston Creek Wintering River Deep River Little Deep Creek Spring Coulee Cut Bank Creek North Dakota North Lake Egg Creek Hay Coulee Buffalo Lodge Lake South Egg Creek Willow Creek Snake Creek North Dakota Oak Creek Ox Creek Wolf Creek Plum Creek Manitoba a river that drains Plum Lakes and Oak Lake Manitoba into the Souris River Stony Creek flows into Maple Lake which drains into Plum Lakes Pipestone Creek Saskatchewan flows into Oak Lake Little Pipestone Creek Montgomery Creek Jackson Creek Graham Creek Boundary Creek North Dakota Antler River Gainsborough CreekCities along the river EditWeyburn Saskatchewan Estevan Saskatchewan Roche Percee Saskatchewan Oxbow Saskatchewan Burlington North Dakota Minot North Dakota Velva North Dakota Towner North Dakota Westhope North Dakota Melita Manitoba Souris Manitoba Wawanesa ManitobaRural Municipalities along the river EditSouris Valley No 7 Saskatchewan Municipality of Grassland Municipality of Oakland WawanesaBridges across the river EditEastwood Park Bridge NRHP listed crossing in Minot North Dakota Elliott Bridge NRHP listed crossing in McHenry County North Dakota Westgaard Bridge NRHP listed crossing in McHenry County North DakotaFish species EditFish species include walleye yellow perch northern pike white sucker black bullhead goldeye brown bullhead smallmouth bass and burbot See also EditList of rivers of Manitoba List of rivers of North Dakota List of rivers of SaskatchewanReferences Edit Natural Resources Canada Canadian Geographical Names Souris River Retrieved 2014 08 29 Atlas of Canada Toporama Retrieved 2014 08 29 Proglacial Lakes Esask Government of Saskatchewan Retrieved 31 March 2022 Archived data from Water Survey Canada Rannie William F 2002 B D Thraves ed The Role of the Assiniboine River in the 1826 and 1852 Red River Floods PDF Prairie Perspectives Geographical Essays Regina University of Regina Department of Geography 5 56 75 Eugene F Kozera P Eng 2011 Recent Flooding and Flood Mitigation in Manitoba PDF Province of Manitoba Water Survey of Canada SOURIS RIVER AT MELITA 05NF001 Environment Canada Water Survey of Canada SOURIS RIVER AT WAWANESA 05NG001 Environment Canada Daily Water Levels and Forecasts Souris River May 23 2011 PDF Province of Manitoba 2011 Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan Preliminary Engineering Report PDF North Dakota State Water Commission February 29 2012 2011 Post Flood Report for the Souris River Basin Revised March 2012 PDF US Army Corps of Engineers St Paul District March 2012 Daily Flood Sheet Souris River July 12 2014 PDF Province of Manitoba 2014 Converted from 646 m3 s Estimated from graph Converted from 850 m3 s Converted from 1130 m3 s External links Edit Media related to Souris River at Wikimedia CommonsUSGS Canoeing Information International Joint Commission page on the Souris River Rafferty and Alameda Dams West Souris River Conservation District Fish Species of Saskatchewan Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Souris River amp oldid 1136698872, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
