Skunk River

The Skunk River is a 93-mile-long (150 km) tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States.

For the river in Minnesota, see Skunk River (Platte River).
Skunk River
Map showing the Skunk river, including both branches.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
DistrictLee County, Iowa, Des Moines County, Iowa, Poweshiek County, Iowa, Henry County, Iowa, Jefferson County, Iowa, Washington County, Iowa, Keokuk County, Iowa, Jasper County, Iowa, Story County, Iowa, Hamilton County, Iowa, Mahaska County, Iowa, Marshall County, Iowa
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates41.2486246°N 92.0262877°W / 41.2486246; -92.0262877[1]
MouthMississippi River
 • location
Burlington, Iowa, US
 • coordinates
40.6978186°N 91.1151447°W / 40.6978186; -91.1151447[1]
 • elevation
518 ft (158 m)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationAugusta, Iowa
 • average2,809 cu/ft. per sec.[2]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSouth Skunk River
 • rightNorth Skunk River

Geography

The Skunk River rises in two branches, the South Skunk (185 miles (298 km) long) and the North Skunk (129 miles (208 km) long).[3] The headwaters of the South Skunk are in Hamilton County in north central Iowa. It flows roughly due southward, to the west of Interstate 35, and passes through the city of Ames, before turning southeasterly. In Keokuk County, it is joined by the North Skunk, which has its headwaters in Marshall County. It then proceeds southeastward and flows into the Mississippi about five miles south of the city of Burlington.

Etymology

The Sauk and Meskwaki referred to the Skunk River as "Shecaqua".[4] This name was probably mistranslated; one early settler wrote, "I was informed by Frank Labisner, United States interpreter for the Sac and Fox Indians, that the name of Skunk River was a wrong interpretation. The Indian name was Checaqua. Which, in their language is anything of a strong or obnoxious smell, such as onions. I think, that from the fact that the head waters of the stream abounded with wild onions, the interpretation should be 'Onion.'"[5]

Habitat

Species of fish found in the Skunk River include smallmouth bass, gar, walleye, catfish, carp, bluegill, sheephead, bullhead, and largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish.

The "Skunk River Navy" was founded and led by Iowa State University biology professor 'Admiral' Jim Colbert and biology advisor 'Admiral' Jim Holtz. The SRN operated from August 1998 to September 2017. The SRN focused on monitoring the biological diversity of the South Skunk River, and some of its tributaries, near Ames, Iowa as well as removal of trash from these streams. Participation in the SRN was primarily focused on students entering Iowa State in the biology major, though students in other majors, other ISU personnel, as well as other individuals participated. During the years of operation of the SRN approximately 2,400 volunteers participated and over 80 tons of trash were removed from the South Skunk River and some of its tributaries. The SRN also found, and reported, diesel fuel and sewage leaks into the South Skunk River, and its tributary Ioway Creek, respectively. These leaks were repaired by the City of Ames. Beginning in 2018 local paddling groups may use the name "Skunk River Navy", but the SRN is no longer under the auspices of the ISU Biology Program.

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Skunk River
  2. "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 05474000 Skunk River at Augusta, IA".
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 13, 2011
  4. Isaac Galland, 1840, Galland's Iowa emigrant: containing a map, and general descriptions of Iowa.
  5. J. C. Parrott's letter p. 48 in History of Des Moines County, Iowa., by A.M. Antrobus (1915)
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