Paint Creek (Iowa): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:YellowRiverStateForestPaintCreekUnit.gif|thumb|right|150px|Paint Creek showing confluence with Little Paint Creek ([[United States Environmental Protection Agency]])]] |
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'''Paint Creek''' is a direct tributary of the [[Mississippi River]], rising in central [[Allamakee County, Iowa]], in and about the city of [[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]]. Its upper reaches reach to the intersection of where East Main Street, West Main Street, Allamakee Avenue, and Spring Road meet in downtown Waukon, at the only street-light in the county. It also has still-rural reaches past 9th Street Southwest. |
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'''Paint Creek''' is a direct tributary of the [[Upper Mississippi River]], rising in central [[Allamakee County, Iowa]], in and about the city of [[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]].<ref>{{GNIS|459990}}</ref> The catchment measures approximately {{convert|85.5|sqmi|km2}}. It has some still-rural stretches past 9th Street Southwest in Waukon, but most of the actual Waukon portions have been culverted. It joins the Mississippi approximately {{convert|6|mi|km}} above [[Marquette, Iowa]] in (Lock and Dam) Pool 10, near [[river mile]] 641. |
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The upper reaches only flow water after a rainstorm, but as one goes east to the [[Mississippi River]], cutting down deeply into the gorge of the Mississipi, a serious ever-flowing stream is encountered, fed by springs. Even in the worst drought years, Paint Creek delivers a trickle of water. |
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The upper reaches have surface water only after a rainstorm, but as one goes east to the Mississippi, cutting down deeply into the gorge of the Mississippi, a serious cold water ever-flowing stream is encountered, fed by springs. Even in the worst drought years, Paint Creek always has water. By the time the creek reaches [[Waterville, Iowa|Waterville]], it flows through a canyon between almost-vertical cliffs some 150 feet high. By the time the creek reaches the [[Mississippi River]], it has cut a full 350 feet into the rock.<ref>Samuel Calvin, Drainage, Geology of Allamakee County, [https://books.google.com/books?id=d5cRAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA50 Third Annual Report, 1894], Iowa Geological Survey, 1895; pages 50-51.</ref> |
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Locally, it is also a place name, mainly of Lutheran Churches. |
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The watershed is divided into Big Paint Creek and Little Paint Creek. Once outside of Waukon, the creek travels through entirely rural country. Less than optimal farming practices have created erosion problems, leading to excess sediment being transported downstream into the River, and the Army Corps of Engineers is developing plans to combat this. |
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It takes its name from [[Paint Rock Bluff]], near [[Waukon Junction, Iowa]]. Once an important navigational landmark for Mississippi River traffic, it was named for the Indian paintings and [[petroglyph]]s on it. |
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Notwithstanding its name, much of the [[Yellow River State Forest]] lies within the Paint Creek watershed where the state maintains backpacking and equestrian trails, campgrounds and other such recreational amenities. The region is quite scenic, with rugged limestone cliffs and lush woodlands. |
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Locally, it is also a place name, mainly of Lutheran Churches (the East Paint and West Paint churches). There is also a private Christian campground in the area. |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of rivers of Iowa]] |
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*[[Paint Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Sources== |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070726040341/http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/environment/default.asp?pageid=1236 Army Corps of Engineers site] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312121359/http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/fishing/trout/paint.html Iowa Department of Natural Resources] |
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*[https://archive.today/20070707175156/http://iaspub.epa.gov/tmdl/enviro_V4.wcontrol?p_id305b=IA_01-UIA-0010_1 EPA] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929041011/http://www.innline.com/StrawberryWeb/property.asp?propertyId=IL3952&areaId=0 Commercial horse stable] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202018/http://www.iowaaudubon.org/IBA/sitedetail.asp?siteID=1 Iowa Audubon Society] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071008092758/http://www.iowadnr.gov/forestry/pdf/YELLOWRIVERbrochrWEB.pdf Brochure, Iowa DNR (*.pdf)] |
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{{coord|43.1316486|-91.1806856|type:river|display=title}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Rivers of Allamakee County, Iowa]] |
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[[Category:Rivers of Iowa]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:28, 19 October 2022
Paint Creek is a direct tributary of the Upper Mississippi River, rising in central Allamakee County, Iowa, in and about the city of Waukon.[1] The catchment measures approximately 85.5 square miles (221 km2). It has some still-rural stretches past 9th Street Southwest in Waukon, but most of the actual Waukon portions have been culverted. It joins the Mississippi approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) above Marquette, Iowa in (Lock and Dam) Pool 10, near river mile 641.
The upper reaches have surface water only after a rainstorm, but as one goes east to the Mississippi, cutting down deeply into the gorge of the Mississippi, a serious cold water ever-flowing stream is encountered, fed by springs. Even in the worst drought years, Paint Creek always has water. By the time the creek reaches Waterville, it flows through a canyon between almost-vertical cliffs some 150 feet high. By the time the creek reaches the Mississippi River, it has cut a full 350 feet into the rock.[2]
The watershed is divided into Big Paint Creek and Little Paint Creek. Once outside of Waukon, the creek travels through entirely rural country. Less than optimal farming practices have created erosion problems, leading to excess sediment being transported downstream into the River, and the Army Corps of Engineers is developing plans to combat this.
It takes its name from Paint Rock Bluff, near Waukon Junction, Iowa. Once an important navigational landmark for Mississippi River traffic, it was named for the Indian paintings and petroglyphs on it.
Notwithstanding its name, much of the Yellow River State Forest lies within the Paint Creek watershed where the state maintains backpacking and equestrian trails, campgrounds and other such recreational amenities. The region is quite scenic, with rugged limestone cliffs and lush woodlands.
Locally, it is also a place name, mainly of Lutheran Churches (the East Paint and West Paint churches). There is also a private Christian campground in the area.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paint Creek (Iowa)
- ^ Samuel Calvin, Drainage, Geology of Allamakee County, Third Annual Report, 1894, Iowa Geological Survey, 1895; pages 50-51.