Bourbeuse River

Location

The Bourbeuse River (French for 'muddy') is located in east-central Missouri, in the Ozarks region, and is one of two major tributaries of the Meramec River, the other being Big River. The river flows to the northeast from its source near the locale of Dillon in Phelps County, through Maries County, Gasconade County, Crawford County, and Franklin County, where it discharges into the Meramec River near Moselle. The elevation of the river at its source is approximately 1120 feet above sea level and at its mouth about 446 feet. The total length of the river is 147 miles, while the airline distance between source and mouth is 53 miles. The watershed area is 842.9 square miles.

Tributaries of the Bourbeuse River include Spring Creek, Boone Creek, Brush Creek, Red Oak Creek, Dry Fork, Little Bourbeuse River, and Lower Bourbeuse River.

Character of the river

The river's lower 132 miles has permanent flow, but unlike many other Ozark streams of its size, it has a low base flow, due to a paucity of springs feeding it. The river is also low-gradient and tends to be more muddy than other Ozark streams. Usually only the lower 108 miles are navigable in summer.

The river is highly crooked: one section, near Noser Mill, has 11 miles of river between points less than a half mile apart. 107 miles of the river are in Franklin County, and only 27 airline miles. Unusual for a river of its size, a number of river bends are named. Like many other Ozark streams, the Bourbeuse River has entrenched meanders.

There are a large number of named fords on this river, compared to the rest of the state. The gravel riverbeds, low average river flow, and lack of sufficient bridges both allow and necessitate the use of natural river crossings.

The USGS stream gauge in Union, near the mouth of the river, measures an average flow of 681 cubic feet per second.

See also

• List of Missouri rivers

External links

• Bourbeus River canoeing information
• More Bourbeus River canoeing information
• Bourbeus River flood stage information
• Bourbeuse River Watershed Inventory and Assessment, Missouri Department of Conservation