Paint Creek (Iowa)

Paint Creek is a direct tributary of the Mississippi River, rising in central Allamakee County, Iowa, in and about the city of Waukon. The catchment measures approximately 85.5 square miles. Its upper reaches reach to the intersection of where East Main Street, West Main Street, Allamakee Avenue, and Spring Avenue meet in downtown Waukon, at the only street-light in the county. It also has still-rural reaches past 9th Street Southwest. It joins the Mississippi approximately 6 miles above Marquette, Iowa in (Lock and Dam) Pool 10, at river mile 641.

The upper reaches have surface water only 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 always has water.

The watershed is divided in to 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 big River, and the Army Corps of Engineers is developing plans to combat this.

It takes its name from Paint Rock, near Waukon Junction, Iowa. Once an important navigational landmark for Mississipi River traffic, it was named for the Indian paintings on it.

Notwithstanding its name, much of the Yellow River State Forest lies within the Paint Creek watershed. 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.

Sources

Army Corps of Engineers site