Des Moines River

Des Moines River
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Name	Des Moines River
Source	Okoboji Lake
Mouth	Mississippi River
Countries	United States
States	Iowa, Minnesota
Length km	678
Basin size km2	43,000

Des Moines River The Des Moines River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River running through Iowa and originating near Worthington in Minnesota. The river links a network of lakes, reservoirs, and urban centers including Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Des Moines, and Burlington, and has played roles in transportation, agriculture, and flood management since the 19th century. Its basin intersects with historical routes and modern infrastructure such as the Missouri River, Illinois River, Iowa River, and the Rock Island Line corridor.

Course and Geography

The upper reach rises near Okoboji and Spirit Lake before flowing southeast past Guthrie Center, Perry, Mapleton, and Earlham toward the Des Moines metropolitan area. Downstream it traverses floodplains and terraces shaped alongside glacial formations tied to the Wisconsin Glaciation and the Iowan Surface, cutting through shale and limestone strata related to the Permian Basin and Cretaceous formations. Major confluences include tributaries draining from the Cedar River watershed and the Raccoon River, and the river ultimately joins the Mississippi River near Burlington and the historical Fort Madison district. Transportation corridors paralleling the river have included the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, U.S. Route 69, and the Iowa Highway 92 network.

Hydrology and Water Quality

Flow regimes are influenced by contributions from reservoirs such as Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock and regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers projects that modulate runoff from agricultural catchments including lands around Ames and Amesbury. Seasonal discharge reflects snowmelt from Minnesota and spring precipitation tied to storm tracks passing through the Great Plains and Midwestern United States. Nutrient loading from row crop drainage around Cedar Rapids, Ames, and livestock operations near Sioux City contributes to elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus observed by monitoring programs run by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, United States Geological Survey, and regional partnerships such as the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. Sediment transport has been documented in studies tied to the Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practices and the Soil and Water Conservation Society initiatives.

History and Human Use

Indigenous nations including the Meskwaki, Ho-Chunk, Sauk, and Iowa peoples traditionally used the river corridor for travel and seasonal camps. European-American exploration and settlement accelerated with the Louisiana Purchase and the surveying efforts associated with the Northwest Ordinance period, leading to treaties such as those negotiated with representatives of the Sioux and Sac and Fox peoples. Steamboat commerce linked upriver towns to the Mississippi River trade, while 19th-century land grants and the arrival of railroads like the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company spurred agricultural expansion. Twentieth-century projects including the Flood Control Act initiatives and the construction of Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock reshaped navigation, municipal water supply for Des Moines and irrigation tied to Iowa State University research, and prompted legal cases involving riparian rights before state courts in Iowa.

Ecology and Wildlife

Riparian habitats along the river support populations of freshwater fish such as channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, and migratory runs of walleye and paddlefish. Wetland complexes and backwater lakes provide stopover habitat for migratory birds on the Mississippi Flyway including snow geese, mallard, great blue heron, and bald eagle nesting territories recorded by the Audubon Society and state wildlife agencies. Riverine corridors include riparian forests of silver maple, cottonwood, and willow associated with the Tallgrass Prairie remnants and prairie restoration projects led by organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Invasive species such as Asian carp and zebra mussel have been documented and are the subject of control measures coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Flood Control and Management

Major flood events, notably the Great Flood of 1993 and localized floods in the 1940s and 1970s, prompted federal and state investments in levees, reservoirs, and urban stormwater upgrades across municipalities including Des Moines and Burlington. The United States Army Corps of Engineers operates reservoirs like Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock to reduce peak discharges, while local levee districts coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for mapping and recovery tied to the National Flood Insurance Program. Nonstructural measures include floodplain buyouts administered by Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and green infrastructure projects funded through partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency and regional conservancy trusts.

Recreation and Economy

The river supports recreational boating, sportfishing, and birdwatching that attract visitors to destinations such as Raccoon River Park and the riverfront parks of Des Moines, contributing to local tourism economies and businesses including marinas, outfitters, and guide services in Polk County and Van Buren County. Hydropower potential and water supply considerations have influenced municipal planning for Des Moines Water Works and industrial users near Fort Dodge and Ottumwa. Festivals and cultural events staged in river towns, and conservation-driven eco-tourism promoted by groups like the Izaak Walton League and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, generate economic activity while intersecting with agricultural production chains linked to Archer Daniels Midland and regional grain elevators.

Category:Rivers of Iowa