Raccoon River

Raccoon River
Name	Raccoon River
Location	Iowa, United States
Length	210 km
Source	Confluence of North and South forks near Van Meter
Mouth	Des Moines River at Des Moines
Basin countries	United States
Basin size	~5,000 km2

Raccoon River

The Raccoon River is a tributary in central Iowa that flows through Dallas County, Iowa, Polk County, Iowa, Madison County, Iowa, and Guthrie County, Iowa before joining the Des Moines River near Des Moines. The river system, including the North, Middle, and South forks, has influenced settlement patterns around Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, and Van Meter and has been central to regional agriculture in Iowa, water supply planning, and flood control efforts. Major infrastructure such as Highway 6 (Iowa), Interstate 80, and U.S. Route 69 cross its watershed.

Course and Geography

The Raccoon River watershed drains parts of central Iowa and lies within the larger Des Moines River basin, ultimately feeding into the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. The North Fork originates near Guthrie Center and flows past Panora, while the Middle Fork passes near Slater and Granger, and the South Fork rises near Saint Charles and flows by Winterset and Dexter. Confluences occur near Van Meter and Coon Rapids, with the mainstem turning northeast toward Des Moines where it joins the Des Moines River adjacent to Gray's Lake. Topography includes rolling loess-covered hills of the Iowan Surface and glacial till plains near the Des Moines Lobe. Soils are part of the Mollisols region supporting extensive corn belt cultivation.

History and Etymology

The river corridor was traversed by Indigenous peoples including the Iowa people, Otoe, Missouria, and Sac and Fox Nation before European-American settlement tied to the Louisiana Purchase and the Black Hawk War. Early explorers and settlers associated with Fort Des Moines and Lead Mines documented the stream during mid-19th century expansion alongside transport routes like the Iowa Central Railway and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The name derives from early 19th-century descriptors used by settlers who observed native Procyon lotor populations; subsequent place naming influenced towns like Raccoon Township and localities such as Raccoon River Park (note: do not link river-specific variants). Historic events affecting the corridor include the Great Flood of 1993, the Flood of 2008, and earlier 19th-century flood episodes that shaped levee construction and municipal planning in Des Moines and West Des Moines.

Hydrology and Water Quality

Hydrologic monitoring by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Des Moines Water Works tracks discharge, sediment, and contaminant loads at gauges near Van Meter, Coon Rapids, and Saylorville Reservoir. Nutrient runoff from row crop operations, especially corn and soybean production tied to the Corn Belt, has elevated concentrations of nitrate and phosphorus, prompting water treatment upgrades at facilities like the Des Moines Water Works treatment plant and policy debates involving the Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators. Soil erosion from conventional tillage, drainage via tile drainage and tributary channelization contributes to turbidity and total suspended solids affecting aquatic habitat and municipal intake quality. Hydrologic studies referencing streamflow records, baseflow analysis, and storm hydrographs support management decisions regarding reservoir releases and watershed best management practices promoted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Ecology and Wildlife

The watershed supports riparian corridors with native vegetation types found in the Tallgrass Prairie and remnant prairie pothole complex areas hosting migratory birds cataloged by Audubon Society chapters and state birding guides. Aquatic fauna include sportfish species like Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Channel catfish, and Walleye in reaches influenced by reservoir and impoundment dynamics, as well as native freshwater mussels that reflect water quality conditions analyzed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Terrestrial fauna include white-tailed deer, red fox, and populations of raccoon (the common name species), while endangered or sensitive species lists reference habitat for pollinators and grassland birds such as the Henslow's sparrow in conservation tracts. Riparian restoration projects often coordinate with organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and local soil and water conservation districts.

Recreation and Human Use

Recreational activities along the corridor include canoeing, kayaking, angling, and birdwatching with access points in municipal parks like Raccoon River Park (Clive, Iowa), trail connections to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, and greenway systems linking to Principal Park and urban riverfront redevelopment in Des Moines. Municipalities draw municipal water supply and industrial process water from portions of the watershed, while agriculture relies on drainage and irrigation infrastructure tied to local farmsteads and cooperative elevators. Events such as regional paddling festivals, fishing tournaments, and community cleanups are organized by groups including Iowa Rivers Revival, county conservation boards, and local chapters of Pheasants Forever.

Flooding and Management

Historic floods affecting Des Moines, West Des Moines, and surrounding communities prompted construction of levees, floodwalls, and stormwater infrastructure integrated with federal programs like the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation planning and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control projects. Major episodes—such as the Great Flood of 1993 and the Midwest flooding of 2008—drove investments in floodplain mapping by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and revisions to local zoning and buyout programs administered by county boards and state agencies. Flood insurance, community rating system participation, and watershed floodplain easements are tools used by municipalities and nonprofits to reduce vulnerability in low-lying districts such as portions of Des Moines adjacent to the confluence.

Infrastructure and Conservation Efforts

Infrastructure spanning the watershed includes bridges on Interstate 80, crossings of U.S. Route 6, municipal water treatment plants managed by Des Moines Water Works, and bridges associated with the historic Iowa Highway System. Conservation efforts combine public-private partnerships involving the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, and local soil and water conservation districts to implement cover crops, riparian buffer restoration, controlled drainage, and wetland reconstruction to reduce nutrient loads and improve habitat. Grant programs from the Iowa Finance Authority and federal conservation funding through the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program support on-the-ground practices, while watershed planning initiatives incorporate modeling from university researchers at Iowa State University and University of Iowa to guide adaptive management.

Category:Rivers of Iowa