Bourbeuse River facts for kids

The Bourbeuse River is a cool waterway in east-central Missouri. Its name comes from a French word meaning 'muddy'. This river is one of two main streams that flow into the Meramec River. The other big one is called the Big River.

The Bourbeuse River starts near Dillon in Phelps County. It then flows northeast through several counties. These include Maries, Gasconade, Crawford, and Franklin counties. Finally, it joins the Meramec River near Moselle.

The river begins high up, about 1,140 feet (347 meters) above sea level. By the time it reaches the Meramec, it's much lower, around 463 feet (141 meters). The Bourbeuse River is quite long, stretching about 154 miles (248 kilometers). However, if you could fly straight from its start to its end, it would only be about 53 miles (85 kilometers). The area of land that drains into the river, called its watershed, is about 842.9 square miles (2,183 square kilometers).

What Makes the Bourbeuse River Special?

The Bourbeuse River has some unique features. For most of its length, about 132 miles (212 kilometers), water flows all the time. But it doesn't get a lot of water from underground springs. This is different from many other rivers in the Ozarks region.

River Flow and Muddiness

Because it doesn't have many springs, the river's flow isn't very strong. It also tends to be muddier than other Ozark streams. During summer, you can usually only travel by boat on the lower 108 miles (174 kilometers) of the river.

A Very Crooked River

The Bourbeuse River is super curvy! In one spot near Noser Mill, the river travels 11 miles (18 kilometers) to cover a distance that's less than half a mile in a straight line. About 107 miles (172 kilometers) of the river are in Franklin County, even though that part of the county is only 27 miles (43 kilometers) long in a straight line. Like many Ozark streams, the Bourbeuse has entrenched meanders. This means its curves are cut deep into the land.

River Crossings and Fords

You'll find many places called 'fords' along this river. A ford is a shallow spot where you can cross a river, often by car. Because the riverbed is gravelly and the water flow is often low, people can cross without needing a bridge. This is why there are more named fords here than on other rivers in Missouri.

Measuring the River's Flow

The USGS has a special station in Union. This station measures how much water flows in the river. On average, about 692 cubic feet (19.6 cubic meters) of water pass by every second. That's a lot of water!

Smaller Streams Joining the Bourbeuse

Many smaller streams flow into the Bourbeuse River. These are called tributaries. Some of the main ones include:

• Spring Creek
• Boone Creek
• Brush Creek
• Red Oak Creek
• Dry Fork
• Little Bourbeuse River