Eau Galle River facts for kids
The Eau Galle River is a river in western Wisconsin, United States. It flows into the Chippewa River. The Eau Galle River is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) long. Through the Chippewa River, its waters eventually reach the Mississippi River. This means it is part of the huge watershed of the Mississippi River.
French explorers gave the river its name in the late 1600s or early 1700s. They called it la Rivière au Galet, which means "river of the gravely or pebbly banks." Over time, the spelling of galet changed to galle. Because of this, some people mistakenly thought the name meant "bitter water" in French. Even with the spelling change, many people still pronounce it like the original French word galet.
Where the River Flows
The Eau Galle River starts in southeastern St. Croix County. It then flows mostly southeast through parts of Pierce, Dunn, and Pepin Counties. Along its journey, it passes by the towns of Spring Valley and Elmwood.
The river eventually joins the Chippewa River in Pepin County. This meeting point is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) southwest of Durand.
Eau Galle Lake
Near the town of Spring Valley, there is a dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This dam creates a lake called Eau Galle Lake. It is also known as Lake George. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helps manage water resources and build projects like dams to control flooding and create recreational areas.
