Platte River (Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Platte River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 42°57′56″N 90°25′25″W / 42.9655°N 90.4235°W |
| River mouth | 42°36′43″N 90°39′54″W / 42.612°N 90.665°W |
| Length | 47.25 mi (76.04 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Mississippi River |
| Basin size | 197.74 sq mi (512.1 km2) |
The Platte River is a river in southwestern Wisconsin, United States. It flows into the big Mississippi River. Most of its water comes from Grant County. A small part is in Iowa County. Its main smaller river is called the Little Platte River. The river is about 47 miles (76 kilometers) long. Its name, "Platte," comes from a French word meaning "flat" or "shallow."
Contents
Where the Platte River Flows
The Platte River starts near Montfort. It flows southwest through Grant County. It joins the Mississippi River about 3 miles (5 kilometers) southwest of Dickeyville. This is across from Mud Lake, Iowa.
You can travel on the Platte River from Ellenboro all the way to where it meets the Mississippi. Long ago, even large steamboats could travel on the lowest parts of the river.
The Little Platte River
The Platte River's biggest smaller river is the Little Platte River. It begins near Livingston. It flows into the Platte River about 42 miles (68 kilometers) southwest. This meeting point is about 2 miles (3 kilometers) west of Paris.
The Land Around the Platte River
The Platte and Little Platte Rivers are in a very hilly area. This area is known as the Driftless Area. Many steep hills made of limestone are found here. These hills are often covered with white pine trees. This type of tree is not common in other parts of the region.
Most of the land is used for farms and forests. Because the land is so hilly and there are many farms, a lot of water runs off after storms. This runoff creates many fast-moving parts, called rapids, along both rivers.
Platte Mound
One special landmark in this area is Platte Mound. It is a large hill that stands out from the flatter land around it. On this mound, you can see the world's largest letter M.
River Basins
The Platte and Little Platte Rivers are part of a bigger area called the Grant-Platte Basin. The Platte River's watershed covers about 198 square miles (512 square kilometers). A watershed is the area of land where all the water drains into a specific river.
The Little Platte River's watershed also includes parts of Iowa and Lafayette Counties. Its watershed covers about 155 square miles (401 square kilometers). Together, the combined watersheds of both rivers drain about 353 square miles (914 square kilometers). This is about 30% of all of Grant County.
Towns and Activities
The biggest towns in the Platte River area are Platteville, Dickeyville, Potosi, Montfort, and Livingston. Dickeyville is right on the edge where the two river watersheds meet. Livingston marks a spot where three watersheds meet.
U.S. Route 61 crosses the river just after the Platte and Little Platte Rivers join. The University of Wisconsin–Platteville is the only four-year college in this river basin.
Fun on the River
People enjoy many activities here. These include boating, whitewater canoeing, and kayaking. Fishing is also very popular. The most common fish caught are smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and northern pike.
It can be a bit hard to get to the Platte River for public use. In 2001, a plan for a county canoe trail was suggested. The city of Platteville also has several parks and trails for people to enjoy.
Protecting the River
Farming is very important in this area. There are almost four times as many cows as people! The Wisconsin DNR explains how farming affects the river. They say that soil from farm fields washes into the river. This makes the river muddy. Runoff from barnyards and feedlots is also a big problem.
The main environmental issues are pollution from farms and towns. This includes soil washing away and old mine waste. The rivers flow into Pool 11 of the Mississippi River. They bring a lot of mud into the Mississippi. Grant County also has many old galena mines. These mines are known to cause pollution.
Besides the DNR, local groups are working to protect the river. One group is called "Friends of the Platte River, Inc." They work to find solutions to help clean up and protect the Platte and Little Platte River watershed. You can learn more about them on their website: Friends of the Platte River website.
