Straight River (central Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Straight River |
|
|---|---|
The Straight River in Straight River Township in 2007
|
|
 Location of the mouth of the Straight River
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Becker County, Hubbard County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Pine Point Township, Becker County 1,506 ft (459 m) 47°00′08″N 95°18′34″W / 47.00222°N 95.30944°W |
| River mouth | Fish Hook River Hubbard Township, Hubbard County 1,384 ft (422 m) 46°52′08″N 95°01′55″W / 46.86889°N 95.03194°W |
| Length | 22.7 mi (36.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 60 sq mi (160 km2)approx. |
The Straight River is a river in north-central Minnesota, United States. It is about 23 miles (37 km) long. The river flows into the Fish Hook River. This means the Straight River is a tributary of the Fish Hook River.
The water from the Straight River eventually reaches the mighty Mississippi River. It does this by flowing through the Fish Hook, Shell, and Crow Wing Rivers. The Straight River helps drain an area of about 60 square miles (160 km2). This whole area is called its watershed or drainage basin. The river is very popular for trout fishing.
The river's name comes from the Ojibwe language. It is a translation of the Ojibwe name for Straight Lake. The river flows through this lake near where it starts.
Where Does the Straight River Flow?
The Straight River begins in Becker County. It starts in the White Earth Indian Reservation and Two Inlets State Forest. This is about 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Pine Point.
The river first flows southeast. It passes through Straight Lake. Then, it turns east-southeast into Hubbard County. The Straight River joins the Fish Hook River in Hubbard Township. This spot is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Park Rapids.
The area where the river flows is called the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion. This means it's a natural area with similar plants and animals. This region has conifer (like pine trees) and hardwood forests. The land is mostly flat or gently rolling hills.
Why Is the Straight River Special for Fish?
The Straight River is fed by cold springs. These springs keep the water chilly. This cold water is perfect for many trout to live and grow.
- Brown Trout: The river is famous for sport fishing. Anglers (people who fish) can catch large brown trout here. Some of these fish are longer than 20 inches (51 cm)!
- Brook Trout: In the past, the river also had many brook trout. However, their numbers went down as the water got warmer.
People and groups like Trout Unlimited work to protect the Straight River. They want to make sure the cold springs keep flowing. Sometimes, farming activities like irrigation (watering crops) can use too much water. This can threaten the springs that feed the river. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources now checks these activities more closely. They want to keep the river healthy for the trout.
How Much Water Flows in the River?
Scientists measure how much water flows in the Straight River. They use a special tool called a stream gauge. There is one near Park Rapids in Straight River Township.
Between 1987 and 2005, the river's average flow was 60.8 cubic feet (1.72 m3) of water per second. This is called the mean flow.
- The most water recorded was 149 cubic feet (4.2 m3) per second. This happened on April 6, 1997.
- The least water recorded was 21 cubic feet (0.59 m3) per second. This happened on November 23, 2003.
