Tarkio River facts for kids
The Tarkio River is a river in the United States. It is also known as the Big Tarkio River. It flows for about 140 miles (225 kilometers). The river starts in Cass County, Iowa. It then flows south to join the Missouri River in Holt County, Missouri. The Tarkio River is not deep enough for boats to travel on it.
The land area that the river drains is about 508 square miles (1,316 square kilometers). This area is located between the Nishnabotna River to the west and the Nodaway River to the east.
The name "Tarkio" comes from a Native American word. It means "place where walnuts grow."
The river flows through mostly countryside areas. It is important for managing water near Big Lake, Missouri. It also helps the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. Several smaller streams and ditches near the Missouri River also share the Tarkio name.
Where the Tarkio River Flows
The Tarkio River begins as a small, dry creek bed in Cass County, Iowa. This is southeast of Griswold, Iowa. It becomes a full stream just south of the county line. This happens in Montgomery County, Iowa, north of Stanton, Iowa. The river then flows south through Montgomery County. It passes Coin, Iowa in Page County, Iowa.
The river enters Missouri in Atchison County, Missouri near Blanchard, Iowa. It flows past the towns of Tarkio, Missouri and Fairfax, Missouri. Fairfax is where the river's water levels are usually measured. The Tarkio River then enters Holt County, Missouri near Corning, Missouri. Finally, it flows into the Missouri River. This meeting point is about 507 river miles (816 river kilometers) from the Missouri River's mouth. At Fairfax, the river usually releases about 244 cubic feet of water per second.
Other Streams with the Tarkio Name
There are several other streams that have "Tarkio" in their name. These are found near where the Tarkio River meets the Missouri River. Most of these streams do not actually flow into the main Tarkio River. However, some were historically part of the river's path.
- Old Channel Tarkio River - The river used to flow further south. It followed the base of the bluffs near Craig, Missouri. Now, this old channel drains into Little Tarkio Creek.
- Little Tarkio Creek - This creek starts in the bluffs above the Missouri River. It flows on the east side of Big Lake. It passes Fortescue, Missouri before emptying into the Missouri River.
- Old Channel Little Tarkio Creek - This creek flows on the west side of the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. It drains into the Little Tarkio Ditch.
- Little Tarkio Ditch - This ditch helps drain water from the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. It then flows into the Missouri River.
When the Tarkio River Floods
The Tarkio River flows through flat areas near the Missouri River. Sometimes, heavy rains can cause the river to flood. This happens when the water cannot drain away fast enough.
During the Great Flood of 1993, flooding caused Interstate 29 to close near the river's mouth. In the 2011 Missouri River floods, the Tarkio River and its related streams flooded a large area. This stretched from Fortescue to the Missouri River. It completely covered Big Lake. On July 7, 2011, the river at Fairfax rose 8 feet (2.4 meters) in just six hours.
