West Fork of the Little Sioux River facts for kids
The West Fork of the Little Sioux River is a river located in the northwestern part of Iowa, United States. It flows into the Little Sioux River through a special channel called the Garretson Outlet Ditch. This happens in the flat, low-lying area known as the Missouri River floodplain. The river joins at 42°09′44″N 96°05′50″W / 42.16222°N 96.09722°W.
Exploring the West Fork of the Little Sioux River
This river is about 95 miles (153 kilometers) long and flows through northwest Iowa. It starts its journey north of Marcus in Cherokee County (42°51′55″N 95°47′51″W / 42.86528°N 95.79750°W). From there, it generally flows southwest through farmlands in Plymouth and Woodbury counties.
Where Does the River End?
The original, winding path of the river eventually meets the Little Sioux River near Turin in Monona County. However, the lower part of the river has been changed a lot by people.
How People Changed the River
Near Holly Springs, Iowa, the river leaves the hilly area called the Loess Hills and enters the Missouri River floodplain. In this flat area, most of the river's water now flows through man-made channels. These channels are called the Garretson and West Fork drainage ditches. They join together to form the Monona-Harrison Ditch. This larger ditch then flows into the Missouri River just upstream from where the Little Sioux River enters it in Harrison County.
