Whitewater River (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitewater River |
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The Whitewater River in Whitewater State Park
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 Mouth of the Whitewater River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Wabasha, Olmsted, Winona |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Elba, Minnesota 44°05′05″N 92°01′19″W / 44.0846859°N 92.0218277°W |
| River mouth | Weaver, Minnesota 44°12′33″N 91°54′12″W / 44.2091°N 91.9032°W |
| Length | 16.6 mi (26.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Upper Mississippi River |
| Tributaries |
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The Whitewater River is a cool river in Minnesota. It's about 16.6 miles (26.7 km) long. This river flows into the Upper Mississippi River. It ends in Wabasha County near a town called Weaver.
The river flows through a special area called the Driftless Area. This area was not flattened by glaciers long ago. Nearby towns include Altura, Saint Charles, and Elba. The area around the river has rare dry oak savannas. These are like open forests that need natural fires to stay healthy.
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River Branches and Wildlife
The main part of the Whitewater River starts in Elba. It forms when two smaller rivers, the North Fork Whitewater River and Middle Fork Whitewater River, join together. A bit further downstream, the South Fork Whitewater River also flows into it.
The North Fork flows through three different counties: Wabasha, Olmsted, and Winona. It's about 30 miles (47 km) long.
Trout Streams
Many parts of the Whitewater River system are known as "trout streams." This means they are great places for trout to live. You can find native brook trout and wild brown trout here. Sometimes, rainbow trout are also added to the streams.
State Park and Fish Hatchery
Whitewater State Park is located along the upper parts of the river. It's a beautiful place to visit. The park covers parts of the main river, the Middle Fork, and Trout Run Creek.
There's also a place called Crystal Springs Fish Hatchery. This hatchery helps raise fish. It is located on the lower part of the South Fork.
River's Name and Flow
The name "Whitewater River" comes from the native Sioux language. It is an English translation of their original name for the river.
At a town called Beaver, Minnesota, the river's average flow was measured. Between 1940 and 1957, it moved about 133 cubic feet of water every second. This is like saying how much water flows past a point in a certain amount of time.
Protecting the River
In the 1990s, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources worked to help the river. They changed about 5 miles (8 km) of the river back to its natural shape. Before, a straight channel was dug in the 1950s.
The goal was to let the river spread out more when water levels are high. This helps to reduce erosion along the riverbanks. It also helps to keep the river healthy.
River Floods
The Whitewater River has experienced big floods in the past. In 1938, there was a major flood. This flood caused a lot of mud and dirt to be left behind along the river.
More recently, in 2007, there was another big flood. The river overflowed its banks. This caused flooding in the town of Elba on August 18, 2007.
