Beaver Creek is a
tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...
of the
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River () is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwestern United States that is approximately long from its farther headwaters.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe Na ...
that rises at the northern border of
Boone County in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
, and then flows generally south and southeast through western Boone County, northeastern
Dallas County Dallas County may refer to:
Places in the USA:
* Dallas County, Alabama, founded in 1818, the first county in the United States by that name
* Dallas County, Arkansas
* Dallas County, Iowa
* Dallas County, Missouri
* Dallas County, Texas, the nin ...
, and finally northwestern
Polk County Polk County is the name of twelve counties in the United States, all except two named after president of the United States James Knox Polk:
* Polk County, Arkansas
* Polk County, Florida
* Polk County, Georgia
* Polk County, Iowa
* Polk Count ...
before flowing into the Des Moines River approximately a mile south of the
Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County. In total, the main channel is approximately in length,
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed May 26, 2011 and the
watershed drains approximately .
Significant tributaries to Beaver Creek include Middle Beaver Creek, East Beaver Creek, West Beaver Creek, Slough Creek, Beaver Branch, Jim Creek and two Little Beaver creeks. There are also numerous smaller unnamed tributaries.
History
Beaver Creek is an English translation of the Native American name. The
North American beaver
The North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') is one of two Extant taxon, extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber''). It is native to North America and introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe (primari ...
was found on the stream until the 1850s. Beaver Creek is the source of the names of two local townships:
Beaver Township, Boone County, Iowa
Beaver Township is one of seventeen townships in Boone County, Iowa, USA
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It cons ...
and
Amaqua Township, Boone County, Iowa
Amaqua Township is one of seventeen townships in Boone County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 283.
History
Amaqua Township was established in 1871. Amaqua is an Indian name meaning "beaver".
Geography
Amaqua Township co ...
, "Amaqua" meaning "beaver" in an Indian language.
See also
*
List of rivers of Iowa
The following is a list of rivers and creeks in Iowa. The rivers are listed by multiple arrangements:
*those that form part of the boundaries of the U.S. state of Iowa;
*ordered by drainage basin, with tributaries indented under each larger rive ...
References
Rivers of Iowa
Tributaries of the Des Moines River
Geography of Des Moines, Iowa
Bodies of water of Boone County, Iowa
Rivers of Polk County, Iowa
Bodies of water of Dallas County, Iowa
Rivers of Webster County, Iowa
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