The Little River is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed June 3, 2011 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 drai ...
of the
Ouachita (Black) River in central
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
in the
United States
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 consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. Via the Ouachita and
Red
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...
rivers, it is part of the
watershed of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it fl ...
. According to the
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is a database of name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features throughout the United States and its territories, Antarctica, and the associated states of ...
, the Little River has also been known historically as "Bayou Des Nacitoches," "Catahoula Bayou," and "Catahoula River."
The Little River is formed about northeast of
Georgetown by the confluence of the
Dugdemona River and
Castor Creek. It flows initially southeastwardly along the boundaries of
Grant
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
* Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
* Grant, Inyo County, ...
,
LaSalle, and
Rapides parishes, before turning east-northeastwardly into LaSalle Parish through
Catahoula Lake
Catahoula Lake (french: Lac Catahoula) is a large freshwater lake located in LaSalle Parish and Rapides Parish of central Louisiana, United States.
Catahoula Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the state covering just over . It is ow ...
, which is bordered by the
Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge, located in east central Louisiana, United States, east of Jena, was established in 1958 as a wintering area for migratory waterfowl. The refuge contains divided into two units. The Headquarters Unit borders ni ...
. In the twentieth century the waste from the oil production and exploration damaged the riparian lands in LaSalle Parish. After passing through the lake, the Little River continues east-northeastwardly into
Catahoula Parish, where it joins the Ouachita River from the west at
Jonesville, just downstream of the mouth of the
Tensas River
The Tensas River is a river in Louisiana in the United States. The river, known as Tensas Bayou in its upper reaches, begins in East Carroll Parish in the northeast corner of the state and runs roughly southwest for U.S. Geological Survey. Nationa ...
. (Below the mouth of the Tensas, the Ouachita River is sometimes known as the "Black River.")
The Little River, as measured at the USGS station at
Rochelle, LA, has a mean annual discharge of 2,260 cubic feet per second.
The state government of Louisiana has designated the uppermost of the Little River (above Catahoula Lake) as a "Natural and Scenic River." This portion of the river flows through a mixed
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
-
gum bottomland forest interspersed with stands of
bald cypress
''Taxodium distichum'' (bald cypress, swamp cypress; french: cyprès chauve;
''cipre'' in Louisiana) is a deciduous conifer in the family Cupressaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States. Hardy and tough, this tree adapts to a wide ...
. Sixty prehistoric
Native American archaeological sites have been identified along this stretch of the river.
[Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (2002)]
State of Louisiana Water Quality Management Plan
Appendix B: Descriptions of Louisiana's Natural and Scenic Rivers (PDF)
/ref>
See also
*List of Louisiana rivers
List of rivers of Louisiana (U.S. state).
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.
Gulf of Mexico
East of the Mississippi
*Pearl River
**Bogue Chitto River
...
References
External links
Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
{{authority control
Rivers of Louisiana
Rivers of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Rivers of Grant Parish, Louisiana
Rivers of LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
Rivers of Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Tributaries of the Red River of the South
Ouachita River