The Spring River is a long river which flows through the

U.S. 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 Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

states of

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

and

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

.Wildernet: Spring River, Arkansas
/ref> It consists of two branches, the

South Fork of the Spring River The South Fork Spring River (commonly South Fork of the Spring River or simply South Fork River) is a tributary of the Spring River, roughly long, in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in the United States. The river flows through the Salem ...

and the Spring River proper. The

starts in

Howell County, Missouri Howell County is in southern Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,750. The largest city and county seat is West Plains. The county was officially organized on March 2, 1851, and is named after Josiah Howell, a pioneer settler i ...

and flows south through

Fulton Fulton may refer to: People * Robert Fulton (1765–1815), American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steam-powered ship * Fulton (surname) Given name * Fulton Allem (born 1957), South African golfer * Fult ...

and

Sharp Sharp or SHARP may refer to: Acronyms * SHARP (helmet ratings) (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme), a British motorcycle helmet safety rating scheme * Self Help Addiction Recovery Program, a charitable organisation founded in 199 ...

counties in Arkansas.South Fork of the Spring River
/ref> The South Fork of the Spring River joins the Spring River proper near the town of

Hardy, Arkansas Hardy is the 2nd oldest city in Sharp and Fulton counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 765 in 2020. Geography Hardy is located at (36.320553, -91.480645). The Spring River, which begins in Mammoth Spring, flows through H ...

. The South Fork is a quiet stream with gravelly bars that are ideal for camping. The Spring River proper begins where

Mammoth Spring Mammoth Spring is a large, Spring (hydrology), first magnitude karst spring that arises in the Ozark Plateau within the state of Arkansas. It is the largest spring in Arkansas and the third-largest spring within the Ozark Plateau region behind B ...

and Warm Fork of the Spring River merge at

Mammoth Spring State Park Mammoth Spring State Park is a Arkansas state park in Fulton County, Arkansas in the United States. The park is located surrounding National Natural Landmark of the same name to provide recreation and interpretation for visitors. The park offe ...

Mammoth Spring, Arkansas Mammoth Spring is a city in Fulton County, Arkansas. The population was 929 at the time of the 2020 census and is home to Mammoth Spring, one of the largest natural springs in the world, renowned for its trout fishing. Geography Mammoth Spring i ...

. Mammoth Spring is the outlet of an underground river that runs from Missouri into Arkansas. Over per hour flow out of the massive spring and forms the Spring River. Being predominantly spring fed with water averaging 58 °F (14 °C), the river is kept cool during warmer months and is suitable trout habitate for several miles. The Spring River proper is a popular destination for tourists,

canoers Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...

, and for riding inner tubes ("toobers"). The most popular stretch of the river is between Mammoth Spring and the tourist town of Hardy. Below Hardy, the Spring River flows past

Ravenden, Arkansas Ravenden is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 470 at the 2010 census. The town is in the valley of the Spring River along U.S. Highway 63 and the Burlington-Northern Railroad. History The community buildin ...

and

Imboden, Arkansas Imboden is a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 677 at the 2010 census. It is named after a family of settlers. History The community was first settled around 1828 and was incorporated in 1887. In 1912, Imbod ...

to its confluence with the

Eleven Point River The Eleven Point River is a river in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, United States. It originates near Willow Springs, Missouri. It more than doubles in flow when Greer Spring Branch runs into it, adding over of water per day to the ri ...

near

Old Davidsonville State Park Davidsonville Historic State Park (formerly Old Davidsonville State Park) is a Arkansas state park in Randolph County, Arkansas in the United States. Situated on a border between The Ozarks and the Arkansas Delta, the park preserves the remains ...

. The Spring River joins the Black River near

Black Rock, Arkansas Black Rock is a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. The population was 662 at the 2010 census. Geography Black Rock is located in northern Lawrence County at (36.107794, -91.098913), at the eastern edge of ...

. There are a variety of outfitters along the river who provide supplies, canoe rental, and shuttle services in the area between Mammoth Spring and Hardy. Several resorts provide lodging for tourists. The Spring River has a diverse population of fish including

trout Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmoni ...

walleye The walleye (''Sander vitreus'', synonym ''Stizostedion vitreum''), also called the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relat ...

, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...

, redear sunfish, and tiger muskies. A state record tiger muskie weighing 23 lb 12 oz (10.8 kg) was caught in the river in 1995. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains a trout

hatchery A hatchery is a facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish, poultry or even turtles. It may be used for ex-situ conservation purposes, i.e. to breed rare or endangered species under controlled condit ...

on the river and the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

operates another on the river near Mammoth Spring.

Flooding

In March 2008, a vigorous, slow moving

low pressure system In meteorology, a low-pressure area, low area or low is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with inclement weather (such as cloudy, windy, with possible ...

moved out of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and into

inundating the area with over a foot of rain falling in some areas of Arkansas and

. Heavy rainfall rates caused the river to over flow its banks with an observed maximum depth of . This river level had only been surpassed by the record 1982 floods that reached a level of 29 feet. The mayor of Hardy ordered evacuation of 250 citizens of the town because of dangerous river levels that flooded over 100 buildings in and around the Spring River.Arkansas Matters - Flooding in Hardy
/ref>

References

External links

* {{authority control Rivers of Arkansas Rivers of Missouri Rivers of Fulton County, Arkansas Rivers of Howell County, Missouri Bodies of water of Sharp County, Arkansas Bodies of water of the Ozarks Tributaries of the White River (Arkansas–Missouri)

Flooding

See also

References

External links