stream
A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
with the Meramec is at . The source area is adjacent to the eastern border of the county and the stream flows north parallel to the border for about one mile and then turns to the west and flows roughly parallel to
Missouri Route O
A supplemental route is a state secondary road in the U.S. state of Missouri, designated with letters. Supplemental routes were various roads within the state which the Missouri Department of Transportation was given in 1952 to maintain in addit ...
for two miles to the community of Catawissa. Just east of Catawissa the stream turns north and flows north to northeast roughly parallel to the railroad for about two miles to its confluence with the Meramec just downstream from the community of Prater.
According to tradition, Winch Creek has the name of a local Indian.