- Bourbeuse River
=Location=
The Bourbeuse River (French for 'muddy') is located in east-central
Missouri , in theOzarks region, and is one of two major tributaries of theMeramec River , the other being Big River. The river flows to the northeast from its source near the locale of Dillon in Phelps County, through Maries County, Gasconade County, Crawford County, and Franklin County, where it discharges into the Meramec River near Moselle. The elevation of the river at its source is approximately convert|1120|ft|m above sea level and at its mouth about convert|446|ft|m. The total length of the river is convert|147|mi|km, while the airline distance between source and mouth is convert|53|mi|km. The watershed area is convert|842.9|sqmi|km2.Tributaries of the Bourbeuse River include Spring Creek, Boone Creek, Brush Creek, Red Oak Creek, Dry Fork,
Little Bourbeuse River , andLower Bourbeuse River .Character of the river
The river's lower convert|132|mi|km has permanent flow, but unlike many other Ozark streams of its size, it has a low base flow, due to a paucity of springs feeding it. The river is also low-gradient and tends to be more muddy than other Ozark streams. Usually only the lower convert|108|mi|km are navigable in summer.
The river is highly crooked: one section, near Noser Mill, has convert|11|mi|km of river between points less than a half mile apart. convert|107|mi|km of the river are in Franklin County, and only 27 airline miles. Unusual for a river of its size, a number of river bends are named. Like many other
Ozark streams, the Bourbeuse River has entrenched meanders.There are a large number of named fords on this river, compared to the rest of the state. The gravel riverbeds, low average river flow, and lack of sufficient bridges both allow and necessitate the use of natural river crossings.
The
USGS stream gauge in Union, near the mouth of the river, measures an average flow of convert|681|cuft|m3 per second.ee also
*
List of Missouri rivers External links
* [http://www.missouricanoe.org/bourbeuse.html Bourbeus River canoeing information]
* [http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/meramec4.html More Bourbeus River canoeing information]
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lsx&gage=unnm7&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 Bourbeus River flood stage information]
* [http://www.mdc.state.mo.us/fish/watershed/bourbeus/contents/050cotxt.htm Bourbeuse River Watershed Inventory and Assessment, Missouri Department of Conservation]
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