Iowa River

The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about convert|300|mi|km long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about convert|65|mi|km from its mouth. Its major tributary is the Cedar River.

It arises in two branches, the West Branch and East Branch, both of which have their headwaters in Hancock County, which join after approximately convert|25|mi|km in Belmond.

The Iowa then proceeds roughly in a southeast direction, passing through towns of Iowa Falls, through a scenic valley to Steamboat Rock, Eldora, Marshalltown, Tama, Marengo, and through the Amana Colonies in Iowa County. In Johnson County, it becomes impounded by the Coralville Dam in the Coralville Reservoir, which turns southward to the spillway. The river runs generally south and passes through Iowa City and the University of Iowa campus. A lowhead dam at Burlington Street in Iowa City is the last dam before the river's confluence with the Mississippi. South of Iowa City, it is joined by the English River, and then in Louisa County joins with the Cedar River to flow into the Mississippi.

The Iowa River is noted for recreational and commercial fishing. Game fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, channel and flathead catfish, crappie and other panfish. The Coralville Reservoir is commercially fished for carp and buffalo fish.

Pine Lake State Park is located on the Iowa River at Eldora.

Floods

The Iowa can flood, notably in the June 2008 Midwest floods, and the Great Flood of 1993. The Cedar and its tributaries, including the Shell Rock River, can contribute to flooding events.

ee also

*Homer D. Calkins
*List of Iowa rivers