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Rush River (Wisconsin)

Coordinates: 44°33′29″N 92°19′51″W / 44.55806°N 92.33083°W / 44.55806; -92.33083
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Rush River
Rush River below WI 29 South
Rush River (Wisconsin) is located in Wisconsin
Rush River (Wisconsin)
Mouth of the Rush River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
CountyPierce County, St. Croix County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationEmerald
 • coordinates45°00′37″N 92°18′45″W / 45.0102426°N 92.3124119°W / 45.0102426; -92.3124119
Mouth 
 • location
Maiden Rock
 • coordinates
44°33′29″N 92°19′51″W / 44.55806°N 92.33083°W / 44.55806; -92.33083
Length49.8 mi-long (80.1 km)
Basin features
River systemMississippi River

The Rush River is a 49.8-mile-long (80.1 km)[1] tributary of the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin in the United States.[2] It rises just north of Interstate 94 in St. Croix County near Baldwin and flows generally southwardly through Pierce County. It ends in Lake Pepin of the Mississippi River, about 1 mile (2 km) west of the village of Maiden Rock in Pierce County. The largest tributary is Lost Creek.

Three small communities are located on the river: Centerville, Martell, and El Paso. While the land near the source is relatively flat, the river soon falls into a steep valley typical of the Driftless Area, with outcrops of sandstone and limestone.

The Rush River is locally known as an excellent trout stream. It does not hold as many trout as the nearby Kinnickinnic River, but they are larger in size. This is because it is more of a free-stone stream than the upper Kinnickinnic, with slightly warmer water, which produces larger food sources for the trout. The warmer water of some stretches also affects the fish species found in the river. Immediately upstream from the bridge on the south side of Martell, it is predominantly trout. Immediately south of the bridge, it is predominantly suckers. The last few miles of the stream holds an increasing proportion of medium-temperature riverine species, such as smallmouth bass.

The delta of the Rush River is a State Natural Area, designated in 1986.[3] The heavily wooded floodplain provides an ideal location for waterfowl.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed October 5, 2012
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rush River (Wisconsin)
  3. ^ "Rush River Delta (No. 202)". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  4. ^ WDNR - Rush River Delta State Natural Area

See also

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