Namekagon River: Difference between revisions
m Malepheasant moved page Namakagon River to Namekagon River over redirect: standard reference sources and state and federal websites use Namekagon, per multiple sources cited in the article. |
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The '''Namakagon River''' (pronounced ''NAM-uh-KAH-gun'') is a [[tributary]] of the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix River]]. It is {{convert|101|mi}} long<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed October 5, 2012</ref> and is located in northwestern [[Wisconsin]] in the [[United States]]. Its course is protected as part of the [[St. Croix National Scenic Riverway]]. |
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| name = Namekagon River |
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| image_caption = View of the Namekagon River and County E Bridge. |
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| designation1 = nwsr |
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| designation1_partof = [[Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway]] |
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[[File:NPS namekagon-river-map-2-hayward-landing.jpg|thumb|Namekagon River route from Hayward to Trego]] |
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The '''Namekagon River'''<ref name=GNIS>{{Gnis|1579990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/N/N00569-namekagon-river.html |title=Namekagon River |website=Columbia Gazetteer of North America |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070926215636/http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/N/N00569-namekagon-river.html |archive-date=2007-09-26 |access-date= 2015-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://dnr.wi.gov/water/watersheddetail.aspx?code=sc22&name=upper%20namekagon%20river |title= Watershed - Upper Namekagon River |author=Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|access-date=2015-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://dnr.wi.gov/water/watersheddetail.aspx?code=sc19&name=lower%20namekagon%20river |title= Watershed - Lower Namekagon River |author=Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|access-date=2015-08-11}}</ref><ref name=NWSR>{{cite web |url=http://www.rivers.gov/rivers/st-croix.php |title=St. Croix River, Minnesota, Wisconsin |quote= the Namekagon River from Lake Namekagon downstream to its confluence with the St. Croix River |website= National Wild and Scenic Rivers System}}</ref> (pronounced ''NAM-uh-KAH-gun'') is a [[tributary]] of the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix River]]. It is {{convert|101|mi}} long<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed October 5, 2012</ref> and is located in northwestern [[Wisconsin]] in the [[United States]]. Its course is protected as part of the [[St. Croix National Scenic Riverway]].<ref name=NWSR/> |
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According to the [[Geographic Names Information System]], the river's name has also been spelled ''' |
According to the [[Geographic Names Information System]], the river's name has also been spelled '''Namakagon''', '''Namekagan''', and '''Namekagun'''; the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] issued a decision setting "Namekagon" as the river's spelling in 1933.<ref name=GNIS/> Its name is derived from the [[Ojibwe language]] ''Namekaagong-ziibi'', meaning "river at the place abundant with [[sturgeon]]s." |
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==Course== |
==Course== |
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The |
The Namekagon River issues from [[Lake Namakagon]] in southeastern [[Bayfield County, Wisconsin|Bayfield County]] and flows southwestwardly through [[Sawyer County, Wisconsin|Sawyer]] and [[Washburn County, Wisconsin|Washburn]] counties, past [[Hayward, Wisconsin|Hayward]], and northwestwardly into [[Burnett County, Wisconsin|Burnett]] County, where it joins the St. Croix, {{convert|45|mi}} south of the city of [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]]. Near its mouth it collects the [[Totagatic River]].<ref>[http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map viewer], accessed August 11, 2015.</ref> |
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== |
== History == |
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The Namekagon River was an integral part in the transportation of lumber during the timber boom of the 1800's. Before the lumber boom, the river was used as a primary form of transportation by fur-traders, explorers and missionaries. In [[Trego, Wisconsin|Trego]], a sign stands which says, {{block quote|Here on the Great South Bend of the Namekagon was a natural camp-site, home of a band of [[Chippewa Indians]] and long used by explorers, missionaries, and fur-traders traveling the Namekagon route between the St. Croix and Chippewa rivers.{{pb}}In 1767 [[Jonathan Carver]] passed this way, downstream on his way from Prairie du Chien to [[Lake Superior]] via the Namekagon, St. Croix and Brule rivers. Henry Schoolcraft passed here in 1831 en route from Lake Superior to the St. Croix.{{pb}}During the 1870's, ox teams hauled logging supplies on the tote road from Stillwater to Veazie Settlement, located two miles up river where the great Veazie Dam impounded water for log drives down the Namekagon to Stillwater.|author=|title=|source=}} |
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<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the River – Namekagon River|url=https://namekagonriver.org/history/|access-date=2020-08-03|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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=== Native American culture (pre-1831) === |
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The Namekagon was used by the [[Ojibwe|Ojibwe tribe]] as a source of food and transportation. Every May the Ojibwe used a fish dam to fish the sturgeon that took residence in the river. Large rocks blocked the sturgeon passing on either side so they would swim through the center, where fisherman would spear the fish as they swam into large baskets. The river was also used as a primary source of transportation for the Ojibwe as discovered by European explorers and fur traders. They noted there were heavily used portages between the large bodies of water. Pictographs were drawn on trees that provided information of different species of the area. On the upper portion of the river sat an Ojibwe village off of Lake Pacwawong, where the Native Americans grew wild rice on the river, as well as blueberries, pumpkins, corn, potatoes, and beans.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Shirey|first=Patrick|title=Namekagon River Cold-Water Zone Fish Habitat History Report|url=https://cesu.umn.edu/sites/cesu.umn.edu/files/namekagonriver.pdf|pages=8–11|publication-date=June 2009|last2=Medland|first2=Jill|last3=Lamberti|first3=Gary}}</ref> |
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=== European-American culture (1831-1860) === |
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[[Henry Schoolcraft]], an explorer who lived among Native American tribes, led two different expeditions along the Namekagon. Schoolcraft described the river at northern portage near [[Cable, Wisconsin]] as being seventy-five feet wide and eighteen inches at the deepest part. The river banks were rich with large pines, hardwood and spruce. [[Brook trout|Brook Trout]] was in abundance along the river, and was used as a primary food source by the explorers at the time. A few years after Schoolcraft's expedition, the United States government enlisted geologists to describe the riverbed floor. The geologists found that the river bed was a mixture of thin sandy silt with gravelly riverbanks and contained a range of rock sizes from small pebbles to large boulders that sat in the middle of the river.<ref name=":0" /> |
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=== Logging (1861-1901) === |
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Before the construction of the state road in 1877, the Namekagon River was a primary means of transportation. Early logging in the area was accomplished by selecting the trees closest to the river bank, and floating them down the river to the saw mill. The arrival of the railway saw an opportunity for the Lumber companies to expand the marketplaces across state lines to larger markets. In 1855, Anthony Hayward was given permission from the Wisconsin Legislature to build, operate and maintain dam sites along the Namekagon.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== Recreation == |
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[[File:VanTatenhoveJ NearBigBendLanding KayakingGroup 20140623 vpp.jpg|thumb|Kayaking group near Big Bend Landing on Namekagon River]] |
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The Namekagon is a site of many recreational activities such as recreational tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and other activities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Canoeing & Kayaking – Namekagon River|url=https://namekagonriver.org/canoeing-kayaking/|access-date=2020-08-03|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Wildlife == |
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The Namekagon River offers a variety of wildlife. Most prominent wildlife are the Brook Trout. In addition, there is also [[walleye]], bass, [[muskellunge]], [[northern pike]] and panfish.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fishing – Namekagon River|url=https://namekagonriver.org/fishing/|access-date=2020-08-03|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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*[[List of Wisconsin rivers]] |
*[[List of Wisconsin rivers]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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*[http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/N/N00569-namekagon-river.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry] |
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*[[DeLorme]] (1992). ''Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer''. Freeport, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 978-0-89933-247-5. |
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*{{Gnis|1579990}} |
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{{coord|46.08772|N|92.18075|W|source:GNIStemplate_region:US-WI|display=title}} |
{{coord|46.08772|N|92.18075|W|source:GNIStemplate_region:US-WI|display=title}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Rivers of Wisconsin]] |
[[Category:Rivers of Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Rivers of Bayfield County, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Rivers of Burnett County, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Rivers of Sawyer County, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Rivers of Washburn County, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Tributaries of the St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)]] |
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Revision as of 01:59, 15 August 2023
| Namekagon River | |
|---|---|
 View of the Namekagon River and County E Bridge. | |
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 101 mi (163 km) |
| Part of | Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway |
The Namekagon River[1][2][3][4][5] (pronounced NAM-uh-KAH-gun) is a tributary of the St. Croix River. It is 101 miles (163 km) long[6] and is located in northwestern Wisconsin in the United States. Its course is protected as part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.[5]
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the river's name has also been spelled Namakagon, Namekagan, and Namekagun; the United States Board on Geographic Names issued a decision setting "Namekagon" as the river's spelling in 1933.[1] Its name is derived from the Ojibwe language Namekaagong-ziibi, meaning "river at the place abundant with sturgeons."
Course
The Namekagon River issues from Lake Namakagon in southeastern Bayfield County and flows southwestwardly through Sawyer and Washburn counties, past Hayward, and northwestwardly into Burnett County, where it joins the St. Croix, 45 miles (72 km) south of the city of Superior. Near its mouth it collects the Totagatic River.[7]
History
The Namekagon River was an integral part in the transportation of lumber during the timber boom of the 1800's. Before the lumber boom, the river was used as a primary form of transportation by fur-traders, explorers and missionaries. In Trego, a sign stands which says,
Here on the Great South Bend of the Namekagon was a natural camp-site, home of a band of Chippewa Indians and long used by explorers, missionaries, and fur-traders traveling the Namekagon route between the St. Croix and Chippewa rivers.
In 1767 Jonathan Carver passed this way, downstream on his way from Prairie du Chien to Lake Superior via the Namekagon, St. Croix and Brule rivers. Henry Schoolcraft passed here in 1831 en route from Lake Superior to the St. Croix.
During the 1870's, ox teams hauled logging supplies on the tote road from Stillwater to Veazie Settlement, located two miles up river where the great Veazie Dam impounded water for log drives down the Namekagon to Stillwater.
Native American culture (pre-1831)
The Namekagon was used by the Ojibwe tribe as a source of food and transportation. Every May the Ojibwe used a fish dam to fish the sturgeon that took residence in the river. Large rocks blocked the sturgeon passing on either side so they would swim through the center, where fisherman would spear the fish as they swam into large baskets. The river was also used as a primary source of transportation for the Ojibwe as discovered by European explorers and fur traders. They noted there were heavily used portages between the large bodies of water. Pictographs were drawn on trees that provided information of different species of the area. On the upper portion of the river sat an Ojibwe village off of Lake Pacwawong, where the Native Americans grew wild rice on the river, as well as blueberries, pumpkins, corn, potatoes, and beans.[9]
European-American culture (1831-1860)
Henry Schoolcraft, an explorer who lived among Native American tribes, led two different expeditions along the Namekagon. Schoolcraft described the river at northern portage near Cable, Wisconsin as being seventy-five feet wide and eighteen inches at the deepest part. The river banks were rich with large pines, hardwood and spruce. Brook Trout was in abundance along the river, and was used as a primary food source by the explorers at the time. A few years after Schoolcraft's expedition, the United States government enlisted geologists to describe the riverbed floor. The geologists found that the river bed was a mixture of thin sandy silt with gravelly riverbanks and contained a range of rock sizes from small pebbles to large boulders that sat in the middle of the river.[9]
Logging (1861-1901)
Before the construction of the state road in 1877, the Namekagon River was a primary means of transportation. Early logging in the area was accomplished by selecting the trees closest to the river bank, and floating them down the river to the saw mill. The arrival of the railway saw an opportunity for the Lumber companies to expand the marketplaces across state lines to larger markets. In 1855, Anthony Hayward was given permission from the Wisconsin Legislature to build, operate and maintain dam sites along the Namekagon.[9]
Recreation
The Namekagon is a site of many recreational activities such as recreational tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and other activities.[10]
Wildlife
The Namekagon River offers a variety of wildlife. Most prominent wildlife are the Brook Trout. In addition, there is also walleye, bass, muskellunge, northern pike and panfish.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Namekagon River
- ^ "Namekagon River". Columbia Gazetteer of North America. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Watershed - Upper Namekagon River". Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Watershed - Lower Namekagon River". Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ a b "St. Croix River, Minnesota, Wisconsin". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
the Namekagon River from Lake Namekagon downstream to its confluence with the St. Croix River
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed October 5, 2012
- ^ The National Map viewer, accessed August 11, 2015.
- ^ "History of the River – Namekagon River". Retrieved 2020-08-03.
- ^ a b c Shirey, Patrick; Medland, Jill; Lamberti, Gary (June 2009), Namekagon River Cold-Water Zone Fish Habitat History Report (PDF), pp. 8–11
- ^ "Canoeing & Kayaking – Namekagon River". Retrieved 2020-08-03.
- ^ "Fishing – Namekagon River". Retrieved 2020-08-03.