Osage River

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Osage River
Map of the Osage River watershed showing the Niangua River
Location
Country	United States
State	Missouri Kansas
Region	Osage Plains, Ozarks
City	Warsaw, Lake Ozark, Tuscumbia, St. Thomas
Physical characteristics
Source confluence
• location	Vernon County, Missouri
• coordinates	38°01′39″N 94°14′39″W / 38.02750°N 94.24417°W / 38.02750; -94.24417
• elevation	722 ft (220 m)
Mouth	Missouri River
• location	Bonnots Mill, Missouri
• coordinates	38°35′49″N 91°56′43″W / 38.59694°N 91.94528°W / 38.59694; -91.94528[1]
• elevation	518 ft (158 m)
Length	276 mi (444 km)
Basin size	15,300 sq mi (40,000 km2)
Discharge
• location	near St. Thomas, MO
• average	10,879 cu ft/s (308.1 m3/s)
• minimum	640 cu ft/s (18 m3/s)
• maximum	216,000 cu ft/s (6,100 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Clear Creek, Sac River, Pomme de Terre River, Niangua River
Watersheds	Osage-Missouri-Mississippi

The Osage River is a 276-mile-long (444 km)

.

The river flows generally easterly, then northeasterly for the final 80 miles (130 km) where it joins the Missouri River. It is impounded in two major locations. Most of the river has been converted into a chain of two reservoirs, the

.

Description

The Osage is formed in southwestern Missouri, approximately 14 miles (23 km) northeast of

.

Downstream from the Truman Dam, the river becomes the serpentine Lake of the Ozarks, stretching eastward for nearly 92 miles (148 km) to Bagnell Dam in Camden County and southwestern Miller County. Constructed in 1931, the dam collects the Niangua River. Downstream from the dam, the Osage flows freely to the northeast in broad oxbow meanders through forested bluffs, joining the Missouri approximately 15 miles (24 km) east and downstream of Jefferson City.

History

The river is named for the

caused by its tight meandering course through the hills.

The

attempted as early as 1839 to deepen the channel of the river. Early attempts failed because of lack of funding for the immense task. Commercial navigation on the river in the 19th century was confined mostly to smaller craft that could navigate the tight bends and shoals of the river. Improvements in the channel by the last two decades of the century led to greater commercial traffic. These changes made the lower reaches of the river navigable for steamboat commerce for a period of six to nine months out of the year.

Transportation

Prior to the construction of the Bagnell Dam, the main method of crossing the river was the Bagnell Ferry, which began operation in 1882, speared by Samuel Umpsted as the contractor. Several ferry accidents, including sinking, resulted in the deaths of several customers. The ferry declined in operation towards 1940, years after the dam had finished.^[4]

Hydroelectricity

In the 20th century, private construction of the Bagnell Dam, primarily to generate hydroelectricity, began in 1922 and was completed after nine years. It effectively ended commercial navigation on the river. The federally constructed Truman Dam was authorized by the federal Flood Control Act of 1954 and was completed in 1979.

The two dams on the river generate power for the

metropolitan area. The large reservoirs have become popular tourist destinations and recreation areas in the region.

See also

• List of Kansas rivers
• List of Missouri rivers

References

External links

• "Navigating the Osage River in Missouri: 1839-1926", hosted by Miller County Museum