Tarkio River

The Tarkio River (also known as the Big Tarkio River) is a non-navigable river that stretches for approximately 140 miles (225 km)^[1] from Cass County, Iowa to its mouth on the Missouri River in Holt County, Missouri.^[2]

The river basin which drains approximately 508 square miles (1,316 km²)^[3] is sandwiched between the Nishnabotna River to the west and the Nodaway River to the east.

The name "Tarkio" is from a Native American word meaning "place where walnuts grow".^[4][5]

The river passes rural areas and figures most prominently in the drainage system nears its mouth in management of

Course

The river starts as an

• Old Channel Tarkio River - The river originally flowed further south along the base of the bluffs by Craig, Missouri. It now drains into Little Tarkio Creek.
• Little Tarkio Creek - The creek which begins in the bluffs above the Missouri flows on the east side of Big Lake and passes Fortescue, Missouri before emptying into the Missouri at RM 493 (RK 793).
• Old Channel Little Tarkio Creek - The creek flows on the west side of Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge and drains into Little Tarkio Ditch
• Little Tarkio Ditch - The ditch drains the water from the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge and drains into the Missouri at approximately RM 485 (RK 781).

Flooding

The drainage of the river through the flatlands of the Missouri can sometimes lead to spectacular floods when the river cannot drain. In the

• List of rivers of Iowa

References