Des Lacs River

Des Lacs River
The Des Lacs River in North Dakota.
Etymology	From the French Riviere des Lacs, given by fur trappers and meaning River of the Lakes.
Location
Country	United States, Canada
Region	Saskatchewan, North Dakota
Cities	Burlington, North Dakota, Kenmare, North Dakota
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada
• coordinates	48°35′25″N 101°59′49″W[1]
Mouth	Souris River
• location	North Dakota, United States
• coordinates	48°16′47″N 101°25′08″W[1]
• elevation	1,558 ft (475 m)
Basin features
River system	Souris River basin

The Des Lacs River is a river in central North America which flows through Saskatchewan and North Dakota. It originates in southeastern Saskatchewan and joins the Souris River, of which it is the primary tributary,[2] in Burlington, North Dakota.[1]

Natural history

The Des Lacs River was formed by catastrophic meltwater release from two large glacial lakes about 10,000 years ago.[2]

The Des Lacs river is perennial, exhibiting many old oxbow lakes, meander scars, and relict channels. Prior to settlement, numerous riverine wetlands, ponds, and marshes were maintained by periodic flooding. With settlement of the region, the Des Lac river was significantly modified by drainage and channelization, and by construction of many low head dams along the river. Because of these changes, few natural riverine wetlands remain.[2]

History

Ethnographic accounts indicate that the Assiniboine, Sioux, Mandan, Hidatsa, Plains Ojibwa, and Atsina peoples all made use of the region for hunting or trade route purposes, though few archaeological sites have been formally identified. Historical records indicate that southern Assiniboine tribes were the last inhabitants of the Des Lacs River valley prior to Euro-American settlement.[3]

Early settlers came to the region in the early 1880s and consisted of ranchers claiming land in the valley for cattle and forage production. A Lignite coal mine had been established at the mouth of the river by 1880. Accessibility to the region was increased with extensions of Great Northern Railway in 1886 and the Soo Line in 1893. After 1896 settlement of the valley began in earnest and town sites were established. During this period the Des Lacs River was briefly used to transport grain by barge to Kenmare, North Dakota, where it was unloaded and shipped on the Soo Line.[4]

See also

• List of rivers of Saskatchewan
• List of rivers of North Dakota

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Des Lacs River
2. "Comprehensive Conservation Plan Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 2007. p. 26. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
3. "Comprehensive Conservation Plan Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 2007. pp. 56–57. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
4. "Comprehensive Conservation Plan Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 2007. pp. 58–59. Retrieved 19 March 2013.