| Caney River Little Verdigris, Cana, Connie | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Native name | Kènii Sipu (Unami) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas,Oklahoma |
| City | Bartlesville, OK |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Elk County,Kansas,United States |
| • coordinates | 37°29′14″N096°28′34″W / 37.48722°N 96.47611°W /37.48722; -96.47611[3] |
| • elevation | 1,145 ft (349 m) |
| Mouth | Verdigris River |
• location | NearVerdigris,Oklahoma,United States |
• coordinates | 36°20′16″N095°41′57″W / 36.33778°N 95.69917°W /36.33778; -95.69917[3] |
• elevation | 167 ft (51 m)[3] |
| Length | 180 mi (290 km), South[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Ramona |
| • average | 1,701 cu ft/s (48.2 m3/s)[2] |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Verdigris River |
TheCaney River (Lenape: Kènii Sipu[4]) is a 180-mile-long (290 km)[1]river in southernKansas and northeasternOklahoma. The river is atributary of theVerdigris River, and is usually a flatwater stream.
The Caney forms just north of the town ofGrenola inElk County, Kansas, then moves south intoOklahoma nearElgin, Kansas. It then flows south throughOsage County, where it is dammed nearBowring to formHulah Lake. Downstream of the Hulah dam, the river flows intoWashington County through the center ofBartlesville, where it separates the city's downtown from its residential east side. Just south of Bartlesville, the river turns southeast and flows intoRogers County, where it joins theVerdigris River betweenCollinsville andClaremore.[5]
The river is normally flat water, except when there are heavy rainstorms within the drainage area. It is popular forcanoeing, both above and below Hulah Lake. However, there are almost no facilities for boaters betweenWah-Sha-She State Park (near Hulah Dam) and the confluence with the Verdigris River.[5] The river does feature Osro Falls, an oldcovered wagon crossing point nearHewins, Kansas.[6] The waterfall only measures about 3 feet in height, but extends nearly 200 feet across the river.[6]
The river caused disastrous floods in the Bartlesville area in 1885, 1926 and 1986.[7]
The dam at Hulah Lake is operated by theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers. In October 1986 the Corps was forced to openfloodgates at the dam due to above-average rainfall in theGreat Plains.[8] The resulting500-year flood split Bartlesville virtually in half for several days and caused more thanUS$30 million in property damage.[9][10]