| Neosho River | |
|---|---|
 Neosho River nearNeosho Rapids, Kansas | |
 Map of the Neosho River and its watershed | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas,Oklahoma |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | NearWhite City, Kansas |
| • coordinates | 38°47′22″N96°44′39″W / 38.78944°N 96.74417°W /38.78944; -96.74417[1] |
| • elevation | 1,450 ft (440 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Arkansas River |
• coordinates | 35°47′32″N95°17′40″W / 35.79222°N 95.29444°W /35.79222; -95.29444[1] |
• elevation | 489 ft (149 m)[1] |
| Length | 463 mi (745 km) |
| Basin size | 11,534 sq mi (29,870 km2)[3] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | USGS gage 07191500 nearChouteau, OK[3] |
| • average | 8,954 cu ft/s (253.5 m3/s)[3] |
| • minimum | 12 cu ft/s (0.34 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 154,000 cu ft/s (4,400 m3/s) |
TheNeosho River is atributary of theArkansas River in easternKansas and northeasternOklahoma in theUnited States. Its tributaries also drain portions ofMissouri andArkansas. Theriver is about 463 miles (745 km) long.[4] Via the Arkansas, it is part of theMississippi Riverwatershed. Its name is anOsage word meaning "clear water."[5] The lower section is also known as theGrand River.
The Neosho's headwaters are inMorris County, Kansas, and it flows southeast through Kansas. InOttawa County, Oklahoma, the river turns south-southwest for the remainder of its course through Oklahoma. It meets the Arkansas River near the city ofMuskogee, about a mile downstream of the confluence of the Arkansas River and theVerdigris River. The area of convergence of the three rivers Arkansas, Verdigris and Neosho is called "Three Forks."
In Oklahoma the Neosho ends at its confluence withSpring River at theTwin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park. From that point on it is called theGrand River. The Grand River flows south to theGrand Lake.
The Neosho has beendammed at several points along its course, in most cases by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In Kansas, a dam upstream ofCouncil Grove formsCouncil Grove Lake, and a dam nearNew Strawn formsJohn Redmond Reservoir. There are also 12 dams in between John Redmond and the Kansas border, including lowhead dams at Burlington, Neosho Falls, Ottawa, Iola, Humboldt, two near Chanute and Erie. It was also dammed to provide water for the city of Parsons, and is also dammed at the former Kansas Gas & Electric Power Plant at Strauss, as well as at Oswego and Chetopa.[6] In Oklahoma,Pensacola Dam atLangley forms the Neosho's largest reservoir, theGrand Lake o' the Cherokees.Robert S. Kerr Dam nearLocust Grove formsLake Hudson, (also known as Markham Ferry Reservoir), and a dam upstream ofFort Gibson formsFort Gibson Lake.
In Kansas, the Neosho is joined by theCottonwood River inLyon County. In Oklahoma, it is joined by theSpring River in Ottawa County and theElk River inDelaware County.
According to theGeographic Names Information System, the Neosho River has also been known as:
