Eau Claire River (Chippewa River)
Encyclopedia
The Eau Claire River is a tributary
of the Chippewa River
in west-central Wisconsin
in the United States
. It is one of three rivers by this name in Wisconsin. Via the Chippewa River, it is part of the Mississippi River
watershed
. Its name is the French
translation from the Ojibwe
Wayaa-gonaatigweyaa-ziibi (Clear potable-water River).
and flow generally southwestwardly through northeastern Clark and northwestern Eau Claire
Counties. The North Fork is about 25 mi (40 km) long and flows past the village of Lublin
; it collects the Wolf River in Eau Claire County. The South Fork is about 35 mi (56 km) long.
From the convergence of its headwaters' forks, the Eau Claire River flows generally westwardly through northern Eau Claire County for about 40 mi (64 km), past the city of Altoona
to its confluence with the Chippewa River in downtown Eau Claire
. Two dam
s along its course in Eau Claire County cause the river to form two reservoirs: Lake Eau Claire and Lake Altoona. Upstream from Altoona, just north of the village of Fall Creek
, the river passes over a waterfall
known as Big Falls, which is the site of a county park
.
, where the signatory Ojibwe
Bands may hunt, fish and gather to maintain their cultural livelihood.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
in west-central Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is one of three rivers by this name in Wisconsin. Via the Chippewa River, it is part of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. Its name is the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
translation from the Ojibwe
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
Wayaa-gonaatigweyaa-ziibi (Clear potable-water River).
Course
The Eau Claire River rises as two streams, the North Fork Eau Claire River and the South Fork Eau Claire River, both of which rise in southwestern Taylor CountyTaylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
and flow generally southwestwardly through northeastern Clark and northwestern Eau Claire
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire....
Counties. The North Fork is about 25 mi (40 km) long and flows past the village of Lublin
Lublin, Wisconsin
Lublin is a village in Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lublin is located at , along the North Fork Eau Claire River near its headwaters....
; it collects the Wolf River in Eau Claire County. The South Fork is about 35 mi (56 km) long.
From the convergence of its headwaters' forks, the Eau Claire River flows generally westwardly through northern Eau Claire County for about 40 mi (64 km), past the city of Altoona
Altoona, Wisconsin
Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,706 at the 2010 census. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.-History:...
to its confluence with the Chippewa River in downtown Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
. Two dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s along its course in Eau Claire County cause the river to form two reservoirs: Lake Eau Claire and Lake Altoona. Upstream from Altoona, just north of the village of Fall Creek
Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Fall Creek is a village in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,236 at the 2000 census. The village is located within and entirely surrounded by the Town of Lincoln.-Geography:Fall Creek is located at ....
, the river passes over a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
known as Big Falls, which is the site of a county park
County park
A county park is a park managed by a county. In the United States, county parks are lower in hierarchy than state parks. In the United Kingdom, similar parks for recreation are named country parks....
.
Cultural information
Eau Claire River serves in part as the southern boundary for the 1837 Treaty-ceded TerritoryTreaty of St. Peters
Treaty of St. Peters may be one of two treaties conducted between the United States and Native American peoples, conducted at the confluence of the Minnesota River with the Mississippi River, in what today is Mendota, Minnesota....
, where the signatory Ojibwe
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
Bands may hunt, fish and gather to maintain their cultural livelihood.