The
Iowa River is a
tributaryA tributary is a stream or river which flows into a main stem river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or some other large body...
of the
Mississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
in the state of
IowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of...
in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is about long and is open to small river craft to
Iowa CityIowa City is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2008 census estimate, the city had a total population of 67,831 making it the fifth-largest city in Iowa. It is the county seat of Johnson County and the home of the University of Iowa. It is located adjacent to Coralville and...
, about from its mouth. Its major tributary is the
Cedar RiverThe Cedar River may refer to any of the following rivers in the United States:*Cedar River *Cedar River , located in Minnesota and Iowa, a tributary of the Iowa River*Cedar River , any of three rivers*Cedar River...
.
It arises in two branches, the West Branch and East Branch, both of which have their headwaters in
Hancock CountyHancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 12,100 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Garner. The county is named in honor of John Hancock, a leader of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution....
, which join after approximately in
BelmondBelmond is a city in Wright County, Iowa, United States. It is located along U.S. Highway 69, 14 miles by road from Clarion, the county seat. The population was 2,560 at the 2000 census....
.
The Iowa then proceeds roughly in a southeast direction, passing through towns of
Iowa FallsIowa Falls is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes 20 and 65 and the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads. The population was 5,193 at the 2000 census. A...
, through a scenic valley to
Steamboat RockSteamboat Rock is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Steamboat Rock is located at ....
,
EldoraEldora is the name of several places in the United States:* Eldora, Colorado** Eldora Mountain Resort* Eldora, Florida* Eldora, Iowa* Eldora, New Jersey* Eldora Speedway, racetrack near Rossburg, Ohio...
,
MarshalltownMarshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Marshall County and the home of Marshalltown Community College. The population was 26,009 at the 2000 census.-History:...
,
TamaTama is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. Tama is located a few miles from the Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa's only significant Native American community. Tama was located on the historic Lincoln Highway and is home to an original Lincoln Highway...
,
MarengoMarengo may refer to:* The Battle of Marengo, of 1800 in northern Italy* Marengo , a département of the First French Empire in northern Italy in the early 19th century* French ship Marengo...
, and through the
Amana ColoniesThe Amana Colonies are a group of settlements of radical German Pietists in Iowa, USA, comprising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration, die Gemeinde der wahren Inspiration, they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now the...
in
Iowa CountyIowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 15,671. Its county seat is Marengo.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
The
Iowa River is a
tributaryA tributary is a stream or river which flows into a main stem river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or some other large body...
of the
Mississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
in the state of
IowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of...
in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is about long and is open to small river craft to
Iowa CityIowa City is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2008 census estimate, the city had a total population of 67,831 making it the fifth-largest city in Iowa. It is the county seat of Johnson County and the home of the University of Iowa. It is located adjacent to Coralville and...
, about from its mouth. Its major tributary is the
Cedar RiverThe Cedar River may refer to any of the following rivers in the United States:*Cedar River *Cedar River , located in Minnesota and Iowa, a tributary of the Iowa River*Cedar River , any of three rivers*Cedar River...
.
It arises in two branches, the West Branch and East Branch, both of which have their headwaters in
Hancock CountyHancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 12,100 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Garner. The county is named in honor of John Hancock, a leader of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution....
, which join after approximately in
BelmondBelmond is a city in Wright County, Iowa, United States. It is located along U.S. Highway 69, 14 miles by road from Clarion, the county seat. The population was 2,560 at the 2000 census....
.
The Iowa then proceeds roughly in a southeast direction, passing through towns of
Iowa FallsIowa Falls is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes 20 and 65 and the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads. The population was 5,193 at the 2000 census. A...
, through a scenic valley to
Steamboat RockSteamboat Rock is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Steamboat Rock is located at ....
,
EldoraEldora is the name of several places in the United States:* Eldora, Colorado** Eldora Mountain Resort* Eldora, Florida* Eldora, Iowa* Eldora, New Jersey* Eldora Speedway, racetrack near Rossburg, Ohio...
,
MarshalltownMarshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Marshall County and the home of Marshalltown Community College. The population was 26,009 at the 2000 census.-History:...
,
TamaTama is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. Tama is located a few miles from the Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa's only significant Native American community. Tama was located on the historic Lincoln Highway and is home to an original Lincoln Highway...
,
MarengoMarengo may refer to:* The Battle of Marengo, of 1800 in northern Italy* Marengo , a département of the First French Empire in northern Italy in the early 19th century* French ship Marengo...
, and through the
Amana ColoniesThe Amana Colonies are a group of settlements of radical German Pietists in Iowa, USA, comprising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration, die Gemeinde der wahren Inspiration, they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now the...
in
Iowa CountyIowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 15,671. Its county seat is Marengo.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. In
Johnson CountyJohnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 111,006. The 2007 estimate was 125,692. Its county seat is Iowa City, also home of the University of Iowa...
, it becomes impounded by the Coralville Dam in the
Coralville ReservoirCoralville Lake is a reservoir formed by Coralville Dam, a dam on the Iowa River just upstream from the city of Coralville, Iowa. Construction started in 1949, was delayed by the Korean War, and finally finished in 1958...
, which turns southward to the spillway. The river runs generally south and passes through Iowa City and the
University of IowaThe University of Iowa is a public research university located in Iowa City, Iowa. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
campus. A lowhead dam at Burlington Street in Iowa City is the last dam before the river's confluence with the Mississippi. South of Iowa City, it is joined by the
English RiverThe English River is a tributary of the Iowa River in southeastern Iowa in the United States. Measured from the source of its longest headwaters tributary, it is 85 mi long. Via the Iowa River, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed. The Deep River is a minor tributary of the English River...
, and then in
Louisa CountyLouisa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 12,183. A 2008 estimate shows a slight decrease in population to 11,725. Its county seat is Wapello. In Iowa, it is pronounced as low-WHY-zuh .Louisa County is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical...
joins with the Cedar River to flow into the Mississippi.
The Iowa River is noted for recreational and commercial fishing. Game fish include
largemouthThe largemouth bass is a species of fish in the sunfish family. It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth and northern largemouth...
and
smallmouth bassThe smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
,
walleyeWalleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
,
northern pikeThe northern pike , Esox lucius, is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
,
channelChannel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8 million...
and
flathead catfishThe flathead catfish , also called the yellow cat, opelousas, and shovelhead cat, are large North American freshwater catfish. This is the only species of the genus Pylodictis...
,
crappiePomoxis is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
and other
panfishA Panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan. The term is also commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal...
. The Coralville Reservoir is
commercially fishedCommercial fishing is the activity of capturing fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse...
for
carpCarp is a common name for various species of an oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family...
and
buffalo fishIctiobus is a genus of freshwater fish known as buffalo fish. It is sometimes mistaken for carp because of its flat face and large, silver scales running along the body, though it lacks the whisker-like mouth appendages common to carp....
.
Pine Lake
State Park is located on the Iowa River at
EldoraEldora is the name of several places in the United States:* Eldora, Colorado** Eldora Mountain Resort* Eldora, Florida* Eldora, Iowa* Eldora, New Jersey* Eldora Speedway, racetrack near Rossburg, Ohio...
.
Floods
The Iowa can flood, notably in the
June 2008 Midwest floodsThe June 2008 Midwestern United States floods were flooding events which affected portions of the Midwest United States. After months of heavy precipitation, a number of rivers overflowed their banks for several weeks at a time and broke through levees at numerous locations. Flooding continued...
, and the
Great Flood of 1993The Great Flood of 1993 was among the most costly and devastating ever to occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages. The hydrographic basin affected covered around 745 miles in length and 435 miles in width, totaling about 320,000 square miles...
. The Cedar and its tributaries, including the
Shell Rock RiverThe Shell Rock River is a tributary of the Cedar River, 102 mi long in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in the United States. Via the Cedar and Iowa Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Shell Rock River" as the...
, can contribute to flooding events.