Namekagon River
The Namekagon River (pronounced NAM-uh-KAH-gun) is a tributary of the St. Croix River. It is approximately 95 mi (155 km) long and is located in northwestern Wisconsin in the United States. Its course is protected as part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The Namekagon River varies from an intimate cold-water trout stream, closed in by a predominantly coniferous forest, to a slow-moving body of water which flows through marsh and swamp land. A narrow, twisting river, it is best navigated by canoe or kayak.
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the river's name has also
been spelled Namakagon and Namekagan. Its name is derived from the
Ojibwe language Namekaagong-ziibi, meaning "River at the place abundant
with Sturgeons."
The Namekagon River issues from Namekagon Lake in
southeastern Bayfield County and flows southwestwardly through Sawyer and
Washburn Counties, past Hayward,
and
northwestwardly into Burnett County, where it joins the St. Croix, 45 mi (72 km)
south of the city of Superior. Near its mouth it collects the Totagatic River.
The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers offer 252 miles of clean water gliding past a lush green landscape, with glimpses of a human presence. Choose to canoe and camp amid the north woods, or boat and fish surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. This river corridor provides a wealth of scenic views and a haven for wildlife.
The Namekagon Is well known in the area for its beauty. Many species of wildlife are abundant for viewing in their natural state. The Namekagon has been quoted as "a great alternative to the increasingly busy boundary waters".
In 1968 Congress
passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to protect streams and rivers that were
still relatively free flowing and possessing unique scenic beauty or ecological
significance. Eight rivers were included in the original act. One was the
St.Croix River with its main tributary, the Namekagon River. They are among the
cleanest and most pristine river systems in the Midwest. The Riverway embraces
significant resources centered around the free-flowing, high quality waters and
their riparian environments. Diverse habitats explain the variety of plants and
animals.
The
rivers are nurseries for many common flying insects such as dragonflies and
mosquitoes, as well as homes for many aquatic insects. The variety of fish
ranges from minnows to muskies. The rivers also contain the greatest diversity
of mussels in the Upper Mississippi River system.