White River (Arkansas)

Geobox River
name = White River
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =

image_size = 300
image_caption = The White River at Des Arc, Arkansas
country = United States
country1 =
state = Arkansas
state1 = Missouri
region =
region1 =
district =
district1 =
city = Newport
city1 = Batesville
city2 = Fayetteville
length_imperial = 722
length_note =
watershed_imperial = 27765
watershed_note = [ [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2006/June/Day-02/i5057.htm Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the White River Minimum Flow Reallocation Study, AR | Federal Register Environmental Documents | USEPA ] ]
discharge_location = Devalls Bluff
discharge_imperial = 26180
discharge_max_imperial = 154000
discharge_min_imperial = 3230
discharge_note = [http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-ar-05/WDR-AR-05-1.pdf USGS Water Data Reports for the United States, 2005.]
discharge1_location =
discharge1_imperial =
source_name = Boston Mountains
source_location = Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
source_district =
source_region = Madison County
source_state = Arkansas
source_country =
source_lat_d = 35
source_lat_m = 50
source_lat_s = 20
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 93
source_long_m = 36
source_long_s = 16
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note = Gnis|78762|White River, USGS GNIS.]
source_elevation_imperial = 2260
source_elevation_note = [Google Earth elevation for GNIS source coordinates.]
source_length_imperial =
mouth_name = Mississippi River
mouth_location = Desha County
mouth_district =
mouth_region =
mouth_state = Arkansas
mouth_country =
mouth_lat_d = 33
mouth_lat_m = 57
mouth_lat_s = 5
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 91
mouth_long_m = 4
mouth_long_s = 53
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 188
mouth_elevation_note = [Google Earth elevation for GNIS mouth coordinates.]
tributary_left = James River
tributary_left1 = Nork Fork River
tributary_left2 = Black River
tributary_right = Buffalo River
tributary_right1 = Little Red River
tributary_right2 = Bayou des Arc
free_name =
free_value =

---

map_size = 300
map_caption = Map of the White River watershed

Course

The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville.The river flows northwards from its source in northwest Arkansas, loops up through southwest Missouri near Branson and then travels back into Arkansas and then generally southeast to its mouth at the Mississippi River.

Once the river enters the Mississippi River Delta region near Batesville, Arkansas the river becomes navigable to shallow-draft vessels, and its speed decreases considerably. The final 10 miles of the river serves as the final segment of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; this part of the channel is deeper than the rest of the river.

Despite being much shorter than the Arkansas River, it carries nearly as much water, over 8,200 cubic feet per second normally, and as much as 40,000 ft³/s during flooding.

River modifications

A controversial plan to deepen the navigation channel of the river (above the McClellan-Kerr segment) is under consideration though it is opposed by many Arkansans. The lower portion of the river contains a multitude of wildlife species including bear, turkey, songbirds, and over 160 species of fish. Many residents of Arkansas believe that deepening the navigation channel will adversely affect the wildlife which is a major source of tourism in the area. However, many farmers along parts of the White support the proposal for economic reasons.

Lake Taneycomo was created in 1913 when the Empire District Electric Company built a dam just south of Forsyth, Missouri. [cite book|last=Pfister|first=Fred|title=Insider's Guide: Branson and the Ozark Mountains|date=2006|id=ISBN 0-7627-4042-6] Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, and Table Rock Lake are reservoirs created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the authority of the [http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/Omnibus/FAC1938B.pdf Flood Control Act of 1938] . A total of eight dams impound the upper White River, six in Arkansas and two in Missouri. The White River National Wildlife Refuge lies along the lower part of the river.

Tributaries

The tributaries of the White River include Cache River, Bayou des Arc, Little Red River, Black River, North Fork River, Buffalo River, James River, and Roaring River. Some cities that lie on the White River are Newport, Arkansas and Batesville, Arkansas.

ee also

*Cotter Bridge
*List of Arkansas rivers
*List of Missouri rivers
*Whitewater Development Corporation

References