| Root River | |
| Map: | rootrivermap.jpg |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | States |
| Subdivision Name2: | Minnesota |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona |
| Subdivision Type4: | Cities |
| Subdivision Name4: | Chatfield, Forestville, Hokah, Houston, Lanesboro, Rushford, Peterson, Preston, Stewartville, Whalan |
| Discharge1 Location: | 43.7619°N -91.2518°W |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.8066°N -92.1704°W |
| Mouth: | Mississippi River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.7619°N -91.2518°W |
| River System: | Mississippi River |
| Tributaries Left: | Kinney Creek, Lynch Creek, Mill Creek, Money Creek, North Branch Root River, Raaen Creek, Rush Creek, Torkelson Creek, Trout Run |
| Tributaries Right: | Diamond Creek (Root River tributary), Ferndale Creek, Gribben Creek, Middle Fork Root River, Partridge Creek, South Branch Root River, Rice Creek, South Fork Root River |
| Bridges: | Moen's Bridge |
The Root River flows for [1] through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. The Root River is formed by three branches, the North, South and Middle branches of the Root River and the South Fork Root River. It is an excellent river for canoeing and fishing. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota, to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin and east of Hokah, Minnesota.
Root River is an English translation of the Dakota-language name Hokah.[2]
The Root River is formed by the merger of its North Branch Root River and Middle Fork Root River in Chatfield, Minnesota. A mile and a half north of Lanesboro, Minnesota it is joined by the South Branch Root River. The South Fork Root River joins the Root River near Houston, Minnesota.[3]
The South Branch Root River rises in Mower County as agricultural drainage ditches, which disappear underground, re-emerging as a much cooler stream[4] at Mystery Cave near Preston, Minnesota. The 48°F water creates superb conditions for brook trout.
The Root River and its tributaries lie within Minnesota's Driftless Area, a region which missed being glaciated during the last ice age, i.e., the Wisconsinian glaciation.
At Houston, the Root River's discharge was 845.2 cubic feet per second in 1961.[5] [6]
Many fish species such as brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel catfish, crappies, shorthead redhorse, river redhorse, golden redhorse, silver redhorse, Longnose Sturgeon, greater redhorse, black redhorse, northern hogsuckers, and white suckers inhabit the river. The Root River system provides habitat to a number of bird species. Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles can be found in the area. Blue herons, wild turkeys, and wood ducks are also commonly seen. Numerous mammals can be spotted in the region including deer, gray fox, red fox, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and badgers.
The Root River State Trail is a 42adj=midNaNadj=mid trail for bicycling, hiking, skating, skiing, etc. It begins in Fountain and continues through Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and Houston.
As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the river rose to, about a foot short of the height of the dike protecting the town of Houston.[7]
. Warren Upham. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 196.