{{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Shade River | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = East Branch Shade River Ohio.jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = The East Branch of the Shade River in Chester Township in 2006 | map = Shade River map.png | map_size = 300 | map_caption = Map of the Shade River and its watershed | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Ohio | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Meigs | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|17.4|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="ODNR">{{cite web |url=https://soilandwater.ohiodnr.gov/portals/soilwater/pdf/stream/GAZETTEER_OF_OHIO_STREAMS.pdf |title=Gazetteer of Ohio Streams |author= Ohio Department of Natural Resources |authorlink= Ohio Department of Natural Resources |date=August 2001 |page= 65 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110815131725/http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/7/pubs/pdfs/GAZETTEER_OF_OHIO_STREAMS.pdf |archivedate= 2011-08-15|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = near Chester<ref name=USGS>{{cite web |url=https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/03159540.2012.pdf |title=Water-Data Report 2012, 03159540 Shade River near Chester, OH |year= 2012 |publisher=United States Geological Survey |accessdate=2014-01-07}}</ref> | discharge1_min = {{convert|0.00|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = {{convert|174|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=USGS>{{cite web |url=https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/03159540.2012.pdf |title=Water-Data Report 2012, 03159540 Shade River near Chester, OH |year= 2012 |publisher=United States Geological Survey |accessdate=2014-01-07}}</ref> | discharge1_max = {{convert|15600|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = West Branch Shade River | source1_location = Scipio Township, Meigs County | source1_coordinates = {{coord|39|11|28|N|82|09|24|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNISw">{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|1067045}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for West Branch Shade River (Feature ID #1067045) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|853|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="GE"/> | source1_length = {{convert|20.8|mi|km|abbr=on}} | source2 = Middle Branch Shade River | source2_location = Athens Township, Athens County | source2_coordinates = {{coord|39|18|33|N|82|04|52|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNISm">{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|1075196}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for Middle Branch Shade River (Feature ID #1075196) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> | source2_elevation = {{convert|950|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="GE">Google Earth elevation for GNIS source coordinates</ref> | source2_length = {{convert|28.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} | source_confluence = | source_confluence_location = Chester Township, Meigs County | source_confluence_coordinates= {{coord|39|05|58|N|81|55|21|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNIS">{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|1066950}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for Shade River (Feature ID #1066950) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> | source_confluence_elevation = {{convert|574|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=GE/> | mouth = Ohio River | mouth_location = Olive Township, Meigs County | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|39|04|03|N|81|48|49|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=GNIS/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|561|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>Google Earth elevation for GNIS mouth coordinates</ref> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|221|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name=ODNR/> | tributaries_left = East Branch Shade River | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}
The '''Shade River''' is a tributary of the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of {{convert|221|mi2|km2}} on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau. The Shade River is {{convert|17.4|mi|km}} long, or {{convert|38.2|mi|km}} including its west branch.<ref name=ODNR/>
The Shade River flows predominantly as three streams, its east, middle, and west branches. It is formed by the confluence of its middle and west branches, and collects its east branch shortly thereafter:<ref name="DeLorme">{{cite book| author = DeLorme Mapping Company| title = Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer| year = 1991| publisher = DeLorme| location = Yarmouth, Me.| isbn = 0-89933-233-1| pages = 80–81 }}</ref>
* The '''West Branch Shade River''' rises in Scipio Township in Meigs County, at an elevation of {{convert|853|ft|m}}, and flows east-southeastwardly through Bedford and Chester Townships.<ref name=GNISw/><ref name=DeLorme/> The West Branch is {{convert|20.8|mi|km}} long and drains an area of {{convert|71.3|mi2|km2}}.<ref name=ODNR/> * The '''Middle Branch Shade River''' rises southeast of the city of Athens in Athens Township in Athens County, at an elevation of {{convert|950|ft|m}}, and flows southeastwardly through Alexander, Lodi, and Carthage Townships in Athens County; and Bedford, Orange, and Chester Townships in Meigs County.<ref name=GNISm/><ref name=DeLorme/> The Middle Branch is {{convert|28.5|mi|km}} long and drains an area of {{convert|57.6|mi2|km2}}.<ref name=ODNR/> * The '''East Branch Shade River''' rises in Lodi Township in Athens County, at an elevation of {{convert|916|ft|m}}, and flows south-southeastwardly through Carthage Township in Athens County, and Orange and Chester Townships in Meigs County.<ref name=GE/><ref name=DeLorme/><ref>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|1075763}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for East Branch Shade River (Feature ID #1075763) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> The East Branch is {{convert|21.9|mi|km}} long and drains an area of {{convert|54.9|mi2|km2}}.<ref name=ODNR/>
From the confluence of the middle and west branches in Chester Township, the Shade River flows generally eastwardly, past the community of Chester. It collects its east branch from the north at the community of Keno, and enters the Ohio River in Olive Township, approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} south of the community of Long Bottom.<ref name=DeLorme/>
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Shade River has also been known historically as "Shade Creek" and as "Devils Hole Creek."<ref name=GNIS/>
==Flow rate== At the United States Geological Survey's stream gauge downstream of Chester, the annual mean flow of the river between 1965 and 2012 was {{convert|174|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=off|sp=us}}. The highest recorded flow during the period was {{convert|15,600|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} on March 2, 1997. The lowest recorded flow was {{convert|0.00|ft3/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} on September 5, 2007.<ref name=USGS/>
==See also== * List of rivers of Ohio * Shade River State Forest {{commons category}}
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:Rivers of Ohio Category:Tributaries of the Ohio River Category:Rivers of Athens County, Ohio Category:Rivers of Meigs County, Ohio