{{short description|River in Iowa, United States}} {{Infobox river | name = Middle River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Middle River Iowa upstream.jpg | image_caption = The Middle River, looking upstream from the Summerset Trail in Warren County | map = Middle ia rivermap.png | map_size = | map_caption = Map of the Des Moines River watershed with the Middle River highlighted | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = US | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Iowa | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = District | subdivision_name4 = Warren, Madison, Adair and Guthrie counties | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|123|mi}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= Indianola, Iowa | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 300 cu/ft. per sec.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv/?site_no=05486490&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060|title = USGS Current Conditions for USGS 05486490 Middle River near Indianola, IA}}</ref> | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= {{coord|41.590|-94.695|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|1466|ft|abbr=on}} | mouth = Des Moines River | mouth_location = US | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41.482|-93.402|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|758|ft|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|489.5|sqmi}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = South Fork Middle River | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = <ref name=MiddleRiver>*{{Gnis|459049|Middle River}}</ref> }} The '''Middle River''' is a tributary of the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa in the United States. It is {{convert|123|mi}} long<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed May 26, 2011</ref> and drains an area of {{convert|489.5|sqmi}}.<ref>Iowa Department of Natural Resources/Iowa Geological Survey. [http://wqm.igsb.uiowa.edu/activities/stream/monthly%20sites/middlriv.htm Watershed Monitoring and Assessment: Middle River.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311214429/http://wqm.igsb.uiowa.edu/activities/stream/monthly%20sites/middlriv.htm |date=2007-03-11 }}</ref> Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. left|thumb|250px|The Middle River, looking downstream from the Summerset Trail
The Middle River rises in southwestern Guthrie County and initially flows southeastwardly through Adair County, then eastwardly through Madison County, then east-northeastwardly through Warren County, passing the towns of Casey, Winterset, Patterson, Bevington, Martensdale, Spring Hill and Carlisle.<ref name=DeLorme>DeLorme (1998). ''Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer''. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. {{ISBN|0-89933-214-5}}.</ref> A substantial portion of the Middle River's course through Warren County has been straightened and channelized.<ref name=DeLorme/> It joins the Des Moines River in Warren County near Carlisle, {{convert|13|mi}} southeast of Des Moines.<ref name=Columbia>[http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/M/M06931-middle-river.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry for Middle River] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312034916/http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/M/M06931-middle-river.html |date=2007-03-12 }}</ref>
{{anchor|South Fork Middle River}}A short headwaters tributary of the river is known as the '''South Fork Middle River'''.<ref>{{cite gnis|id=461783|name=South Fork Middle River}}</ref> It rises near the western edge of Guthrie County, about a mile north of Adair, at an elevation of {{convert|1433|ft}} and flows generally east-southeast for about {{convert|5|mi|spell=in}} passing just south of Casey before turning northeast as it empties into the Middle River just east of Casey at an elevation of {{convert|1195|ft}}.
==See also== *List of Iowa rivers *Roseman Covered Bridge
==References== <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311072625/http://www.madisoncountyparks.org/river.htm Middle River public access areas in Madison County] *[https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt Iowa USGS Real-Time Statewide Streamflow Tables]
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Category:Rivers of Iowa Category:Rivers of Adair County, Iowa Category:Rivers of Guthrie County, Iowa Category:Rivers of Madison County, Iowa Category:Rivers of Warren County, Iowa Category:Tributaries of the Des Moines River