Cossatot River: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|River in Arkansas, United States}}

The '''Cossatot River''' is a river in the [[U.S. state]] [[Arkansas]].

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Cossatot River

| image = Cossatot River Arkansas.jpg

| image_caption = The Cossatot River near [[Gillham Lake]] in [[Howard County, Arkansas]]

| map = Little red rivermap.png

| map_caption = The Little River watershed

| source1_location = [[Ouachita Mountains]]

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|34.48122|-94.19354|region:US-AR|format=dms|name=Cossatot River, source}}

| mouth_location = [[Gillham Lake]], [[Howard County, Arkansas]]

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|33.79123|-94.15408|region:US-AR|format=dms|name=Cossatot River, mouth|display=inline,title}}

| discharge1_location= [[DeQueen, Arkansas]]

| discharge1_avg = 638 cu/ft. per sec.<ref>[https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?site_no=07340500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 USGS data]</ref>

| extra = {{Designation list

| embed = yes

| designation1 = nwsr

| designation1_type = Scenic, Recreational

| designation1_date = April 22, 1992

| designation1_number =

}}

}}

{{GeoGroup}}

The '''Cossatot River''' is an {{convert|89|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}<ref name=NHD>{{cite web |url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |title=The National Map |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |accessdate=March 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |archivedate=March 29, 2012 }}</ref> river in [[Howard County, Arkansas|Howard]], [[Polk County, Arkansas|Polk]] and [[Sevier County, Arkansas|Sevier]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite web

|url ={{GNIS 3|76680}}

|title =Cossatot River

|work =Geographic Names Information System

|publisher =United States Geological Survey

}}

</ref>

The Cossatot begins in the [[Ouachita Mountains]] northeastsoutheast of [[Mena, Arkansas]]. The river flows through the [[Ouachita National Forest]] and then in a generally southerly direction until it empties into Gillham Lake. After exiting [[Gillham Lake]] the river becomes leisurely until it joins with the [[Little River (LousianaRed River)|Little River]]. at the site where it empties into [[Millwood Lake]].

Cossatot is an Indian word for "skull crusher". The Cossatot is known as an extremely difficult (class V) whitewater stream to [[canoeing|canoeists]] and [[kayaking|kayakers]] and a section at Cossatot Falls in [[Howard County, Arkansas]] has been called "the most challenging section of whitewater between the Smokies and the Rockies". An 11-mile section including Cossatot Falls is designated as the [[Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area]].

Cossatot comes from an Indian term which translates roughly to skull crusher. The Cossatot is known as a difficult (class II - IV+) whitewater stream to [[canoeing|canoeists]] and [[kayaking|kayakers]] and a section at Cossatot Falls in [[Howard County, Arkansas]] has been called "the most challenging section of whitewater between the Smokies and the Rockies," though there are many more challenging runs in the state of Arkansas, such as Richland Creek, Crooked Creek or the Upper Buffalo (Hailstone run). An 11-mile (18-km) section including Cossatot Falls is designated as the [[Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area]]. Cossatot Falls is a series of back-to-back class III-IV+ rapids that drops around 40 feet in 1/8 of a mile. Rapid names are Cossatosser (class II+), Eye Opener, B.M.F. (class III), Washing Machine (class IV+), Whiplash, (class III+), and Shoulderbone (class II), with Deer Camp Rapid (class III), Devil's Hollow Rapid (class III+), and Devil's Hollow Falls (class IV) located downstream of the Falls area. Zigzag (Class III) and the Esses (class III) are other notable rapids on the Cossatot, located above the Falls. Whitewater rapid classes vary depending on water level. At certain higher levels near flood state, almost all of the Cossatot Falls turn into one long rapid.

The Cossatot begins in the [[Ouachita Mountains]] northeast of [[Mena, Arkansas]]. The river flows through the [[Ouachita National Forest]] and then in a generally southerly direction until it empties into Gillham Lake. After exiting Gillham Lake the river becomes leisurely until it joins with the [[Little River (Lousiana)|Little River]].

The [[World War II]] [[fleet oiler]] [[USS Cossatot (AO-77)|USS ''Cossatot'' (AO-77)]] is named after this river.

Camping sites are located in the State Park area and at the nearby Brushy Creek Recreation area.

Camping sites are located innear the StateCossatot ParkFalls area, and at the nearby Brushy Creek Recreation area.

The Cossatot is listed as a ''[[National Wild and Scenic River]]'' and an ''Arkansas Natural and Scenic River''.

==See also==

* [[Little Cossatot River Bridge]]

* [[List of Arkansas rivers]]

* [[Cossatot River School District]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Arkansas]]

[[Category:Tributaries of the Red River of the South]]

[[Category:Rivers of Polk County, Arkansas]]

[[Category:Bodies of water of Howard County, Arkansas]]

[[Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States]]