Jacks Fork

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A line of bluffs along the Jacks Fork Jacks Fork River bluffs 1 jsigler.jpg
A line of bluffs along the Jacks Fork

Jacks Fork [1] is one of two rivers in Missouri that are part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways system.

Starting in Texas County, Missouri, this spring-fed river flows 46.4 miles (74.7 km) [2] in a general east to northeasterly direction through the heart of the geological area known as the Lower Ozark Natural Division. It is the major tributary of the Current River, ending at its confluence near Eminence, Missouri. At this location, its mean annual discharge is 478 cubic feet per second. [3]

The first 25 miles (40 km) from the Prongs to Bay Creek is deep valley and in the springtime provides Class II water. Due to lack of access, it is the most primitive of the rivers in the region. From Alley Spring to its confluence with the Current River it is a Class I River and is floatable year round with warm water.

The Jacks Fork provides some of the most natural conditions in the region with many caves and natural springs. It is a popular recreation destination for canoeists and kayakers and is generally considered a Class I-II difficulty river.

Jacks Fork has the name of John Jacks, a local Indian pioneer citizen. [4]

Location

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Mouth
Confluence with the Current River, Shannon County, Missouri: 37°11′24″N91°16′38″W / 37.19005°N 91.27735°W / 37.19005; -91.27735 (Jacks Fork mouth) Coordinates: 37°11′24″N91°16′38″W / 37.19005°N 91.27735°W / 37.19005; -91.27735 (Jacks Fork mouth) [1]
Source
Confluence of the North Prong and South Prong, Texas County, Missouri: 37°04′34″N91°43′57″W / 37.07616°N 91.73237°W / 37.07616; -91.73237 (Jacks Fork source) [1] [5] [6]

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Twomile Creek is a stream in Oregon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Warm Fork Spring River.

Sweetwater Creek is a stream in western Reynolds and northeastern Shannon counties of the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Logan Creek.

Deslet is an unincorporated community in eastern Shannon County, in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, United States. The community was located along the west floodplain of Carr Creek, approximately two miles north of the confluence of the southerly flowing Carr Creek with the Current River.

Gang is an unincorporated community in eastern Shannon County, in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, United States. The community was located on Blair Creek, approximately four miles north of its confluence with the Current River.

Mahans Creek is a stream in southeastern Shannon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of Jacks Fork.

Clear Springs is an unincorporated community in southern Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community is located on Missouri Route Y, one mile east of Missouri Route 137. The spring is on the South Prong Jacks Fork, 1.5 miles south of the community site.

Guild is an unincorporated community in southeast Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community was located on a ridge just west of Stillhouse Branch and approximately 12 mile south of the South Prong Jacks Fork. The community of Hattie was about 1+12 miles (2.4 km) to the northeast on the South Prong. Access is via Missouri Route NN from Howell County and Mt. Olive Road. The former Mt. Olive School was located to the east across Stillhouse Branch.

Nagle or Nogle is an extinct town in southeast Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place. The community was located just east of Missouri Route 137 and north of the North Prong of Jacks Fork Creek. The local road, Nagle Drive, serves the area just east of Route 137.

Varvol is an unincorporated community in southern Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community is on the South Prong of Jacks Fork at the intersection of Missouri Route HH and Varvel Road. The community of Sargent is approximately 3.5 miles to the west on Varvel Road and Willow Springs in adjacent Howell County is about seven miles south on route HH and Missouri Route 137. Varvel School was about three miles east along the north bank of the river.

Big Creek is a stream in Shannon, Reynolds and Dent counties in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Current River.

Spring Valley Creek is a stream in Texas and Shannon counties of the Ozarks of southern Missouri. The stream is a tributary of the Current River.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jacks Fork". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine , accessed March 9, 2011
  3. "USGS Surface Water data for Missouri: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics".
  4. "Shannon County Place Names, 1928–1945". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. "North Prong Jacks Fork". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  6. "South Prong Jacks Fork". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2014-01-21.