Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River
Encyclopedia
The Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River is a 44 miles (70.8 km) stretch of the spring-fed
Eleven Point River
in the Ozarks
of southern Missouri
set aside for preservation by Congress
in 1968. The designated part of the river stretches from Thomasville
to State Highway 142. The river was included in the original proposal for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways
, but it was ultimately excluded when the Riverways were created on the Current
and Jacks Fork rivers in 1964.
It is one of the original eight rivers named under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
as possessing "outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values."
The Eleven Point holds the scenic designation within the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system,
meaning that it is free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads. Only about half of the land in the designated area is public, owned by the National Forest Service. The government holds a scenic easement
on other land within the area that preserves its character for the future, but which does not allow public access to privately-held land.
Being a river, the area is best visited by boat. Canoeing
is the most popular way to visit, while jon boat
s are frequently used by fishermen. Smallmouth bass
, rock bass
, walleye
, and trout
are among the game fish in the river. There are minimally developed float camps along the river that are accessible by boat, and dispersed camping on gravel bars is allowed.
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
Eleven Point River
Eleven Point River
The Eleven Point River is a river in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, United States. It originates near Willow Springs, Missouri. It more than doubles in flow when Greer Spring Branch runs into it, adding over of water per day to the river. The name derives from the Mississippi Valley...
in the Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
of southern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
set aside for preservation by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1968. The designated part of the river stretches from Thomasville
Thomasville, Missouri
Thomasville is an unincorporated community in northern Oregon County, Missouri. It is nine miles northwest of Alton on Route 99. Each November it is inhabited by a group of hunters whom the locals have dubbed the "Thomasville Deer Slayers". It was reported that in November of 2010, a small,...
to State Highway 142. The river was included in the original proposal for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a national park in the Ozarks of southern Missouri in the U.S..The park was created by an Act of Congress in 1964 to protect the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's are used for many forms of recreation and are...
, but it was ultimately excluded when the Riverways were created on the Current
Current River (Missouri)
The Current River forms in the southeastern portion of the Ozarks of Missouri and becomes a 7th order stream as it flows southeasterly out of the Ozarks into northeastern Arkansas where it becomes a tributary of the Black River, which is a tributary of the White River, a tributary of the...
and Jacks Fork rivers in 1964.
It is one of the original eight rivers named under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
as possessing "outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values."
The Eleven Point holds the scenic designation within the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system,
meaning that it is free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads. Only about half of the land in the designated area is public, owned by the National Forest Service. The government holds a scenic easement
Easement
An easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.Easements are helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property or allowing an individual to fish in a privately owned pond...
on other land within the area that preserves its character for the future, but which does not allow public access to privately-held land.
Being a river, the area is best visited by boat. Canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
is the most popular way to visit, while jon boat
Jon boat
A jon boat is a flat-bottomed boat constructed of aluminum or wood with one, two, or three bench seats. They are particularly useful for hunting due to the greater level of stability as compared with a V-hull aluminum boat. They are quite suitable for fishing as well...
s are frequently used by fishermen. Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, rock bass
Rock bass
The rock bass , also known as the rock perch, goggle-eye, or red eye is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. They are similar in appearance to smallmouth bass but are usually quite a bit smaller...
, walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
are among the game fish in the river. There are minimally developed float camps along the river that are accessible by boat, and dispersed camping on gravel bars is allowed.