Howell Island Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
Howell Island is an island located in the Missouri River
between St. Louis County
and St. Charles County. It is bounded by the Missouri river on the north side and Centaur Chute to the south. The island is mostly forested in bottomland trees such as Sycamore
and Cottonwood. The island is owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation
.
The island was purchased by the Department of Conservation in 1978.
The island was submerged during the Great Flood of 1993
.
, which provides land access, is flooded.
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
between St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
and St. Charles County. It is bounded by the Missouri river on the north side and Centaur Chute to the south. The island is mostly forested in bottomland trees such as Sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
and Cottonwood. The island is owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution...
.
History
The island was named for either Thomas or John Howell, who were early settlers in the area.The island was purchased by the Department of Conservation in 1978.
The island was submerged during the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
.
Geography
This is a low lying, tree-covered island in the Missouri River. When the river is 16 feet (4.9 m) above flood stage (St. Charles Gauge), the Centaur causewayCauseway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
, which provides land access, is flooded.