Yellow Bank River - Geography

Geography

The river's north and south forks each rise in South Dakota on the Coteau des Prairies, a morainic plateau dividing the Mississippi and Missouri River watersheds, and flow across till plains into Minnesota. The north fork issues from Round Lake near South Shore in northeastern Codington County, South Dakota, and flows eastwardly for 57.3 miles (92.2 km) through central Grant County into northwestern Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. The south fork rises in northwestern Deuel County, South Dakota, approximately six miles (10 km) southwest of Strandburg, and flows generally northeastwardly for 56.4 miles (90.7 km) through southern Grant County and western Lac qui Parle County, passing near the community of Nassau, Minnesota. From the confluence of the forks in Yellow Bank Township, Minnesota, the Yellow Bank River flows northwardly for its short course, passing through the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, and entering the Minnesota River in Agassiz Township, approximately 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Odessa. In the Big Stone refuge, the river flows among woodlands of American elm, ash, box elder, and silver maple, and may be fished.