River Aux Vases

River Aux Vases is a river in Saint Genevieve County. It doesn't qualify for its own basin, even though it has a plethora of tributaries. The river rises on the divide between the Meramec Basin and the independent streams. in its upper reaches it is dammed to form three lakes. The first is Butterfly Lake. This lake is a popular recreation spot. Rainbow Lake is downstream. It collects its first named tributary in Hawn State Park. This tributary is called Pickle Creek. Near Wild Hog Bluff, it collects Womack Branch. Downstream of the bluff is Jonca Creek. The river widens here and becomes deeper as well. It flows under Interstate 55 near River Aux Vases, a village. It then enters the Old River, a former channel of the Mississippi River around Kaskaskia Island.