Marais Des Cygnes River

The Marais Des Cygnes River is the longest tributary of the Osage River. It rises at the confluence of Elm Creek and One Hundred-Forty Two Mile Creek near Reading, Kansas. Its first tributary is Standifred Creek. It is dammed to form Melvern Reservoir, a flood control lake. It continues to meander. It collects Long Creek downstream of Melvern. It then collects Rock Creek. Tequa Creek is the next tributary from the south. One Hundred and Ten Mile Creek flows into it from the north. At this junction the river widens and deepens. Appanoose Creek is the next northern tributary. East of Ottawa, Ottawa Creek joins the river. Middle Creek joins the river from the south. East of Osawatamie, Pottawatomie Creek enters. Bull Creek enters the river from the north also east of Osawatamie. The Marais Des Cygnes meanders considerably. It enters Missouri in Barton County and finally joins the Little Osage in Blue Mound Township. The river is floatable, however the river also floods very quickly. The Marais Des Cygnes is known for flash flooding.