Keya Paha River

The Keya Paha River (/ˈkɪpəhɔː/ KIP-ə-haw)^[4] is a river flowing 127 miles (204 km)^[5] through the U.S. states of South Dakota and Nebraska.

Keya Paha River
Keya Paha River near Nebraska-South Dakota border
Keya Paha River in light green at right center
Location
Country	United States
State	South Dakota, Nebraska
Physical characteristics
Source	Todd County, South Dakota
• coordinates	43°13′38″N 100°23′18″W[1]
Mouth	Niobrara River in Boyd County, Nebraska
• coordinates	42°53′54″N 98°59′6″W[1]
Length	127 mi (204 km)
Basin size	1,710 sq mi (4,400 km2)[2]
Discharge
• location	near Naper
• average	139 cu/ft. per sec.[3]

The name is derived from the Dakota language ke'-ya pa-ha', meaning "turtle hill",^[6] specifically Turtle Butte.^[7] The river's name was given to Keya Paha County, Nebraska, through which it flows.^[8]

The river originates in Todd County in south central South Dakota, at the confluence of Antelope Creek and Rock Creek near the town of Hidden Timber.^[9] It flows in a generally southeasterly direction through Todd and Tripp counties in South Dakota and then through Keya Paha and Boyd counties in Nebraska.^[1] It ends at its confluence with the Niobrara River about 7 miles (11 km) west of Butte, Nebraska.^[10] The river has a year-round flow, except for winter ice, and has a quality of water better than all other South Dakota rivers.^[11]

In 1861, the border between the Nebraska and Dakota territories followed the Keya Paha River from the 43rd parallel to the river's confluence with the Niobrara; it then followed the Niobrara to Missouri. This situation lasted until 1882 when the boundary was changed to follow the 43rd parallel all the way to Missouri;^[12] the change added portions of Keya Paha and Boyd counties to Nebraska.^[13]

Discharge

At a gaging station south of Naper in Boyd County, the river's mean discharge was 138.6 cubic feet per second (3.92 m³/s). The maximum mean annual discharge was 389.4 cubic feet per second (11.03 m³/s), recorded in 1962; the minimum mean annual discharge was 44.5 cubic feet per second (1.26 m³/s), recorded in 1976.^[14] The peak flow recorded at that point was 9,280 cubic feet per second (263 m³/s), registered on July 1, 1962.^[15] From July 22 to July 30, 1976, the discharge was recorded as zero.^[16]

See also

• Nebraska portal

• List of rivers of South Dakota
• List of rivers of Nebraska

References

1. "Keya Paha River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1979-03-09. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
2. Seaber, Paul R., F. Paul Kapinos, and George L. Knapp (1987). USGS Hydrologic Unit Maps. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2294. Cataloging unit 10150006, on p. 39. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
3. "USGS Surface Water data for Nebraska: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics".
4. McNally, Hannah, and Diana Lambdin Meyer (1997). Nebraska: Off the Beaten Path. Morris Book Publishing LLC. p. 81.
5. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 30, 2011
6. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Keya Paha County". Nebraska Place-Names. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
7. Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.3. American guide series. University of South Dakota. p. 4.
8. "Keya Paha History". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Archived 2010-06-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-02-26.
9. Carter, Janet M. (1998). "Water Resources of Mellette and Todd Counties, South Dakota". USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4146. Retrieved 2011-04-26. Map on p. 1.
10. Nebraska Atlas and Gazetteer. Freeport, Maine: Delorme. 3rd edition, 2005. p. 23.
11. Hogan, Edward Patrick; Fouberg, Erin Hogan (2001). The Geography of South Dakota (Third ed.). Sioux Falls, SD: The Center for Western Studies – Augustana College. ISBN 0-931170-79-6.
12. Visher, Stephen Sargent (1918). The Geography of South Dakota. p. 11.
13. Kay, John and Mary Findlay (1988). "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey: Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Boyd County, Nebraska".^[usurped] Nebraska State Historical Society.^[usurped] Retrieved 2011-02-26.
14. Calculated from mean annual values for years 1958–1994 inclusive, found at "USGS 06464900 Keya Paha River Near Naper, Nebr." USGS Water Data for the Nation. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
15. Peak flows for years 1958—1994 inclusive, found at "Peak Streamflow for Nebraska: USGS 06464900 Keya Paha River Near Naper, Nebr." USGS Water Data for the Nation. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
16. Daily data for July 1–August 31, 1976, found at "USGS 06464900 Keya Paha River Near Naper, Nebr." USGS Water Data for the Nation. Retrieved 2011-02-26.