Buffalo River (Tennessee)

Buffalo River
Duck River watershed showing the Duck and Buffalo rivers
Basin features
Main source	Confluence of North and South Forks in northern Lawrence County, Tennessee 869 ft (265 m) 35°23′21″N 87°17′28″W / 35.3891°N 87.2912°W / 35.3891; -87.2912
River mouth	confluence with the Duck River in Humphreys County 361 ft (110 m) 35°59′44″N 87°50′21″W / 35.9956173°N 87.8391937°W / 35.9956173; -87.8391937Coordinates: 35°59′44″N 87°50′21″W / 35.9956173°N 87.8391937°W / 35.9956173; -87.8391937
Progression	Lawrence County Lewis County Wayne County Perry County Humphreys County
River system	Tennessee River Basin
Basin size	763 sq mi (1,980 km2) Buffalo River
Tributaries	Left: Little Buffalo River (Tennessee) Green River (Tennessee) Right: Cane Creek
Physical characteristics
Length	125 mi (201 km)
Discharge	Average rate: Flat Woods Jan 1,190 cu ft/s (34 m3/s) Feb 1,360 cu ft/s (39 m3/s) Mar 1,420 cu ft/s (40 m3/s) Apr 1,150 cu ft/s (33 m3/s) May 931 cu ft/s (26.4 m3/s) Jun 463 cu ft/s (13.1 m3/s) Jul 376 cu ft/s (10.6 m3/s) Aug 290 cu ft/s (8.2 m3/s) Sep 284 cu ft/s (8.0 m3/s) Oct 304 cu ft/s (8.6 m3/s) Nov 528 cu ft/s (15.0 m3/s) Dec 931 cu ft/s (26.4 m3/s)
GNIS	1305509

The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee in the United States, flowing 125 miles (201 km) through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River and is used for canoeing, especially in its middle section. The river is named for the Buffalo fish which was abundant when the first European settlers arrived.

The Buffalo rises in northern Lawrence County. Both the North and South Forks are crossed by U.S. Highway 43, the North Fork several times as it parallels that highway for about 3 miles (5 km). The confluence of these two forks about a mile west of that highway is considered to be the head of the Buffalo.

From the confluence, the Buffalo trends basically northwest for several miles, crossing into Lewis County, where it is crossed by the Natchez Trace Parkway. The confluence with the Little Buffalo River is in Lewis County as well, along with that of several other more minor tributaries. The stream is paralleled for a distance and then crossed by State Route 99 while flowing through the broad Texas Bottoms. In Lewis County, although meandering, the course of the stream is basically westward. Entering into northern Wayne County, the stream receives several more tributaries, most notably the Green River.

A few miles below the mouth of the Green River near the community of Flatwoods, the Buffalo is bridged by State Route 13 and then turns to run a northerly course for the balance of its flow. It also crosses into Perry County near here. For most of its flow through Perry County, the Buffalo is roughly paralleled by State Route 13. Shortly after crossing into Humphreys County, it is bridged by Interstate 40 followed by Bakerville Rd. About 8 miles north of this is its confluence with the Duck.