Clam River (Wisconsin)
| Clam River (Kayeskikan) | |
| River | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Wisconsin |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | South Fork Clam River, Montgomery Creek, Indian Creek |
| - right | Dody Brook |
| City | Clam Falls, WI |
| Source | Numerous springs and wetlands |
| - location | near Shell Lake, Wisconsin, Burnett County, WI |
| Mouth | St. Croix River |
| - location | near Clam Flowage, Danbury, WI |
The Clam River is a 63.4-mile-long (102.0 km)tributary of the St. Croix River in northwestern Wisconsin in the United States. In its history, it has been known by the names Kayeskikan, Kiesca-seba, and "Shell River".
The North Fork of the Clam River begins as a small, intermittent stream in western Washburn County. It flows through wetlands west of Shell Lake, and rapidly enlarges in size as it is fed by a number of trout streams including Krantz Creek, the South Fork of the Clam River, Sand Creek, Spencer Creek, Indian Creek, Clam River Springs and Bass Lake Springs. The river widens noticeably after taking on Spencer Creek (Spencer Lake Springs). There are three operating dams on the river: one on the South Fork in the town of Clam Falls, another at Clam Dam County Park near Webster, and another immediately before the river joins the St. Croix. Beneath its confluence with the Clam, the St. Croix is regarded as one of Wisconsin's "big rivers".
Evidence of human habitation in the vicinity of the Clam River dates back nearly 1,500 years. Several sites associated with Woodland Period culture can be found near the river, including burial mounds, sacred sites, and village sites (most of which are on private property). The burial mounds at Spencer and Clam Lakes have been dated to the end of the Middle Woodland Period, ca 500-700 AD.
Numerous other points of historical interest exist on or nearby the Clam River, including the old Arbuckle House and Logging Dam. This house served as a stopping place for travelers along the old Stillwater to La Pointe Mail Road. Several logging dams are also known to have existed along the river, demonstrating the river’s significance as a channel of commerce during the logging era.
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