river once had extensive wetland riparian habitat, much of which has been reclaimed over the last century for cultivation and other uses. Clinton Dam, finished in 1977 to reduce seasonal spring flooding, greatly reduced the replenishment of wetlands below the dam. A remaining tract of , the Haskell-Baker Wetlands, is located south of Lawrence near Haskell Indian Nations University. Though the wetlands below the dam are mostly dry now, along the Wakarusa above Clinton Lake, former cropland has been converted into a new wetland area. By pumping water into shallow ditches, 3 major manmade wetlands have formed, including the East and West Coblentz marshes, and the more recent Elk Creek wetland add more than of wetlands along the Wakarusa River. The East and West Coblentz complexes are more accessible than the Elk Creek complex, and boast a large variety of waterfowl and reptiles. Due to the wetlands lying within the low Clinton Lake floodpool, access is very limited during the wet spring months. Tributaries and other landmarks (This list follows Wakarusa River flow downstream) Middle Branch Wakarusa South Branch Wakarusa North Branch Wakarusa Six Mile Creek Towhead Creek Bury's Creek Lynn Creek Camp Creek Elk-Horn Creek Dry Creek Deer Creek Coon Creek Clinton Lake - Elev: South Rock Creek Washington Creek Yankee Tank Creek USGS Gaging Station - Elev: Black Jack Creek (COAL CREEK), trib. of Wakarusa River; Douglas Co. USGS: Lawrence E. Spring Creek Little Wakarusa Creek Cities along the Wakarusa River Auburn, Kansas - Elev: Wakarusa, Kansas (unincorporated) - Elev: Richland, Kansas (unincorporated) - Elev: Eudora - Elev: See also Bleeding Kansas Heritage Area California Road - Branch of the Oregon Trail to Lawrence, Kansas from Westport Landing. Clinton State Park - Provides recreational access to Clinton Lake. Wakarusa War List of Kansas rivers Lakes, reservoirs, and dams in Kansas References External links Human geography Bluejacket Crossing Old West Kansas Historic Trails Part I of James's Account of S. H. Long's Expedition, 1819--1820 (p. 184) Physical geography Fresh water supplies: Out of the tap (series) Upper Wakarusa Watershed Lower Kaw Valley Watershed Profile KWO: Kansas-Lower Republican Basin Emporia State University: Wakarusa Land Cover Rivers of Douglas County, Kansas Rivers of Shawnee County, Kansas Rivers of Kansas Tributaries of the Kansas River