Bee Branch Creek

Bee Branch Creek Couler Creek
View of the Upper Bee Branch from the Rhomberg Bridge
Etymology	Unknown
Location
Country	United States
State	Iowa
City	Dubuque
Physical characteristics
Source	Suburban Dubuque
• coordinates	42°31′26″N 90°43′30″W / 42.524°N 90.725°W / 42.524; -90.725
Mouth	Mississippi River (16th Street Basin)
• coordinates	42°30′36″N 90°39′10″W / 42.51000°N 90.65273°W / 42.51000; -90.65273
Length	5 miles[1]
Basin size	6.5 sqmi.
Width
• minimum	15 ft.[2]
• maximum	25 ft.[2]
Depth
• minimum	1 1/2 ft.[3]
• maximum	3 ft.[3]
Basin features
River system	Mississippi
Waterbodies	16th Street Basin 32nd Street Detention Basin Carter Street Detention Basin

The Bee Branch Creek, formerly known as Couler Creek, is a tributary of the Mississippi River found in Dubuque, Iowa. The creek starts in the west of Dubuque before flowing into the Couler Valley and then into the downtown, flowing through multiple detention basins along the way. Due to the creek's involvement in many disasters, particularly floods, the Bee Branch Creek has become an interest for Dubuque.

After restoration projects, the creek has become a daylighted stream with parks and trails along its banks. It has been estimated to have prevented millions of dollars in damages. The Bee Branch has also been involved with numerous ecological projects. Despite being recently daylighted, the Iowa DNR diagnosed the creek with a healthy ecosystem.