Sunrise River

Sunrise River
The Sunrise River in Wild River State Park
Sunrise River is located in Minnesota
Sunrise River
Mouth of the Sunrise River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesChisago, Washington
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates45°17′24″N 92°58′28″W / 45.2899669°N 92.9743847°W / 45.2899669; -92.9743847
Mouth 
 • coordinates
45°33′59″N 92°51′45″W / 45.56639°N 92.86250°W / 45.56639; -92.86250
Length39.1 miles (62.9 km)
Basin size381 sq. miles
Discharge 
 • locationLindstrom, MN
 • average102 cu/ft. per sec.[1]
Basin features
River systemSt. Croix River

The Sunrise River is a 39.1-mile-long (62.9 km)[2] tributary of the St. Croix River in east–central Minnesota in the United States. It originates within the boundaries of the Comfort Lake - Forest Lake Watershed District near the city of Forest Lake in Washington County. Its headwaters are considered several small tributaries that flow into and contribute to Forest Lake, the longest of which is the Washington Judicial Ditch 6.[3][better source needed] From the outflow from Forest Lake, the river flows north, accepting the South Branch from the west near the city of Wyoming, and continues north into Mud Lake, where the West Branch, which rises in southeast Isanti County and briefly enters Anoka County, joins it near the city of Stacy. From Stacy it flows generally north-northwest through Chisago County to meet the St. Croix River within Wild River State Park near the communities of Sunrise and Almelund. Not far upstream from its mouth, the Sunrise collects its North Branch, which rises in Isanti County and flows through the city of North Branch.[4][5][6][7]

Sunrise River is the English translation of the native Ojibwe-language name, "Memokage zibi. Keep sunrising river."[8]

There is a dam on the Sunrise River.[9] The Sunrise River watershed spans 381 square miles in Isanti, Pine, Chisago, Washington, and Anoka counties.[10]

  1. ^ "Discharge of the Sunrise River". USGS.
  2. ^ "National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data, The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  3. ^ "Sunrise River Headwaters Report" (PDF). www.clflwd.org. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sunrise River
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Branch Sunrise River
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Branch Sunrise River
  7. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Branch Sunrise River
  8. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 251.
  9. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sunrise River Dam
  10. ^ "Sunrise River watershed" (PDF). Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Retrieved April 30, 2021.