OXBOWS AND THE CHANGING RIVER

The course of the Red River is slowly but constantly changing. As it flows, the river applies pressure to the silty soils on the outward sides of its oxbow bends. This pressure causes a scouring of the bank and a generally northward “sliding” movement of the river bed. Over great periods of time the river can cut across the narrow “neck” of an oxbow, leaving behind lakes and islands. This has already happened at Island Park and the El Zagel golf course. The neck of Gooseberry Park is experiencing the same activity today and, in time, may become an island.