Chippewa River (Michigan)

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Chippewa River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesMecosta, Isabella, Midland
MunicipalitiesBarryton, Mount Pleasant, Midland
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of North Branch Chippewa River and West Branch Chippewa River
 • locationBarryton
MouthTittabawassee River
 • location
Midland
 • elevation
600 ft (180 m)[1]
Length92 mi (148 km)
Discharge 
 • locationmouth
 • average878.46 cu ft/s (24.875 m3/s) (estimate)[2]
Basin features
River systemSaginaw River
Tributaries 
 • leftPine River, West Branch Chippewa River
 • rightNorth Branch Chippewa River, Coldwater River

The Chippewa River is a stream in Michigan, United States, that runs 91.8 miles (147.7 km)[3] through the central Lower Peninsula. The Chippewa is a tributary of the Tittabawassee River and is thus part of the Saginaw River drainage basin. The river is named after the Chippewa people (the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation is located in Isabella County).

Description[edit]

The main stem of the river begins in northeast Mecosta County in the village of Barryton at 43°44′49″N 85°08′26″W / 43.74694°N 85.14056°W / 43.74694; -85.14056 (Chippewa River (source))[1] where the north and west branches are impounded. The North Branch Chippewa River, also known as Chippewa Creek (there is a second North Branch Chippewa River further east), rises at 43°52′55″N 85°02′37″W / 43.88194°N 85.04361°W / 43.88194; -85.04361 (North Branch Chippewa River-Mecosta/Osceola/Clare counties (source))[4] as the outflow of Big Cranberry Lake[5] in Garfield Township in southwest Clare County. The West Branch Chippewa River rises as the outflow of Tubbs Lake,[6] part of a complex of lakes formed by Winchester Dam[7] several miles southwest of Barryton.

The Winchester Dam, built in 1954, impounds 1,420 acres (570 ha)[8] and forms the Martiny Lake Flooding. The dam, which is owned by the State of Michigan, is identified as a "significant hazard due to its proximity to the Village of Barryton."[8] An 1879 atlas of Mecosta County gives an indication of the area's geography before the dam was built. Several of the lakes that now form lobes in a continuous body of water are clearly seen as separate lakes, some with different names or spellings. Tubbs Lake is called "Tebbs Lake" and Diamond Lake is "Dimon Lake".[9]

The "second" North Branch Chippewa River rises as the outflow of Grass Lake[10] near the boundary between Isabella and Clare counties at 43°48′37″N 84°55′33″W / 43.81028°N 84.92583°W / 43.81028; -84.92583 (North Branch Chippewa River-Isabella/Clare counties (source))[11] and flows south through into the Chippewa River at 43°35′11″N 84°49′50″W / 43.58639°N 84.83056°W / 43.58639; -84.83056 (North Branch Chippewa River-Isabella/Clare counties (mouth))[11] a few miles west of Mount Pleasant. The river flows through Mt. Pleasant and is the focal point of four parks in the city: Millpond Park, Nelson Park, Chipp-A-Water, and Island Park. In Island Park, the river flows completely around the park and creates a natural island in the center of the city. Three additional Isabella County parks utilize the river for recreation: Meridian Park, Deerfield Nature Park, and Majeski Landing.

The river flows east into Midland County where it is joined by the Pine River at the Chippewa Nature Center in Homer Township, then joins the Tittabawassee River in downtown Midland under The Tridge.

The river flows with a mean discharge rate of 254 cubic feet per second (7.19 cubic meters per second) at its gauge near Mount Pleasant.[12] It is locally known for bass fishing.[citation needed] Chubs and redhorses are also abundant.[citation needed] There are two canoe liveries on the river: Chippewa River Outfitters and Buckley's Mountainside Canoe Livery. The liveries offer canoe, kayak, and tubing trips for a few hours to all day, even an overnight camping trip. The river flows through a gravel pit named Hubsher Gravel Pit. The river is a main water source for the city of Mount Pleasant.

The Tridge serving pedestrian traffic in downtown Midland, at the confluence of the Chippewa River with the Tittabawassee River

Tributaries and features[edit]

From the mouth:

  • (left) Pine River[13]
  • (right) Dice Drain[14]
  • (left) Wilson Drain[15]
    • (right) Huber Drain[16]
  • (left) Baker Drain[17]
  • (left) Hoxie Drain[18]
  • (left) Little Salt Creek, also known as Little Salt River[19]
    • (left) Turkey Creek[20]
    • (right) Frost Drain[21]
  • (left) Salt Creek, also known as Little Salt Creek, Little Salt River, Salt River[22]
    • (left) Kirch Drain[23]
    • (right) Thrasher Creek[24]
    • (right) Black Creek[25]
    • (right) Potter Creek[26]
      • (right) Onion Creek[27]
    • (right) Childs Creek[28]
    • (left) LaStrange Lake[29]
    • (left) Mud Lake[31]
    • (left) Figg Drain[32]
      • (left) Parcher Drain[33]
    • (right) Wyant Drain[34]
  • (right) Mission Creek[35]
  • (right) North Branch Chippewa River[11]
    • (left) Hogg Creek[36]
    • (left) Hagerman Drain[37]
    • (left) Schofield Creek[38]
    • (right) Stevenson Lake[39]
    • Deadman Swamp[41]
    • Grass Lake[10]
  • (left)Johnson Creek[42]
  • (left) Cedar Creek[45]
  • (left) Stony Brook[46]
  • (right) Coldwater River[48]
  • Lake Isabella[49]

Drainage basin[edit]

(Including the Pine River)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Chippewa River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Watershed Report: Chippewa River". WATERS GeoViewer. Archived from the original on 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 7, 2011
  4. ^ a b "North Branch Chippewa River (Mecosta/Osceola/Clare counties)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  5. ^ a b "Big Cranberry Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  6. ^ a b "Tubbs Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. ^ a b "Winchester Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  8. ^ a b Schrouder, Lockwood & Baker 2009, p. 34
  9. ^ Hayes 2005, p. 23
  10. ^ a b "Grass Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  11. ^ a b c "North Branch Chippewa River (Isabella/Clare counties)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  12. ^ USGS Real-time Water Data for Chippewa River, Michigan
  13. ^ "Pine River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  14. ^ "Dice Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  15. ^ "Wilson Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  16. ^ "Huber Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  17. ^ "Baker Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  18. ^ "Hoxie Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  19. ^ "Little Salt Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  20. ^ "Turkey Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  21. ^ "Frost Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  22. ^ "Salt Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  23. ^ "Kirch Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  24. ^ "Thrasher Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  25. ^ "Black Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  26. ^ "Potter Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  27. ^ "Onion Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  28. ^ "Childs Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  29. ^ "LaStrange Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  30. ^ "Lyons Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  31. ^ "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  32. ^ "Figg Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  33. ^ "Parcher Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  34. ^ "Wyant Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  35. ^ "Mission Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  36. ^ "Hogg Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  37. ^ "Hagerman Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  38. ^ "Schofield Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  39. ^ "Stevenson Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  40. ^ "Owens Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  41. ^ "Deadman Swamp". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  42. ^ "Johnson Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  43. ^ "Peas Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  44. ^ "Wing Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  45. ^ "Cedar Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  46. ^ "Stony Brook". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  47. ^ "Woodruff Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  48. ^ "Coldwater River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  49. ^ "Lake Isabella". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  50. ^ "Squaw Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  51. ^ "Long Pond". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  52. ^ "Indian Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  53. ^ "Indian Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  54. ^ "Six Lakes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  55. ^ "Long Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  56. ^ "Round Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  57. ^ "Hoffman Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  58. ^ "Strong Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  59. ^ "Bamber Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  60. ^ "Hannah Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  61. ^ "Moiles Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  62. ^ "Markel Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  63. ^ "Randall Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  64. ^ "Tanner Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  65. ^ "Sherman Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  66. ^ "West Branch Chippewa River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  67. ^ "Brown Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  68. ^ "Helmer Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  69. ^ "Martiny Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  70. ^ Schrouder, Lockwood & Baker 2009, p. 52
  71. ^ "Lost Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  72. ^ "Diamond Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  73. ^ "Big Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  74. ^ "Roundy Branch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  75. ^ "Hills Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  76. ^ "Pine Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  77. ^ "Upper Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  78. ^ "Manake Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  79. ^ "Lower Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  80. ^ "Chippewa Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  81. ^ "Chippewa Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  82. ^ "Long Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  83. ^ "Saddlebag Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  84. ^ "Bullhead Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  85. ^ "Boom Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  86. ^ "Bass Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  87. ^ "Dogfish Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  88. ^ "Halfmoon Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  89. ^ "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  90. ^ "Rattail Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  91. ^ "Rattail Lakes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  92. ^ "Butts Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  93. ^ "Benjamin Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  94. ^ "Merrill Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  95. ^ "Tubs Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  96. ^ "Atkinson Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  97. ^ "Mystic Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  98. ^ "Crooked Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  99. ^ "Three Lake Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  100. ^ "Three Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.

External links[edit]

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