Chippewa River (Michigan)

Chippewa River

Map of the Saginaw River watershed showing the Chippewa River as one of its major tributaries

Map of the Saginaw River watershed showing the Chippewa River as one of its major tributaries
Country United States
Basin
Main source Barryton, Mecosta County, Michigan
River mouth Tittabawassee River
600 ft (180 m)[1]
River system Saginaw River
Physical characteristics
Length 92 mi (148 km)
Features
Tributaries

The Chippewa River is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan that runs 91.8 miles (147.7 km)[2] 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).

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))[3] as the outflow of Big Cranberry Lake[4] in Garfield Township in southwest Clare County. The West Branch Chippewa River rises as the outflow of Tubbs Lake,[5] part of a complex of lakes formed by Winchester Dam[6] several miles southwest of Barryton.

The Winchester Dam, built in 1954, impounds 1,420 acres (570 ha)[7] 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."[7] 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".[8]

The "second" North Branch Chippewa River rises as the outflow of Grass Lake[9] 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))[10] 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))[10] a few miles west of Mount Pleasant.

The river flows east into Midland County where it is joined by the Pine River at the Chippewa Nature Center, then joins the Tittabawassee River in downtown Midland under The Tridge. The river flows through Mt. Pleasant and is the focal point of five parks in the city: Riverside Park, 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 with a mean discharge rate of 254 ft³/s (7.19 m³/s) at its gauge near Mount Pleasant.[11] It is locally known for bass fishing. Chubs and redhorses are also abundant. 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

From the mouth:

Drainage basin

(Including the Pine River)

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Chippewa River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-04-05 at WebCite, accessed November 7, 2011
  3. 1 2 "North Branch Chippewa River (Mecosta/Osceola/Clare counties)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. 1 2 "Big Cranberry Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  5. 1 2 "Tubbs Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  6. 1 2 "Winchester Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  7. 1 2 Schrouder, Lockwood & Baker 2009, p. 34
  8. Hayes 2005, p. 23
  9. 1 2 "Grass Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  10. 1 2 3 "North Branch Chippewa River (Isabella/Clare counties)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  11. USGS Real-time Water Data for Chippewa River, Michigan
  12. "Pine River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  13. "Dice Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  14. "Wilson Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  15. "Huber Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  16. "Baker Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  17. "Hoxie Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  18. "Little Salt Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  19. "Turkey Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  20. "Frost Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  21. "Salt Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  22. "Kirch Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  23. "Thrasher Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  24. "Black Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  25. "Potter Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  26. "Onion Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  27. "Childs Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  28. "LaStrange Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  29. "Lyons Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  30. "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  31. "Figg Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  32. "Parcher Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  33. "Wyant Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  34. "Mission Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  35. "Hogg Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  36. "Hagerman Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  37. "Schofield Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  38. "Stevenson Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  39. "Owens Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  40. "Deadman Swamp". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  41. "Johnson Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  42. "Peas Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  43. "Wing Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  44. "Cedar Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  45. "Stony Brook". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  46. "Woodruff Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  47. "Coldwater River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  48. "Lake Isabella". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  49. "Squaw Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  50. "Long Pond". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  51. "Indian Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  52. "Indian Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  53. "Six Lakes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  54. "Long Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  55. "Round Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  56. "Hoffman Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  57. "Strong Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  58. "Bamber Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  59. "Hannah Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  60. "Moiles Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  61. "Markel Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  62. "Randall Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  63. "Tanner Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  64. "Sherman Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  65. "West Branch Chippewa River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  66. "Brown Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  67. "Helmer Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  68. "Martiny Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  69. Schrouder, Lockwood & Baker 2009, p. 52
  70. "Lost Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  71. "Diamond Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  72. "Big Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  73. "Roundy Branch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  74. "Hills Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  75. "Pine Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  76. "Upper Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  77. "Manake Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  78. "Lower Evans Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  79. "Chippewa Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  80. "Chippewa Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  81. "Long Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  82. "Saddlebag Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  83. "Bullhead Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  84. "Boom Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  85. "Bass Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  86. "Dogfish Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  87. "Halfmoon Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  88. "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  89. "Rattail Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  90. "Rattail Lakes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  91. "Butts Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  92. "Benjamin Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  93. "Merrill Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  94. "Tubs Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  95. "Atkinson Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  96. "Mystic Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  97. "Crooked Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  98. "Three Lake Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  99. "Three Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.

References

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