| Huron River | |
|---|---|
 Huron River near Portage Lake |
|
| Origin | Huron Swamp south of Andersonville, Michigan |
| Mouth | Lake Erie southeast of Rockwood, Michigan |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Length | 136 mi (219 km) |
| Source elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Mouth elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Basin area | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
The Huron River is located in Southeast Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Indian Springs Metropark in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie on the boundary between Wayne County and Monroe County. The river flows through the following parks and cities in the following order:
- Indian Springs Metropark
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
- Proud Lake State Recreation Area
- Kensington Metropark
- Island Lake Recreation Area
- Huron Meadows Metropark
- Hudson Mills Metropark
- Dexter
- Delhi Metropark
- Ann Arbor
- Ypsilanti
- Lower Huron Metropark
- Willow Metropark
- Oakwoods Metropark
- Lake Erie Metropark
- Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
The Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream; mud banks, slow stream flow and a low gradient define this river. It runs 136 miles (219 km) through the following counties, in order from the headwaters to its mouth, Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe. There are 24 major tributaries totaling about 370 miles (600 km) in addition to the mainstream. The Huron River watershed drains 908 square miles (2,350 km2). It is the only state-designated Country-Scenic Natural River in southeast Michigan. This includes 27.5 miles (44.3 km) of the mainstream, plus an additional 10.5 miles (16.9 km) of three tributaries.
The river was named after the Huron band of Native Americans who lived in the area. In Native languages, it was called cos-scut-e-nong sebee or Giwitatigweiasibi. It was part of a Native American trade route.
The river has many dams, 19 on the mainstream and at least 96 in the entire system. Most dams are only a few feet high, built to slightly increase and maintain water levels in existing, a use that is now environmentally controversial. However, at least a dozen dams that were built for mill or hydroelectric power and several formed large new lakes behind them. Some of these on the Huron River mainstream are Kent Lake, Barton Pond, Argo Pond, Ford Lake, Belleville Lake, and Flat Rock Pond.
The Huron River flows through numerous parks and is a prime canoeing river with a generally slow current and only few minor rapids or obstructions except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water. The Huron passes through the cities of Dexter, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Flat Rock and Rockwood.
The river is heavily fished by sportsmen for rock bass, sunfish, bluegill, black crappie, white bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, trout, muskie, and below Belleville Dam, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and Steelhead. Suckers and carp are also common fish in the river.
Contents |
Tributaries
Significant tributaries of the Huron River are listed below, in order of progression upstream. Sub-tributaries are indented below their parent watercourse.
- Smith Creek
- Silver Creek
- Port Creek
- Willow Run
- Swift Run
- Mallett's Creek
- Traver Creek
- Allen Creek
- Boyden Creek
- Honey Creek
- Mill Creek
- Portage Creek
- Livermore Creek
- Arms Creek
- Honey Creek
- Hay Creek
- Chilson Creek
- Horseshoe Lake Creek
- South Ore Creek
- Davis Creek
- Woodruff Creek
- Mann Creek
- Pettibone Creek
- Norton Creek
Historical name confusion with Clinton River
The Clinton River was also known as the Huron River until 1824. Although the Clinton River drains into Lake St. Clair north of Detroit, it is also located in southeast Michigan and shares about 10 miles (16 km) of watershed boundary with the Huron River system. The Clinton River was renamed on July 17, 1824 by the Michigan Territorial Council to avoid confusion between the two rivers[1]
References
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This article includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (May 2009) |
- ^ Leeson, Michael A. (2005) [1882]. "Organization". History of Macomb County. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. pp. 297. http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=arh7613.0001.001;q1=shelby;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=299;page=root;size=s. Retrieved 2006-10-01.
External links
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