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Huron River

March 14, 2024

This article is about the Huron River in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. For the Huron River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, see Huron River (northern Michigan). For other rivers with the same name, see Huron River (disambiguation).

The Huron River is a 130-mile-long (210 km)[2] river in southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Springfield Township in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie, as it forms the boundary between present-day Wayne and Monroe counties. Thirteen parks, game areas, and recreation areas are associated with the river, which passes through the cities of Dexter, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Flat Rock and Rockwood that were developed along its banks.

Huron River
Huron River in Ypsilanti
A map of the Huron River and its watershed.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesOakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe
Physical characteristics
SourceHuron Swamp
 • locationsouth of Andersonville
 • elevation1,001 ft (305 m)
MouthLake Erie
 • location
southeast of Rockwood
 • coordinates
42°02′20″N 83°12′07″W / 42.039°N 83.202°W / 42.039; -83.202
 • elevation
571 ft (174 m)
Length130 mi (210 km)
Basin size908 sq mi (2,350 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationmouth
 • average720.75 cu ft/s (20.409 m3/s) (estimate)[1]
Peninsular Dam, Ypsilanti
Huron Parkway bridge over Geddes Pond viewed from Gallup Park, Ann Arbor
Huron River near downtown Ann Arbor

The Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream; mud banks, slow stream flow and a low gradient define this river. It runs 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 main stream 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 lakes to provide drought protection and flood control, a use that is now environmentally controversial. However, at least a dozen dams 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 a few minor rapids or obstructions, except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water.

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.

In 2009, faculty and students from the University of Michigan produced "Mapping the River," a multimedia presentation combining dance, poetry, music, and projected images which explored the role of the Huron in communities along it.[3]

History edit

The Huron River was declared navigable by Congress in the 19th century, and for a time, there was flat-boat traffic from Ypsilanti to Lake Erie. This was discontinued as the railroads penetrated the region and milling developed along the river. By the 1880s, the Huron River was considered peculiar among the rivers in the region because it was intensely exploited for water-powered manufacturing. The census reported a total of 17 developed mill dams on the river, many providing power to multiple mills. Flour milling dominated, but there were also sawmills and woolen mills.[4] As the 20th century began, the Detroit Edison Company and Ford Motor Company began acquiring and developing dams along the river for electric power.[5][6]

Floods edit

Notable floods have occurred in 1904, 1918, 1968 and 1982.[7]

Tributaries edit

 
Huron River watershed (Interactive map)

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
  • Fleming Creek
  • Swift Run
  • Malletts Creek
  • Traver Creek
  • Allen Creek
  • Boyden Creek
  • Honey Creek
  • Millers Creek
  • Mill Creek
  • Portage River and 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

Path edit

The river flows through the following parks and cities in this order starting from the headwaters:

Major dams edit

Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Name Image Municipality County Coordinates Built Reservoir
Big Lake Dam Springfield Township Oakland 42°42′57″N 83°31′10″W / 42.71583°N 83.51950°W / 42.71583; -83.51950 (Big Lake Dam) 1969 Big Lake
Pontiac Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42°39′42″N 83°27′09″W / 42.66165°N 83.45263°W / 42.66165; -83.45263 (Pontiac Lake Dam) 1930 Pontiac Lake
Oxbow Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42°38′28″N 83°28′56″W / 42.64102°N 83.48217°W / 42.64102; -83.48217 (Oxbow Lake Dam) 1965 Oxbow Lake
Cedar Island Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42°38′03″N 83°29′17″W / 42.63416°N 83.48809°W / 42.63416; -83.48809 (Cedar Island Lake Dam) 1965 Cedar Island Lake
Commerce Dam Commerce Township Oakland 42°34′09″N 83°30′15″W / 42.56921°N 83.50411°W / 42.56921; -83.50411 (Commerce Dam) 1965 Commerce Lake
Proud Lake Dam Commerce Township Oakland 42°34′24″N 83°32′31″W / 42.57334°N 83.54191°W / 42.57334; -83.54191 (Proud Lake Dam) 1962 Proud Lake
Hubble Dam Milford Township Oakland 42°35′03″N 83°37′02″W / 42.58428°N 83.61709°W / 42.58428; -83.61709 (Hubble Dam) 1939 Hubble Pond
Kent Lake Dam Milford Township Oakland 42°30′47″N 83°40′33″W / 42.51303°N 83.67585°W / 42.51303; -83.67585 (Kent Lake Dam) 1946 Kent Lake
Flook Dam Dexter Township Washtenaw 42°24′52″N 83°54′24″W / 42.41450°N 83.90660°W / 42.41450; -83.90660 (Flook Dam) 1965 Portage Lake
Baseline Lake
Barton Dam   Ann Arbor Washtenaw 42°18′30″N 83°45′16″W / 42.30820°N 83.75440°W / 42.30820; -83.75440 (Barton Dam) 1915 Barton Pond
Argo Dam   Ann Arbor Washtenaw 42°17′26″N 83°44′45″W / 42.29050°N 83.74570°W / 42.29050; -83.74570 (Argo Dam) 1920 Argo Pond
Geddes Dam   Ann Arbor
Township 		Washtenaw 42°16′15″N 83°40′17″W / 42.27092°N 83.67142°W / 42.27092; -83.67142 (Geddes Dam) 1919 Geddes Pond[9]
Superior Dam   Superior Township Washtenaw 42°15′56″N 83°38′40″W / 42.26545°N 83.64452°W / 42.26545; -83.64452 (Superior Dam) 1920 unnamed
Peninsular Paper Dam   Ypsilanti Washtenaw 42°15′22″N 83°37′27″W / 42.25610°N 83.62410°W / 42.25610; -83.62410 (Peninsular Paper Dam) 1914 unnamed
Ford Lake Dam   Ypsilanti Township Washtenaw 42°12′22″N 83°33′28″W / 42.20612°N 83.55771°W / 42.20612; -83.55771 (Ford Lake Dam) 1931 Ford Lake
French Landing Dam   Van Buren Township Wayne 42°12′51″N 83°26′26″W / 42.21429°N 83.44066°W / 42.21429; -83.44066 (French Landing Dam) 1925 Belleville Lake
Flat Rock Dam   Flat Rock Wayne 42°05′59″N 83°17′44″W / 42.09986°N 83.29564°W / 42.09986; -83.29564 (Flat Rock Dam) 1924 Flat Rock Pond

Historical name confusion with Clinton River edit

The Clinton River was also known as the Huron River until 1824. The Clinton River, which drains into Lake St. Clair north of Detroit, shares about 10 miles (16 km) of watershed boundary with the Huron River system. It was renamed in 1824 by the Michigan Territorial Council to avoid confusion between the two rivers.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Watershed Report: Huron River". watersgeo.epa.gov. from the original on 2021-07-03. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 7, 2011
  3. ^ Mannino, Trina (12 February 2009), "University profs celebrate the Huron in 'Mapping the River'", The Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor, MI
  4. ^ James L. Greenleaf, Report on the Water-Powers of the Drainage Basins of Lakes Huron and Erie, Eastern Drainage Area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Huron River, Description of Developed Power, in Water Power of the United States, Part I Department of the Interior, Census Office, GPO, Washington, 1885; page 494.
  5. ^ General Electrical News, Power Plants, Detroit Mich. Electricity Vol. 30, No. 8 (Feb. 21, 1908); page 111.
  6. ^ The Huron River: Voices from the Watershed, edited by John Ray Knott, Keith Taylor, University of Michigan Press, 2000, p. 194
  7. ^ Bien, Laura (2010-03-23). "The bridge-crushing flood of 1904". Ypsilanti Citizen. Retrieved 2010-03-26. On March 15, 1982, two canoeistss capsized in fast currents and were marooned on the tiny island just south of the Tridge...On June 24, 1968, a flood blew out the Dixboro dam, sending a massive wave downstream that drained the big ponds in Gallup Park...On March 14, 1918, a flood collapsed the center of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, pinching several parked cars in jagged concrete jaws...But the March 23, 1904 flood was among the worst.
  8. ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  9. ^ "Gallup Park". Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-21. After the 1971 parks bond measure passed, Phase I of the Geddes Pond reformation began in March 1972. The work consisted of the preparatory work on dredging portions of the pond, preparing a base for walkways and cycle paths along and across the river.
  10. ^ Leeson, Michael A. (2005) [1882]. "Organization". History of Macomb County. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. p. 297. Retrieved 2006-10-01.

External links edit

  Media related to Huron River (Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons

  • Huron River Watershed Council
  • History of Peninsular Dam
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Huron River
  • USGS river level data, at Ann Arbor

42°1′47″N 83°11′15″W / 42.02972°N 83.18750°W / 42.02972; -83.18750

March 14, 2024
huron, river, this, article, about, michigan, lower, peninsula, michigan, upper, peninsula, northern, michigan, other, rivers, with, same, name, disambiguation, mile, long, river, southeastern, michigan, rising, huron, swamp, springfield, township, northern, o. This article is about the Huron River in Michigan s Lower Peninsula For the Huron River in Michigan s Upper Peninsula see Huron River northern Michigan For other rivers with the same name see Huron River disambiguation The Huron River is a 130 mile long 210 km 2 river in southeastern Michigan rising out of the Huron Swamp in Springfield Township in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie as it forms the boundary between present day Wayne and Monroe counties Thirteen parks game areas and recreation areas are associated with the river which passes through the cities of Dexter Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Belleville Flat Rock and Rockwood that were developed along its banks Huron RiverHuron River in YpsilantiA map of the Huron River and its watershed LocationCountryUnited StatesStateMichiganCountiesOakland Livingston Washtenaw Wayne MonroePhysical characteristicsSourceHuron Swamp locationsouth of Andersonville elevation1 001 ft 305 m MouthLake Erie locationsoutheast of Rockwood coordinates42 02 20 N 83 12 07 W 42 039 N 83 202 W 42 039 83 202 elevation571 ft 174 m Length130 mi 210 km Basin size908 sq mi 2 350 km2 Discharge locationmouth average720 75 cu ft s 20 409 m3 s estimate 1 Peninsular Dam YpsilantiHuron Parkway bridge over Geddes Pond viewed from Gallup Park Ann ArborHuron River near downtown Ann ArborThe Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream mud banks slow stream flow and a low gradient define this river It runs 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 main stream 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 lakes to provide drought protection and flood control a use that is now environmentally controversial However at least a dozen dams 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 a few minor rapids or obstructions except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water 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 In 2009 faculty and students from the University of Michigan produced Mapping the River a multimedia presentation combining dance poetry music and projected images which explored the role of the Huron in communities along it 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Floods 2 Tributaries 3 Path 4 Major dams 5 Historical name confusion with Clinton River 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe Huron River was declared navigable by Congress in the 19th century and for a time there was flat boat traffic from Ypsilanti to Lake Erie This was discontinued as the railroads penetrated the region and milling developed along the river By the 1880s the Huron River was considered peculiar among the rivers in the region because it was intensely exploited for water powered manufacturing The census reported a total of 17 developed mill dams on the river many providing power to multiple mills Flour milling dominated but there were also sawmills and woolen mills 4 As the 20th century began the Detroit Edison Company and Ford Motor Company began acquiring and developing dams along the river for electric power 5 6 Floods edit Notable floods have occurred in 1904 1918 1968 and 1982 7 Tributaries edit nbsp Huron River watershed Interactive map 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 Fleming Creek Swift Run Malletts Creek Traver Creek Allen Creek Boyden Creek Honey Creek Millers Creek Mill Creek Portage River and 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 CreekPath editThe river flows through the following parks and cities in this order starting from the headwaters Indian Springs Metropark Pontiac Lake Recreation Area Proud Lake State Recreation Area Milford Camp Dearborn Kensington Metropark Island Lake Recreation Area Huron Meadows Metropark Hudson Mills Metropark Dexter Dexter Huron Metropark Delhi Metropark Ann Arbor Nichols Arboretum 8 Ypsilanti Lower Huron Metropark Willow Metropark Oakwoods Metropark Lake Erie Metropark Pointe Mouillee State Game AreaMajor dams editMap this section s coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Name Image Municipality County Coordinates Built ReservoirBig Lake Dam Springfield Township Oakland 42 42 57 N 83 31 10 W 42 71583 N 83 51950 W 42 71583 83 51950 Big Lake Dam 1969 Big LakePontiac Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42 39 42 N 83 27 09 W 42 66165 N 83 45263 W 42 66165 83 45263 Pontiac Lake Dam 1930 Pontiac LakeOxbow Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42 38 28 N 83 28 56 W 42 64102 N 83 48217 W 42 64102 83 48217 Oxbow Lake Dam 1965 Oxbow LakeCedar Island Lake Dam White Lake Township Oakland 42 38 03 N 83 29 17 W 42 63416 N 83 48809 W 42 63416 83 48809 Cedar Island Lake Dam 1965 Cedar Island LakeCommerce Dam Commerce Township Oakland 42 34 09 N 83 30 15 W 42 56921 N 83 50411 W 42 56921 83 50411 Commerce Dam 1965 Commerce LakeProud Lake Dam Commerce Township Oakland 42 34 24 N 83 32 31 W 42 57334 N 83 54191 W 42 57334 83 54191 Proud Lake Dam 1962 Proud LakeHubble Dam Milford Township Oakland 42 35 03 N 83 37 02 W 42 58428 N 83 61709 W 42 58428 83 61709 Hubble Dam 1939 Hubble PondKent Lake Dam Milford Township Oakland 42 30 47 N 83 40 33 W 42 51303 N 83 67585 W 42 51303 83 67585 Kent Lake Dam 1946 Kent LakeFlook Dam Dexter Township Washtenaw 42 24 52 N 83 54 24 W 42 41450 N 83 90660 W 42 41450 83 90660 Flook Dam 1965 Portage LakeBaseline LakeBarton Dam nbsp Ann Arbor Washtenaw 42 18 30 N 83 45 16 W 42 30820 N 83 75440 W 42 30820 83 75440 Barton Dam 1915 Barton PondArgo Dam nbsp Ann Arbor Washtenaw 42 17 26 N 83 44 45 W 42 29050 N 83 74570 W 42 29050 83 74570 Argo Dam 1920 Argo PondGeddes Dam nbsp Ann ArborTownship Washtenaw 42 16 15 N 83 40 17 W 42 27092 N 83 67142 W 42 27092 83 67142 Geddes Dam 1919 Geddes Pond 9 Superior Dam nbsp Superior Township Washtenaw 42 15 56 N 83 38 40 W 42 26545 N 83 64452 W 42 26545 83 64452 Superior Dam 1920 unnamedPeninsular Paper Dam nbsp Ypsilanti Washtenaw 42 15 22 N 83 37 27 W 42 25610 N 83 62410 W 42 25610 83 62410 Peninsular Paper Dam 1914 unnamedFord Lake Dam nbsp Ypsilanti Township Washtenaw 42 12 22 N 83 33 28 W 42 20612 N 83 55771 W 42 20612 83 55771 Ford Lake Dam 1931 Ford LakeFrench Landing Dam nbsp Van Buren Township Wayne 42 12 51 N 83 26 26 W 42 21429 N 83 44066 W 42 21429 83 44066 French Landing Dam 1925 Belleville LakeFlat Rock Dam nbsp Flat Rock Wayne 42 05 59 N 83 17 44 W 42 09986 N 83 29564 W 42 09986 83 29564 Flat Rock Dam 1924 Flat Rock PondHistorical name confusion with Clinton River editThe Clinton River was also known as the Huron River until 1824 The Clinton River which drains into Lake St Clair north of Detroit shares about 10 miles 16 km of watershed boundary with the Huron River system It was renamed in 1824 by the Michigan Territorial Council to avoid confusion between the two rivers 10 See also editHuron river chain of lakesReferences edit United States Environmental Protection Agency Watershed Report Huron River watersgeo epa gov Archived from the original on 2021 07 03 Retrieved 2021 07 03 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 Mannino Trina 12 February 2009 University profs celebrate the Huron in Mapping the River The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor MI James L Greenleaf Report on the Water Powers of the Drainage Basins of Lakes Huron and Erie Eastern Drainage Area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan Huron River Description of Developed Power in Water Power of the United States Part I Department of the Interior Census Office GPO Washington 1885 page 494 General Electrical News Power Plants Detroit Mich Electricity Vol 30 No 8 Feb 21 1908 page 111 The Huron River Voices from the Watershed edited by John Ray Knott Keith Taylor University of Michigan Press 2000 p 194 Bien Laura 2010 03 23 The bridge crushing flood of 1904 Ypsilanti Citizen Retrieved 2010 03 26 On March 15 1982 two canoeistss capsized in fast currents and were marooned on the tiny island just south of the Tridge On June 24 1968 a flood blew out the Dixboro dam sending a massive wave downstream that drained the big ponds in Gallup Park On March 14 1918 a flood collapsed the center of the Michigan Avenue Bridge pinching several parked cars in jagged concrete jaws But the March 23 1904 flood was among the worst Nichols Arboretum Archived from the original on 2012 04 01 Retrieved 2012 04 01 Gallup Park Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation 2021 02 01 Retrieved 2022 02 21 After the 1971 parks bond measure passed Phase I of the Geddes Pond reformation began in March 1972 The work consisted of the preparatory work on dredging portions of the pond preparing a base for walkways and cycle paths along and across the river Leeson Michael A 2005 1882 Organization History of Macomb County Ann Arbor Mich University of Michigan Library p 297 Retrieved 2006 10 01 External links edit nbsp Media related to Huron River Michigan at Wikimedia Commons Huron River Watershed Council History of Peninsular Dam U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Huron River USGS river level data at Ann Arbor 42 1 47 N 83 11 15 W 42 02972 N 83 18750 W 42 02972 83 18750 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Huron River amp oldid 1212344362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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