Black River is a 4.2-mile-long (6.8 km)[2] river in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan that empties into Lake Michigan in South Haven at 42°24′08″N 86°17′04″W / 42.40222°N 86.28444°W,[1] where it discharges past the South Pier Lighthouse. The river takes its name from the dark brown color of its water, which is caused by suspended sediments and organic materials picked up along its course. The river supports a variety of wildlife including trout, snapping turtles, leeches, and many other varieties of flora and fauna. The Black River watershed encompasses 287 square miles (740 km2) across two counties and 13 townships.[3]
Black River | |
---|---|
![]() Black River flowing into Lake Michigan | |
Location | |
Country | United States |
Physical characteristics | |
Mouth | |
• location | Lake Michigan at South Haven, Michigan |
• elevation | 581 ft (177 m)[1] |
The main course of the river is formed by the confluence of the North Branch Black River and Middle Branch Black River at 42°25′57″N 86°14′00″W / 42.43250°N 86.23333°W, northwest of South Haven. The South Branch Black River joins the main course at 42°25′04″N 86°15′01″W / 42.41778°N 86.25028°W.[4]
The North Branch Black River is formed out of the Black River Drain, which rises out of a complex of drains including the Leverich Drain and North State Road Drain in Clyde Township and Ganges Township in Allegan County. The Middle Branch Black River is formed by the junction of the Little Bear Lake Drain and Melvin Creek at 42°25′04″N 86°15′01″W / 42.41778°N 86.25028°W[5] in southern Lee Township, near the boundary with Van Buren County. The South Branch Black River is formed by the junction of the Lower Jeptha Lake Drain and the Black River Extension Drain at 42°20′10″N 86°02′19″W / 42.33611°N 86.03861°W in Columbia Township near Breedsville.[4]
About three miles above its mouth on Lake Michigan, the river forks, with the South Branch draining Van Buren County. Less than three miles further upstream, the river forks again into the Middle and North Branches. The Middle branch drains areas of both Van Buren and Allegan counties, and the North Branch watershed is entirely in Allegan County.
Tributaries
editFrom the mouth:
- (right) South Branch Black River[4]
- Middle Branch Black River[5]
- North Branch Black River[51]
References
edit- ^ a b "Black River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 19, 2011
- ^ Fuller, Eric (September 2009) [April 2005]. "Black River Watershed Management Plan" (PDF). Black River Watershed Project. Van Buren Conservation District. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "South Branch Black River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Branch Black River
- ^ "Butternut Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Tripp and Extension Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Cedar Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Eastman Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Picture Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Moon Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Merriman Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "637413". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Maple Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Cedar Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Nelson Extension Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Great Bear Lake Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Great Bear Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Haven and Max Lake Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Max Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Mill Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Munn Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lower Jeptha Lake Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lower Jeptha Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Upper Jeptha Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Black River Extension Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "South Scott Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Abernathy Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Max Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "North Scott Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Spicebush Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Scott Creek Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Elm Creek Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lower Scott Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Upper Scott Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Barber Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lester Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Coffee Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Saddle Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Spring Brook". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Spring Brook Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Osterhout Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Melvin Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Deer Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lake Moriah". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Mud Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Little Bear Lake Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lake Eleven". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Lake Fourteen". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "North Branch Black River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Black River Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "1617402". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Beaver Dam Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "North State Road Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Hutchins Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Leverich Drain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.