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Black River (Southwest Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Black River is a 4.2 miles (6.8 km) 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, 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 mile across two counties and 13 townships.
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, northwest of South Haven. The South Branch Black River joins the main course at 42°25′04"N 86°15′01"W.
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 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 in Columbia Township
near Breedsville
.
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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
that empties into Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
in South Haven
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
at 42°24′08"N 86°17′04"W, where it discharges past the South Pier Lighthouse
South Haven Lighthouse
The South Haven South Pierhead Light is a lighthouse in Michigan, at the entrance to the Black River on Lake Michigan. The station was established in 1872, and is still operational. The tower is a shortened version of the Muskegon South Pierhead Light, and replaced an 1872 wooden tower...
. 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 mile across two counties and 13 townships.
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, northwest of South Haven. The South Branch Black River joins the main course at 42°25′04"N 86°15′01"W.
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
Clyde Township, Allegan County, Michigan
Clyde Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
and Ganges Township
Ganges Township, Michigan
Ganges Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
in Allegan County
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
. 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 in southern Lee Township
Lee Township, Allegan County, Michigan
Lee Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,114 at the 2000 census.The township is rural with the population living mostly around the lakes and the unincorporated town of Pullman. A small portion of the Allegan State Game Area is in the...
, near the boundary with Van Buren County
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
. 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 in Columbia Township
Columbia Township, Van Buren County, Michigan
Columbia Township is a civil township of Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,714 at the 2000 census.Columbia Township is a largely rural area with many farms. It is also home to several lakes with a significant percentage of the population living on them,...
near Breedsville
Breedsville, Michigan
Breedsville is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 235. The village is within Columbia Township.-Geography:...
.
About three miles above its mouth on Lake Michigan, the river forks, with the South Branch draining Van Buren County
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
. 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
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
counties, and the North Branch watershed is entirely in Allegan County.
Tributaries
From the mouth:- (right) South Branch Black River
- (left) Butternut Creek
- (left) Tripp and Extension Drain
- (right) Cedar Creek
- (left) Eastman Creek
- (left) Picture Lake
- (right) Moon Lake
- (right) Merriman Lake
- School Section Lake
- Maple Creek
- (left) Cedar Drain
- (right) Nelson Extension Drain
- Great Bear Lake Drain
- Great Bear Lake
- Haven and Max Lake Drain
- Max Lake
- Mill Lake
- Munn Lake
- Great Bear Lake
- (left) Lower Jeptha Lake Drain
- Lower Jeptha Lake
- Upper Jeptha Lake
- Lower Jeptha Lake
- (right) Black River Extension Drain
- (left) South Scott Lake
- (right) Abernathy Lake
- (left) Max Lake
- (left) North Scott Lake
- (right) Abernathy Lake
- (left) South Scott Lake
- (left) Butternut Creek
- Middle Branch Black River
- (right) Spicebush Creek
- (left) Scott Creek Drain, also known as Scott Creek
- (left) Elm Creek Drain, also known as Elm Creek
- Lower Scott Lake
- Upper Scott Lake
- Barber Creek, also spelled Barbor Creek
- (right) Lester Lake
- (right) Mud Lake
- (right) Coffee Lake
- Saddle Lake
- (right) Lester Lake
- Spring Brook
- Spring Brook Lake
- (left) Osterhout Lake
- (left) Melvin Creek
- Deer Lake
- Lake Moriah
- (left) Mud Lake
- Lake Moriah
- Deer Lake
- (right) Little Bear Lake Drain
- (left) Lake Eleven
- Lake Fourteen
- North Branch Black River
- Black River Drain
- (right) Ockford Drain
- (left) Beaver Dam Drain
- (left) North State Road Drain
- Hutchins Lake
- Leverich Drain
- Black River Drain