Ocqueoc River
Encyclopedia
The Ocqueoc River is stream
in Presque Isle County
in the northeastern part of the lower peninsula
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is 34.2 miles (55 km) long and encompasses a watershed of approximately 94394 acre.
The word Ocqueoc comes from a Native American
term meaning "crooked waters", which aptly describes the winding Ocqueoc River.
at 45°13′15"N 83°55′45"W approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the village of Millersburg
, which with a population 263 people at the 2000 Census is the largest community in the watershed.
Ocqueoc Falls are the largest waterfall
s in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with a drop of about 5 feet (1.5 m). The falls and the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, which offers groomed winter trails and summer hiking trails, are a tourist attraction of Presque Isle County. The Ocqueoc River is one of the few rivers in the Lower Peninsula to flow north.
The Ocqueoc River flows through a limestone karst
region, and some of its tributaries, notably the Little Ocqueoc, are not continuous on the surface but flow through subterranean systems for part of their course. The upper reaches of the river's watershed is swampy with cedar, tamarack, balsam, poplar, aspen and black ash common. The warmer upper ranges have more warm-water fish including sunfish, pike and bass, while the lower cooler part of the river has salmon and trout. Smelt dipping is a style of fishing used near the mouth of the Ocqueoc.
:
Bismarck Township
A very small portion of the watershed is located in northern Montmorency County
but contains no surface water.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in Presque Isle County
Presque Isle County, Michigan
Presque Isle County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 14,411. The county seat is Rogers City....
in the northeastern part of the lower peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
in the U.S. state
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"....
. It is 34.2 miles (55 km) long and encompasses a watershed of approximately 94394 acre.
The word Ocqueoc comes from a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
term meaning "crooked waters", which aptly describes the winding Ocqueoc River.
Description and course
The Ocqueoc River is the largest river entirely within Presque Isle County and drains several lakes, including Ocqueoc Lake, and receives a few tributaries, the largest being the Little Ocqueoc River and Silver Creek. The Ocqueoc River's source is in southern Bismarck TownshipBismarck Township, Michigan
Bismarck Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 408.- Communities :...
at 45°13′15"N 83°55′45"W approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the village of Millersburg
Millersburg, Michigan
Millersburg is a village in Presque Isle County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 263. The village is within Case Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
, which with a population 263 people at the 2000 Census is the largest community in the watershed.
Ocqueoc Falls are the largest waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with a drop of about 5 feet (1.5 m). The falls and the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, which offers groomed winter trails and summer hiking trails, are a tourist attraction of Presque Isle County. The Ocqueoc River is one of the few rivers in the Lower Peninsula to flow north.
The Ocqueoc River flows through a limestone karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
region, and some of its tributaries, notably the Little Ocqueoc, are not continuous on the surface but flow through subterranean systems for part of their course. The upper reaches of the river's watershed is swampy with cedar, tamarack, balsam, poplar, aspen and black ash common. The warmer upper ranges have more warm-water fish including sunfish, pike and bass, while the lower cooler part of the river has salmon and trout. Smelt dipping is a style of fishing used near the mouth of the Ocqueoc.
Drainage basin
The Ocqueoc River drainage basin includes all or portions of the following townships and municipalities in Presque Isle CountyPresque Isle County, Michigan
Presque Isle County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 14,411. The county seat is Rogers City....
:
- Bearinger TownshipBearinger Township, MichiganBearinger Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 329.-Geography:...
Bismarck Township
Bismarck Township, Michigan
Bismarck Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 408.- Communities :...
- Case TownshipCase Township, MichiganCase Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 942 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- MillersburgMillersburg, MichiganMillersburg is a village in Presque Isle County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 263. The village is within Case Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
- Moltke TownshipMoltke Township, MichiganMoltke Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 352 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Ocqueoc TownshipOcqueoc Township, MichiganOcqueoc Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ocqueoc River. The population of Ocqueoc Township was 634 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
A very small portion of the watershed is located in northern Montmorency County
Montmorency County, Michigan
-Michigan State trunklines:* M-32* M-33-Michigan State trunkline business loops:* Business M-32 is short, disconnected route in the village of Hillman.-Montmorency County intercounty highways:* F-01* F-21-Demographics:...
but contains no surface water.
Named tributaries
Named waterbodies with direct surface flow into the Ocqueoc River system, from the mouth:- Ocqueoc Lake
- (right) Orchard Lake
- Mud Lake
- (left) Silver Creek
- (left) Little Ocqueoc River
- (right) Fox Creek
- (left) Indian Creek
- Upper Barnhart Lake
- (right) McIntosh Lake
- Lower Barnhart Lake
- (left) Mud Lake
- Lake Nettie
- (left) Bullhead Lake
- (right) Lake Ann
- (left) Horseshoe Lake
- (right) Lake Emma
- Moores Lake
- (right) Marl Bed Lake
External links
- Minor WaterFalls, Great Lakes Waterfalls