Coordinates: 43°15′41″N 86°14′53″W / 43.26139°N 86.24806°W / 43.26139; -86.24806

Muskegon River

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Muskegon River
File:MuskegonRiverNearNewaygo.JPG
Muskegon River near Newaygo, MI in September 2012
File:Muskegonrivermap.png
Map of the Muskegon River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CitiesEvart, Big Rapids, Croton, Newaygo, Muskegon
Physical characteristics
SourceHoughton Lake
 • locationRoscommon County, MI
 • coordinatesLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
MouthMuskegon Lake
 • location
Muskegon, MI
 • coordinates
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Length216 mi (348 km)
Basin size2,350 sq mi (6,100 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationMuskegon, MI

The Muskegon River (/məˈskiːɡən/ mə-SKEE-gən) is a 216-mile-long (348 km)[1] river in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. From its source at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, the river flows in a generally southwesterly direction to its mouth at Lake Michigan at the eponymous city of Muskegon. The river drains an area of 2,350 square miles (6,100 km2),[2] and collects a number of tributaries, including the Little Muskegon River, Hersey River, and Clam River.

In September 2002, an article in National Geographic raised concerns about a controversial deal made with Nestlé Waters North America, giving them permission "to bottle up to 210 million gallons (about 800 million liters) a year from an aquifer north of Grand Rapids, Michigan that recharges the Muskegon River".[3]

Description of the watershed

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The Muskegon River watershed drains 2,350 square miles (6,100 km2) from ten counties in north central Michigan: Muskegon, Newaygo, Mecosta, Clare, Osceola, and Roscommon. The watershed flows through the cities of Muskegon, Newaygo, Big Rapids, Evart, and Houghton Lake. The river follows a southwesterly route through north central Michigan from its headwaters at Houghton Lake to its mouth at Muskegon Lake, which ultimately empties into Lake Michigan.

There are three man-made reservoirs on the Muskegon River, the Rogers Dam Pond, Hardy Dam Pond, and the Croton Dam Pond. All three dams on the river are owned and operated by Consumers Power for power generation purposes. Rogers Dam is located in Mecosta County south of Big Rapids, with Hardy Dam and Croton Dam located in Newaygo County.

History

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Like many of its neighboring streams, the Muskegon was one of the favored logging rivers during the boom years of the 1880s-1890s. Remnants of stray logs embedded on the river bottom, left over from the spring logging runs, can still be seen along the river. The river is significant to the Algonquian peoples for fishing and hunting.

Winfield Scott Gerrish established a seven-mile-long logging railroad from Lake George to the Muskegon River.[4] However, there were several Michigan logging railroads in operation in the 1850s, including the seven-mile-long Blendon Lumber Company railroad in Ottawa County, which was the first in the state to employ a steam locomotive in May 1857.[5]

Wildlife

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There is abundant wildlife, including black bear, otters, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and bald eagles and, despite increasing development, some areas are still fairly remote and natural with much of the surrounding land composed of state-owned tracts.

The Muskegon State Game Area is an 8,411 acre section of land which overlays the Muskegon River on the section between Maple Island Road and US Route 31.[6] This state game area is accessible for licensed hunters. Permits can be obtained for whitetail deer hunting and waterfowl hunting. The Muskegon State Game Area spans both Muskegon County and Newaygo County.

Recreation

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Camping is another popular activity around the river, with several shoreline parks and campgrounds. Hunting is popular in the forests near by on public hunting land.

Crossings

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List of Bridge Crossings
Route Type City County Location
File:M-120 rectangle.svg M-120 State Highway Muskegon Muskegon Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:US 31.svg US 31 US Route Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Maple Island Road County Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Warner Avenue County Highway Newaygo Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Bridge Street City Street Newaygo Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-37.svg M-37 State Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Croton Dam Pond Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Hardy Dam Pond Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-20.svg M-20 State Highway Mecosta Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:US 131.svg US 131 US Route Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
South State Street County Road Big Rapids Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Maple Street City Street Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge
Baldwin Street City Street Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
White Pine Trail Non-Motorized Path Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Hoover Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Hersey Road County Road Osceola Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Carlson Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
South Main Street City Street Evart Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:US 10.svg US 10 US Route Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Pere Marquette Trail Non-Motorized Path Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
50th Avenue County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-66.svg M-66 Michigan Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-115 rectangle.svg M-115 Michigan Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Railroad Railroad Clare Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-61.svg M-61 Michigan Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Leota Road County Road Missaukee Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Cadillac Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:M-55.svg M-55 Michigan Highway Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
File:US 127.svg US 127 US Route Roscommon Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Harrison Road County Road Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.

There are approximately 31 bridge crossings over the Muskegon River waterway. These bridge crossing include motorized vehicle crossings, railroads, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings. The majority of the bicycle and pedestrian trail crossings are former railroad bridges which have been converted to non-motorized traffic.

File:Croton Dam Muskegon River DSCN1104.JPG
Boater on Croton Dam Pond

Dams

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The three major dams of the Muskegon River (Rogers, Hardy and Croton) generate about 45,600 kilowatts, with about 30,000 of that from Hardy Dam. This provides enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000.[8] The smaller Reedsburg Dam is near the source of the Muskegon River.

Name Height Purpose(s) Capacity (MW) Year Owner name Reservoir name Coordinates Comments
Croton 40 ft (12.2 m) Hydroelectric 8.85 1907 Consumers Energy Croton Dam Pond Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Hardy 106 ft (32.3 m) Hydroelectric 30 1931 Consumers Energy Hardy Dam Pond Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Reedsburg N/A Flood control N/A 1940 Michigan DNR Dead Stream Flooding Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Rogers 43 ft (13.1 m) Hydroelectric 6.75 1906 Consumers Energy Rogers Dam Pond Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Total 45.6

Cities and towns along the river

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Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap
  • Download coordinates as KML

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed November 21, 2011
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie Hillstrom. Paddling Michigan. Guilford: Falcon Publishing, 2001. 98-100.
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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