Muskegon River

Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. The river passes through Clare County, Osceola County, Mecosta County, Newaygo County, and Muskegon County, and generally flows southwesterly to its mouth at Muskegon, Michigan, where it empties into Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake is connected to Lake Michigan via a mile-long channel. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River. The primary river channel is 216 miles (348 km) long[1] and drains an area of 2,350 square miles (6,100 km2).[2] 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]

Muskegon River
Muskegon River near Newaygo, MI in September 2012
Map of the Muskegon River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CitiesEvart, Big Rapids, Croton, Newaygo, Muskegon
Physical characteristics
SourceHoughton Lake
 • locationMI
 • coordinates44°23′58″N 84°47′27″W
MouthMuskegon Lake
 • location
Muskegon, MI
 • coordinates
43°15′41″N 86°14′53″W
Length216 mi (348 km)
Basin size2,350 sq mi (6,100 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationMuskegon, MI

History

Like many of its neighboring streams, the Muskegon was one of the favored logging rivers during the boom years of the 1880s-1890s, and a keen eye can still pick out remnants of stray logs embedded on the river bottom, left over from the spring logging runs. The river has a unique Native American heritage to it for fishing and hunting

Winfield Scott Gerrish is credited with revolutionizing the Michigan lumber industry by building 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

There is abundant wildlife, including otters, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and eagles and, although development has been creeping in, the upper reaches 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
  • In recent years, the river has gained a certain measure of fame as a recreational fishery, boasting large migratory steelhead, brown trout and planted Chinook Salmon.
  • People have also taken a liking to paddling down the river. It is Michigan's second largest river only to the Grand River. It is surprisingly quite slow, making it perfect for beginners learning in either a kayak or canoe.[7]
  • Being such a peaceful river, it promises ample opportunities for viewing wildlife. This factor attracts tourists from across the state and the world.

Camping is another popular activity around the river, with several shoreline parks and campgrounds. Various inns and cabins down the river can provide accommodations for up to a month. Hunting is popular in the forests near by on public hunting land.

Crossings
List of Bridge Crossings
Route Type City County Location
M-120 State Highway Muskegon Muskegon 43°15′16.53″N 86°14′10″W
US 31 US Route 43°15′46.22″N 86°12′12.82″W
Maple Island Road County Highway 43°19′5.34″N 86°2′20.11″W
Warner Avenue County Highway Newaygo 43°20′50.16″N 85°56′23.23″W
Bridge Street City Street Newaygo 43°25′1.02″N 85°48′29.51″W
M-37 State Highway 43°25′22.36″N 85°47′53.80″W
Croton Dam Pond Road County Road 43°26′6.003″N 85°39′54.41″W
Hardy Dam Pond Road County Road 43°29′13.099″N 85°37′45.57″W
M-20 State Highway Mecosta 43°35′2.19″N 85°31′34.85″W
US 131 US Route 43°36′29.87″N 85°29′36.08″W
South State Street County Road Big Rapids 43°36′27.53″N 85°28′50.43″W
Maple Street City Street 43°41′55.32″N 85°28′35.14″W
Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge
Baldwin Street City Street 43°42′31.90″N 85°28′53.45″W
White Pine Trail Non-Motorized Path 43°43′44.36″N 85°29′15.44″W
Hoover Road County Road 43°46′43.68″N 85°30′0.83″W
Hersey Road County Road 43°50′50.46″N 85°25′56.10″W
Carlson Road County Road 43°52′21.52″N 85°21′26.33″W
South Main Street City Street Evart 43°53′42.37″N 85°15′33.95″W
US 10 US Route 43°54′3.46″N 85°15′17.06″W
Pere Marquette Trail Non-Motorized Path 43°54′2.51″N 85°15′16.11″W
50th Avenue County Road 43°56′2.87″N 85°11′17.98″W
M-66 Michigan Highway Osceola 43°52′21.52″N 85°21′26.33″W
M-115 Michigan Highway 43°59′10.23″N 85°5′24.82″W
Railroad Railroad Clare 44°1′51.24″N 85°5′24.82″W
M-61 Michigan Highway 44°2′14.42″N 85°2′0.99″W
Leota Road County Road Missaukee 44°8′19.66″N 84°53′53.59″W
Cadillac Road County Road 44°14′55.15″N 84°53′47.35″W
M-55 Michigan Highway 44°20′6.29″N 84°53′22.74″W
US 127 US Route Roscommon 44°24′32.27″N 84°47′42.47″W
Harrison Road County Road 44°24′14.87″N 84°47′27.53″W

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.

Boater on Croton Dam Pond

Dams

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 43.43714°N 85.66382°W / 43.43714; -85.66382 (Croton Dam)
Hardy 106 ft (32.3 m) Hydroelectric 30 1931 Consumers Energy Hardy Dam Pond 43.48656°N 85.6296°W / 43.48656; -85.6296 (Hardy Dam)
Reedsburg N/A Flood control N/A 1940 Michigan DNR Dead Stream Flooding 44.35612°N 84.8593°W / 44.35612; -84.8593 (Reedsburg Dam)
Rogers 43 ft (13.1 m) Hydroelectric 6.75 1906 Consumers Energy Rogers Dam Pond 43.61320°N 85.47894°W / 43.61320; -85.47894 (Rogers Dam)
Total 45.6

Cities and towns along the river

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed November 21, 2011
  2. O'Neal, Richard (July 1997), Muskegon River Watershed Assessment (PDF), Michigan Department of Natural Resources, retrieved 30 July 2011
  3. Mitchell, John G. (September 2002). "Down the Drain: The Incredible Shrinking Great Lakes". National Geographic. pp. 34–51.
  4. The Forests of Michigan - page 143. University of Michigan Press, 2003. 2003. ISBN 0472068164. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  5. Bajema, Carl Jay (April 1991). "The First Logging Railroads in the Great Lakes Region" (PDF). The First Logging Railroads in the Great Lakes Region. Oxford University Press on behalf of Forest History Society and American Society for Environmental History. Retrieved Sep 25, 2010.
  6. "DNR - State Wildlife/Game Areas (list)". www.michigan.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  7. Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie Hillstrom. Paddling Michigan. Guilford: Falcon Publishing, 2001. 98-100.
  8. "Muskegon River". Consumers Energy website. Retrieved July 30, 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
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