| Huron River | |
|---|---|
 Huron River in Ypsilanti | |
 A map of the Huron River and its watershed. | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Oakland,Livingston,Washtenaw,Wayne,Monroe |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Huron Swamp |
| • location | south ofAndersonville |
| • elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Mouth | Lake Erie |
• location | southeast ofRockwood |
• coordinates | 42°02′20″N83°12′07″W / 42.039°N 83.202°W /42.039; -83.202 |
• elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Length | 130 mi (210 km) |
| Basin size | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 720.75 cu ft/s (20.409 m3/s) (estimate)[1] |
TheHuron River is a 130-mile-long (210 km)[2] river insoutheasternMichigan, rising out of theHuron Swamp inSpringfield Township in northernOakland County and flowing intoLake Erie, as it forms the boundary between present-dayWayne andMonroe counties. Thirteen parks, game areas, and recreation areas are associated with the river, which passes through the cities ofDexter,Ann Arbor,Ypsilanti,Belleville,Flat Rock andRockwood that were developed along its banks.
The Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream; mud banks, slow stream flow and a low gradient define this river. It runs through the following counties, in order from the headwaters to its mouth: Oakland,Livingston,Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe. There are 24 major tributaries totaling about 370 miles (600 km) in addition to the mainstream. The Huron Riverwatershed drains 908 square miles (2,350 km2). It is the only state-designated Country-Scenic Natural River in southeast Michigan. This includes 27.5 miles (44.3 km) of the mainstream, plus an additional 10.5 miles (16.9 km) of three tributaries.
The river was named after theHuron band ofNative Americans who lived in the area. In Native languages, it was calledcos-scut-e-nong sebee orGiwitatigweiasibi. It was part of a Native American trade route.
The river has many dams, 19 on the main stream and at least 96 in the entire system. Most dams are only a few feet high, built to slightly increase and maintain water levels in existing lakes to provide drought protection and flood control, a use that is now environmentally controversial. However, at least a dozen dams were built for mill or hydroelectric power and several formed large new lakes behind them. Some of these on the Huron River mainstream areKent Lake, Barton Pond, Argo Pond,Ford Lake,Belleville Lake, and Flat Rock Pond.
The Huron River flows through numerous parks and is a primecanoeing river with a generally slow current and only a few minor rapids or obstructions, except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water.
The river is heavilyfished by sportsmen forrock bass,sunfish,bluegill,black crappie,white bass,smallmouth bass,largemouth bass,northern pike,walleye,catfish,trout,muskie, and below Belleville Dam,Coho salmon,Chinook salmon, andSteelhead.Suckers andcarp are also common fish in the river.
In 2009, faculty and students from theUniversity of Michigan produced "Mapping the River," a multimedia presentation combining dance, poetry, music, and projected images which explored the role of the Huron in communities along it.[3]
In the 19th century, Congress declared the Huron River navigable, and for a time, there was flat-boat traffic fromYpsilanti toLake Erie. This was discontinued as the railroads penetrated the region and milling developed along the river. By the 1880s, the Huron River was considered peculiar among the rivers in the region because it was intensely exploited for water-powered manufacturing. The census reported a total of 17 developed mill dams on the river, many providing power to multiple mills. Flour milling dominated, but there were also sawmills and woolen mills.[4]As the 20th century began, theDetroit Edison Company andFord Motor Company began acquiring and developing dams along the river for electric power.[5][6]
Notable floods have occurred in 1904, 1918, 1968 and 1982.[7]
Significant tributaries of the Huron River are listed below, in order of progression upstream. Sub-tributaries are indented below their parent watercourse.
The river flows through the following parks and cities in this order starting from the headwaters:
TheClinton River was also known as the Huron River until 1824. The Clinton River, which drains intoLake St. Clair north ofDetroit, shares about 10 miles (16 km) of watershed boundary with the Huron River system. It was renamed in 1824 by theMichigan Territorial Council to avoid confusion between the two rivers.[10]
On March 15, 1982, two canoeistss capsized in fast currents and were marooned on the tiny island just south of the Tridge...On June 24, 1968, a flood blew out the Dixboro dam, sending a massive wave downstream that drained the big ponds in Gallup Park...On March 14, 1918, a flood collapsed the center of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, pinching several parked cars in jagged concrete jaws...But the March 23, 1904 flood was among the worst.
After the 1971 parks bond measure passed, Phase I of the Geddes Pond reformation began in March 1972. The work consisted of the preparatory work on dredging portions of the pond, preparing a base for walkways and cycle paths along and across the river.
Media related toHuron River (Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons
| Topics | .jpg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | ||
| Municipalities over 80,000 | ||
| Municipalities 40,000 to 80,000 | ||
| Cultural enclaves | ||
| Satellite cities | ||
| Counties in MSA | ||
| Counties in CSA | ||
Parks inmetropolitan Detroit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Detroit city |
|  |
| Metro 600 to 1,500 acres (243 to 607 ha) | ||
| 1,500 to 5,000 acres (607 to 2,023 ha) | ||
| over 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) | ||
| Waterways | ||
| Major beaches | ||
| Trails 5 to 36 miles (8 to 58 km) | ||
| Zoological and botanical | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
42°1′47″N83°11′15″W / 42.02972°N 83.18750°W /42.02972; -83.18750
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