Black River (Southwest Michigan)
{{About||other "Black Rivers" in Michigan|Black River (Michigan)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Black River
| image = SouthHavenLightSouthPier.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Black River flowing into Lake Michigan
| source1_location =
| mouth_location = Lake Michigan at South Haven, Michigan
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| length =
| source1_elevation =
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|581|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg =
| basin_size =
}}
Black River is a {{convert|4.2|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed May 19, 2011 river in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan that empties into Lake Michigan in South Haven at {{coord|42|24|08|N|86|17|04|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS|name=Black River (mouth)}},{{cite gnis|621523|Black River}} 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 {{convert|287|sqmi|sqkm}} across two counties and 13 townships.{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wb-nps-Black-River-wmp1_303607_7.pdf |title=Black River Watershed Management Plan |first=Eric |last=Fuller |orig-year=April 2005|date=September 2009 |work=Black River Watershed Project |publisher=Van Buren Conservation District |access-date=3 October 2010 }}
The main course of the river is formed by the confluence of the North Branch Black River and Middle Branch Black River at {{coord|42|25|57|N|86|14|00|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS|name=Black River (source)}}, northwest of South Haven. The South Branch Black River joins the main course at {{coord|42|25|04|N|86|15|01|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS|name=Black River (source)}}.{{cite gnis|1618019|South Branch Black River}}
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 {{coord|42|25|04|N|86|15|01|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS|name=Middle Branch Black River (source)}}{{gnis|632247|Middle Branch Black River}} 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 {{coord|42|20|10|N|86|02|19|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS|name=South Branch Black River (source)}} 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.
Tributaries
From the mouth:
- (right) South Branch Black River
- (left) Butternut Creek{{cite gnis|622387|Butternut Creek}}
- (left) Tripp and Extension Drain{{cite gnis|635039|Tripp and Extension Drain}}
- (right) Cedar Creek{{cite gnis|622892|Cedar Creek}}
- (left) Eastman Creek{{cite gnis|1618824|Eastman Creek}}
- (left) Picture Lake{{cite gnis|635051|Picture Lake}}
- (right) Moon Lake{{cite gnis|632629|Moon Lake}}
- (right) Merriman Lake{{cite gnis|632135|Merriman Lake}}
- School Section Lake{{cite gnis|School Section Lake|637413}}
- Maple Creek{{cite gnis|631421|Maple Creek}}
- (left) Cedar Drain{{cite gnis|1623098|Cedar Drain}}
- (right) Nelson Extension Drain{{cite gnis|1623114|Nelson Extension Drain}}
- Great Bear Lake Drain{{cite gnis|2112806|Great Bear Lake Drain}}
- Great Bear Lake{{cite gnis|627273|Great Bear Lake}}
- Haven and Max Lake Drain{{cite gnis|627944|Haven and Max Lake Drain}}
- Max Lake{{cite gnis|631752|Max Lake}}
- Mill Lake{{cite gnis|632330|Mill Lake}}
- Munn Lake{{cite gnis|633125|Munn Lake}}
- (left) Lower Jeptha Lake Drain{{cite gnis|1623109|Lower Jeptha Lake Drain}}
- Lower Jeptha Lake{{cite gnis|631173|Lower Jeptha Lake}}
- Upper Jeptha Lake{{cite gnis|1615405|Upper Jeptha Lake}}
- (right) Black River Extension Drain{{cite gnis|1617401|Black River Extension Drain}}
- (left) South Scott Lake{{cite gnis|637473|South Scott Lake}}
- (right) Abernathy Lake{{cite gnis|619793|Abernathy Lake}}
- (left) Max Lake{{cite gnis|631751|Max Lake}}
- (left) North Scott Lake{{cite gnis|633645|North Scott Lake}}
- Middle Branch Black River
- (right) Spicebush Creek{{cite gnis|638504|Spicebush Creek}}
- (left) Scott Creek Drain, also known as Scott Creek{{cite gnis|637463|Scott Creek Drain}}
- (left) Elm Creek Drain, also known as Elm Creek{{cite gnis|625501|Elm Creek Drain}}
- Lower Scott Lake{{cite gnis|631183|Lower Scott Lake}}
- Upper Scott Lake{{cite gnis|1615412|Upper Scott Lake}}
- Barber Creek, also spelled Barbor Creek{{cite gnis|620580|Barber Creek}}
- (right) Lester Lake{{cite gnis|630332|Lester Lake}}
- (right) Mud Lake{{cite gnis|632919|Mud Lake}}
- (right) Coffee Lake{{cite gnis|623536|Coffee Lake}}
- Saddle Lake{{cite gnis|636476|Saddle Lake}}
- Spring Brook{{cite gnis|638538|Spring Brook}}
- Spring Brook Lake{{cite gnis|638549|Spring Brook Lake}}
- (left) Osterhout Lake{{cite gnis|634147|Osterhout Lake}}
- (left) Melvin Creek{{cite gnis|632085|Melvin Creek}}
- Deer Lake{{cite gnis|624470|Deer Lake}}
- Lake Moriah{{cite gnis|632699|Lake Moriah}}
- (left) Mud Lake{{cite gnis|632922|Mud Lake}}
- (right) Little Bear Lake Drain{{cite gnis|1623108|Little Bear Lake Drain}}
- (left) Lake Eleven{{cite gnis|625432|Lake Eleven}}
- Lake Fourteen{{cite gnis|626343|Lake Fourteen}}
- North Branch Black River{{cite gnis|633575|North Branch Black River}}
- Black River Drain{{cite gnis|1618825|Black River Drain}}
- (right) Ockford Drain{{cite gnis|Ockford Drain|1617402}}
- (left) Beaver Dam Drain{{cite gnis|1618569|Beaver Dam Drain}}
- (left) North State Road Drain{{cite gnis|1623117|North State Road Drain}}
- Hutchins Lake{{cite gnis|628889|Hutchins Lake}}
- Leverich Drain{{cite gnis|630339|Leverich Drain}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091014235231/http://www.vbco.org/blackriver_2.asp Black River Watershed Project]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090731141305/http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0%2C1607%2C7-135-3313_3682_3714_31581-120463--%2C00.html Black River Watershed Management Plan]
- [http://www.swmpc.org/ Southwest Michigan Planning Commission]
- [http://www.TwoRiversCoalition.org/ Two Rivers Coalition]
{{authority control}}
Category:Rivers of Allegan County, Michigan