Black River Watershed

Groups That Work in the Watershed | Projects Sub-Watersheds | Lakes Greater Than 20 Acres Surface Area of Lakes Greater Than 20 Acres Road/Stream Crossings

The Black River Watershed drains 599.75 sq miles of northern Lower Michigan and is located in Cheboygan, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle Counties. Before flowing into Black Lake, the Upper Black River joins up with many cold-water tributaries and supports a healthy cold-water fishery. It also runs through the Pigeon River Country State Forest (PRC), a premier destination for hiking, hunting and fishing. Because of the special features of the PRC, more protective land and water management policies are in place there than on most state forest lands.

Black Lake, the 9^th largest inland lake in Michigan, is heavily utilized for recreation and is famous for its self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon, a threatened species. Anglers also spend time at Black Lake fishing for muskellunge, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and bass. Besides the Black River, Black Lake also receives the flow of the Rainy River and Stewart, Fisher, Mud, Cain’s and Stony Creeks. When the Lower Black River flows out of Black Lake toward Lake Huron, the character of the river is noticeably different than the Upper Black’s. Because of its close proximity to Black Lake and because of the local karst topography (which keeps groundwater inflows low), the 11-mile Lower Black River becomes a warm-water habitat with fairly homogenous flow.

Partners working to maintain and improve the high water quality found in this river system focus on improving Best Management Practices at road/stream crossings, working with landowners to improve stewardship practices and controlling erosion at numerous sites along the river. Work is also ongoing to preserve, protect and enhance the wildlife corridors and habitat in the area outside of the boundaries of the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

Groups That Work in the Watershed

Projects

• 2014 Upper Black River Summer Conservation Crew Report
• Black River and Sucker Creek Road Stream Crossing
• Hodges Creek and Black River Rd Road Stream Crossing
• Huron Pines AmeriCorps serving with the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited
• Saunders Dam Removal
• Stewart Creek and Blue Lakes Rd Road Stream Crossing

Black River Sub-Watersheds

Lakes Greater Than 20 Acres

Surface Area of Lakes Greater Than 20 Acres

13784.6 Acres

Source: Huron Pines, NEMCOG & EPA

For more information on the Black River or Black Lake Watershed, please visit: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council