Rogue River (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
The Rogue River is a river in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It runs through Kent
and Newaygo
counties and through the Rogue River State Game Area. It is 48 miles (77.2 km) long and has a drainage basin of 234 square miles (606.1 km²).
Its headwaters are a series of ditches that drain the old Rice Lake bed near Grant
for agricultural
purposes. In this area the stream has been dredged and straightened leaving limited fish habitat. The river joins the Grand River
southeast of Belmont in Plainfield Township
. The Blythefield Country Club is now situated on a bluff just northeast of where the Rogue flows into the Grand.
Originally named "Rouge River", the river's appellation was altered in the 19th century due to the printing error of a Wisconsin mapmaker.
As a frontier waterway, the historic Rogue River was of major importance to local tribes and traders. During the lumber era in the latter 19th century its waters floated timber to the mills of the Grand River valley, and the riverboat Algoma plied its way northward along Rogue giving its name to the Kent county township of Algoma
.
Rogue River is designated as "Country Scenic" under Michigan's Natural Rivers Act. It is popular with trout fishers and local youth who have floated the river by innertube since the mid-20th century. It is intersected in parts by the White Pine Trail
. It varies from 15 feet (4.6 m) wide in the upper sections to 80 feet (24.4 m) wide near its end and is 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 ) deep.
The Rockford Dam restrains the Rogue in the city of Rockford
.
In July 2010, the Rogue River was designated a Trout Unlimited
Home River. This provides funding for habitat restoration and land use management planning.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It runs through Kent
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
and Newaygo
Newaygo County, Michigan
Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids–Wyoming, MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,460. The county seat is White Cloud. Newaygo County was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Saginaw...
counties and through the Rogue River State Game Area. It is 48 miles (77.2 km) long and has a drainage basin of 234 square miles (606.1 km²).
Its headwaters are a series of ditches that drain the old Rice Lake bed near Grant
Grant, Michigan
Grant is a city in Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 894 at the 2010 census. The city is on the boundary between Grant Township and Ashland Township, but is politically independent of both...
for agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
purposes. In this area the stream has been dredged and straightened leaving limited fish habitat. The river joins the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
southeast of Belmont in Plainfield Township
Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan
Plainfield Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2000 census, the population was 30,195 . The township forms part of the metro Grand Rapids area. It derives its name from the extinct lumbertown of Plainfield founded in 1838 by Andrew...
. The Blythefield Country Club is now situated on a bluff just northeast of where the Rogue flows into the Grand.
Originally named "Rouge River", the river's appellation was altered in the 19th century due to the printing error of a Wisconsin mapmaker.
As a frontier waterway, the historic Rogue River was of major importance to local tribes and traders. During the lumber era in the latter 19th century its waters floated timber to the mills of the Grand River valley, and the riverboat Algoma plied its way northward along Rogue giving its name to the Kent county township of Algoma
Algoma Township, Michigan
Algoma Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 7,596.Algoma was originally settled in 1843...
.
Rogue River is designated as "Country Scenic" under Michigan's Natural Rivers Act. It is popular with trout fishers and local youth who have floated the river by innertube since the mid-20th century. It is intersected in parts by the White Pine Trail
White Pine Trail State Park
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is a long linear state park in the U.S. state of Michigan.The trail extends from northern Grand Rapids to Cadillac, and it lies on the path graded for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. The White Pine Trail is a rail trail park...
. It varies from 15 feet (4.6 m) wide in the upper sections to 80 feet (24.4 m) wide near its end and is 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 ) deep.
The Rockford Dam restrains the Rogue in the city of Rockford
Rockford, Michigan
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,719. It is on the Rogue River and is only a few miles north of Grand Rapids.- History :...
.
In July 2010, the Rogue River was designated a Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. Often contracted as "TU," the organization began in 1959 in Michigan...
Home River. This provides funding for habitat restoration and land use management planning.