Shiawassee River
Encyclopedia
The Shiawassee River in the U.S. state
of Michigan
is 120 miles (193.1 km) long and generally flows in a northerly direction. It merges together with the Flint River
, the Cass River
and the Tittabawassee River
to form the Saginaw River
, which drains into the Saginaw Bay
of Lake Huron
.
, minnow
s, channel catfish
, pugnose shiner
, greater redhorse
, stonecat, river chub and striped shiner
. There are also 14 species of freshwater mussel found in the watershed. The swamps and fens adjacent to the river's headwaters support several globally rare species of animals and play a major role in the travels of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
(Oakland County) promotes the navigability of the river through Fenton
towards Lake Ponemah. Volunteer crews remove deadfalls, woody debris and garbage to allow canoe/kayak paddling while preserving the banks and fish habitat. This will allow paddlers to start in Holly, do a small portage at Fenton dam, and continue on to Lake Ponemah. Every year HeadWaters Trails hosts an annual Shiawassee River Paddle along the river between Holly and Fenton.
Other groups that help maintain and conserve the Shiawassee River include local advocates, the Friends of the Shiawassee River, and many others. The Friends of the Shiawassee River is a special interest group and non-profit organization founded in 1996. Their mission is to Care, to maintain and improve the water quality and habitats of the Shiawassee River watershed; Share, to enhance the community’s appreciation and knowledge of the river, especially among youth; and Enjoy, to increase recreational access and responsible use of the Shiawassee River. The Friends also hold an annual river clean-up and conduct invasive species removal workdays.
The Keepers of the Shiawassee are a new group that has grown out of the efforts started by Headwaters Trails, Inc. in Holly that created a paddling trail along the river from Holly to Fenton. The Keepers organize and link volunteers in Genesee County
to continue the creation and evolution of a navigable river throughout Michigan.
Water Works Park at 690 Broad Street in Holly, Michigan
(42°47.172′N 83°37.565′W, GPS data: 17T E 285205 N 4740417) is the launch site for the beginning of the trail. Strom Park in (42°47.172′N 83°37.565′W) in Fenton
is the take-out point after 7 miles (11 km) of paddling.
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"....
is 120 miles (193.1 km) long and generally flows in a northerly direction. It merges together with the Flint River
Flint River (Michigan)
The Flint River is a river in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan in the United States. It flows through the city of Flint and the counties of Genesee, Lapeer and Saginaw.- Course :...
, the Cass River
Cass River
The Cass River is a river in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It drains large portions of Sanilac and Tuscola counties and smaller portions of Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, and Saginaw counties....
and the Tittabawassee River
Tittabawassee River
The Tittabawassee River is a stream which flows in a generally southeasterly direction through the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river begins at Secord Lake in Clement Township, at the confluence of the East Branch and the Middle Branch...
to form the Saginaw River
Saginaw River
The Saginaw River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers southwest of Saginaw. It flows northward into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron just northeast of Bay City. The watershed area is .The river is an important shipping...
, which drains into the Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area...
of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
.
Description
Supporting approximately 1160 square miles (3,004.4 km²) of watershed environment, there are over 61 species of fish, including dartersDarter (fish)
The fish popularly known as darters are small perch-like fish.They inhabit freshwater streams in North America. They are members of the family percidae and include members of the Ammocrypta, Crystallaria, Etheostoma and Percina genera....
, minnow
Minnow
Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or for fishing bait. More specifically, it refers to small freshwater fish of the carp family.-True minnows:...
s, channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, pugnose shiner
Pugnose Shiner
Pugnose Shiner is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Notropis....
, greater redhorse
Greater redhorse
The greater redhorse, Moxostoma valenciennesi, is a species of freshwater fish endemic to states in the northcentral and northeastern United States as well as Ontario and Quebec in Canada...
, stonecat, river chub and striped shiner
Shiner (fish)
Shiner is a common name used for any of several kinds of small, usually silvery fish, in particular a number of cyprinids, but also e.g. the Shiner Perch .Cyprinid shiners are:* Eastern shiners, genus Notropis...
. There are also 14 species of freshwater mussel found in the watershed. The swamps and fens adjacent to the river's headwaters support several globally rare species of animals and play a major role in the travels of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
Conservation
HeadWaters Trails Inc. in HollyHolly, Michigan
Holly is a village in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,086 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Holly Township. It is about south of Flint and northwest of Detroit.- Demographics :...
(Oakland County) promotes the navigability of the river through Fenton
Fenton, Michigan
Fenton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan that lies mostly in Genesee County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,756. The city was incorporated from Fenton Township in Genesee County, and the city and township are administratively autonomous.-History:In the 1970s, the city...
towards Lake Ponemah. Volunteer crews remove deadfalls, woody debris and garbage to allow canoe/kayak paddling while preserving the banks and fish habitat. This will allow paddlers to start in Holly, do a small portage at Fenton dam, and continue on to Lake Ponemah. Every year HeadWaters Trails hosts an annual Shiawassee River Paddle along the river between Holly and Fenton.
Other groups that help maintain and conserve the Shiawassee River include local advocates, the Friends of the Shiawassee River, and many others. The Friends of the Shiawassee River is a special interest group and non-profit organization founded in 1996. Their mission is to Care, to maintain and improve the water quality and habitats of the Shiawassee River watershed; Share, to enhance the community’s appreciation and knowledge of the river, especially among youth; and Enjoy, to increase recreational access and responsible use of the Shiawassee River. The Friends also hold an annual river clean-up and conduct invasive species removal workdays.
The Keepers of the Shiawassee are a new group that has grown out of the efforts started by Headwaters Trails, Inc. in Holly that created a paddling trail along the river from Holly to Fenton. The Keepers organize and link volunteers in Genesee County
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
to continue the creation and evolution of a navigable river throughout Michigan.
Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail
The Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail complete with mileage markers and kiosks is open for kayakers and canoeists.Water Works Park at 690 Broad Street in Holly, Michigan
Holly, Michigan
Holly is a village in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,086 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Holly Township. It is about south of Flint and northwest of Detroit.- Demographics :...
(42°47.172′N 83°37.565′W, GPS data: 17T E 285205 N 4740417) is the launch site for the beginning of the trail. Strom Park in (42°47.172′N 83°37.565′W) in Fenton
Fenton, Michigan
Fenton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan that lies mostly in Genesee County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,756. The city was incorporated from Fenton Township in Genesee County, and the city and township are administratively autonomous.-History:In the 1970s, the city...
is the take-out point after 7 miles (11 km) of paddling.