Rocky River (Michigan)

The Rocky River is a 28.3-mile-long (45.5 km)[1] stream located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan that flows into the St. Joseph River at 41°56′33″N 85°37′59″W[3] in the city of Three Rivers in St. Joseph County. The Rocky River, along with the St. Joseph River and the Portage River, are the three rivers from which the city of Three Rivers takes its name.

Rocky River
The Rocky River in Flowerfield Township
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSouthwest Marcellus Township in Cass County, Michigan
Mouth 
 • location
St. Joseph River in Three Rivers
Length28 mi (45 km)[1]
Basin size450 km2 (170 sq mi)[2]
Discharge 
 • average1.5–2.0 m3/s (53–71 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River systemSt. Joseph River

The Rocky River rises in southwest Marcellus Township in Cass County at 41°59′43″N 85°51′04″W.[3] It flows to the northeast, arcing gently to the southeast before turning sharply to the south in eastern Flowerfield Township, shortly after being joined by the Flowerfield Creek. It then flows mostly southward until joining the St. Joseph River in Three Rivers.

The Rocky River watershed encompasses over 112,000 acres (45,000 ha) and drains all or portions of the following cities and townships:[2]

Tributaries
  • (left) Kerr Creek[4]
    • Little Pleasant Lake[5]
      • Pleasant Lake[6]
  • (left) Armalege Drain[7]
  • (right) Flowerfield Creek[9]
    • (right) Spring Creek[10]
  • (right) Four County Drain[11]
  • (left) Ayers Lake[12]
  • (right) Sheldon Creek[13]
  • (left) Pickerel Lake[16]
  • (right) Huyck Lake[20]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 19, 2011
  2. Rocky River Watershed Management Plan, prepared by Sarah VanDelfzijl, Watershed Coordinator, St. Joseph County Conservation District
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rocky River
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kerr Creek
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little Pleasant Lake
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pleasant Lake
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Armalege Drain
  8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Goose Lake
  9. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Flowerfield Creek
  10. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Spring Creek
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Four County Drain
  12. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ayers Lake
  13. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sheldon Creek
  14. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lewis Lake
  15. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mud Lake
  16. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pickerel Lake
  17. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Skyhawk Lake
  18. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Streaters Mill Pond
  19. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bogart Lake
  20. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Huyck Lake
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