|
|
|
|
|
|
Dowagiac River Watershed
|
The Dowagiac River Watershed is about 293 square miles. The Dowagiac River, rises in Van Buren County, and flows through Cass and Berrien Counties into the Saint Joseph River north of Niles, Michigan.
This river system has potential as outstanding trout habitat because of its geology.
· The Dowagiac River System (DRS) occupies a channel cut by the glacial Kalamazoo/Illinois river during the last Ice Age.
· It flows through through deep, coarse outwash deposits, now a predominantly agricultural watershed, with large areas of organic soils.
· The high permeability of these sediments and relatively high elevations of surrounding outwash deposits supply the Dowagiac and its tributaries with a large, constant volume of groundwater--the key to outstanding trout habitat.
Groundwater dominated streams are distinctive.
· They are little disturbed by floods or droughts.
· They maintain fairly constant water temperatures year-round.
These same mechanisms drive the world famous trout streams of northern Michigan, such as the Au Sable, which have large groundwater aquifers and stable cold stream flows.
Balanced restoration of the DRS holds promise as natural asset to benefit the region.
· The DRS is the only large stream system of this caliber in the southern portion of the state.
· A healthy Dowagiac River would rank among the finest trout rivers in the Midwest.
· Its nutrient-rich loamy soils would also make it one of the most productive.
Its location near the major urban areas of Chicago, South Bend, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids would make it a major recreational attraction in southwest Michigan.
|
|
Page Last Updated: 8/5/2003
|
