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The Muskegon River Watershed
The Muskegon River Watershed is located in north-central Michigan and incorporates 9 counties including Wexford, Roscommon, Missaukee, Clare, Osceola, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Muskegon. The Muskegon River Watershed is one of the largest watersheds in Michigan at over 2,700 square miles, second only to the Grand River Watershed. The main branch Muskegon is approximately 219 miles long and flows from its headwaters at Houghton and Higgins Lake down to the mouth at Muskegon Lake, then eventually Lake Michigan. The watershed also includes an estimated 94 tributaries to the main branch. These cool and cold water tributaries sustain good populations of trout and other cold water aquatic species. The river has a wide range of recreational use including fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating. Its surrounding land also is a host to a number of campgrounds and several shoreline parks. Land use throughout the watershed is an even mix of forest and agriculture. The Muskegon River hosts three hydroelectric dams; Croton and Hardy in Newago county, and Rogers in Mecosta county.