BirdTrout
St. Joseph Watershed, Michigan
16,393 miles of mapped stream across 4,714 square miles of drainage in Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Saint Joseph, Van Buren counties, in 301 named streams. Michigan designates 868 of those miles as trout water, on 59 streams. The 3 mainstem gauges with a July record read 77.6°F in July.
Open in BirdTrout50°F and colder is cold, through cold-transitional and cool, to warm above 70°F — the same four bands the app paints. On this map the colour is MDNR's classification of the valley segment, not a measurement, except at the gauge dots, which read live. Grey is water MDNR has not typed.
The watershed in numbers
HUC8 04050001 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below is an aggregate of the same files the stream pages in this basin are built from.
Cold, cool and warm water
MDNR's Valley Segment Ecological Classification, which types the valley segment rather than measuring the water. It covers 7% of this basin's stream miles (1177.8 of 16,393); the rest is untyped and is drawn grey on the map above.
- Cold 122.8 mi (10%)
- Cold-transitional 47.8 mi (4%)
- Cool 476.2 mi (40%)
- Warm 531.0 mi (45%)
170.6 of the 1177.8 typed miles in this basin — 14% — are cold or cold-transitional water. The dominant class is warm.
This repo has no elevation model, so there is no elevation range on this page. MDNR's gradient class is the field that answers the same question, and over the typed miles it reads: medium 451.6 mi, low 349.5 mi, very low 250.4 mi, high 126.3 mi.
What makes this watershed distinctive
16,392.6 mapped stream miles across 4,714 square miles: by far the largest stream network on this map, and one of the least documented, with MDNR typing only 7% of it. Across those 1,177.8 miles the split is 531 warm, 476.2 cool, 122.8 cold and 47.8 cold-transitional. The Saint Joseph River runs 205.6 miles and types warm, carrying Types 1, 2 and 4 along it; the Paw Paw, Fawn, Prairie and Pigeon rivers all type warm too, and the Elkhart is untyped. 59 of the 301 named streams are designated trout water over 867.7 miles, with Bear Creek and the Pigeon River holding Blue Ribbon designations. This basin crosses a state line — 5,812 acres of its public land are held by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Public ground totals 62,232 acres, 2.1% of the basin, across 1,017 units. Three gauges all read 77.6°F in July.
Every named stream in the basin
All 301 of them, longest first. 5 have a page of their own and are linked; the rest are in the app. Thermal class is MDNR's, over the reaches it has typed. "Now" is the live USGS reading where a gauge stands in that stream.
| Stream | Miles | Class | Now | Designation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph River | 205.6 | Warm | 74.3°F | Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 |
| Paw Paw River | 61.8 | Warm | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Fawn River | 56.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Prairie River | 55.5 | Warm | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Elkhart River | 48.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Pigeon River Blue Ribbon | 46.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Turkey Creek | 43.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Portage River | 38.6 | Warm | 73.9°F | — |
| Pigeon Creek | 37.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Nottawa Creek | 33.9 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Christiana Creek | 31.4 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Pine Creek | 31.1 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Coldwater River | 29.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Swan Creek | 29.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Rocky River | 28.3 | Warm | — | Type 2 |
| Bear Creek Blue Ribbon | 27.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Baugo Creek | 25.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Dowagiac River | 23.6 | Cold-transitional | — | Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 |
| Dowagiac Creek | 23.4 | Cold-transitional | 67.8°F | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Little Elkhart River | 22.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Mill Creek | 22.3 | Cold | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Little Portage Creek | 21.4 | Warm | 68.9°F | — |
| South Branch Hog Creek | 20.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Spring Creek | 20.2 | Warm | 71.4°F | — |
| Flowerfield Creek | 19.5 | Cool | — | — |
| South Branch Elkhart River | 19.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Hickory Creek | 18.8 | Warm | — | Type 2 |
| North Branch Elkhart River | 18.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Brandywine Creek | 18.1 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Pipestone Creek | 17.4 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Mud Creek | 16.9 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Solomon Creek | 16.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Fly Creek | 15.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Yellow Creek | 15.8 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Sand Creek | 14.8 | Cool | — | — |
| South Branch Paw Paw River | 14.3 | Cold | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Dry Run | 14.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Pokagon Creek | 14.1 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| North Branch Paw Paw River | 13.4 | Cold-transitional | — | Type 2 |
| Brush Creek | 12.8 | Cold | — | Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 |
| Judy Creek | 12.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Rock Run Creek | 12.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Tallahassee Creek | 12.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Portage Creek | 11.9 | untyped | — | — |
| East Branch Paw Paw River | 11.5 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Big Meadow Drain | 11.3 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Beebe Creek | 11.1 | Cool | — | — |
| North Branch Hog Creek | 10.8 | Cool | — | — |
| Emma Creek | 10.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Dorrance Creek | 10.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Soap Creek | 10.6 | Cool | — | — |
| Grimes Ditch | 10.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Rowe-Eden Ditch | 10.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Blue Creek | 10.1 | Cold | — | Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 |
| Fisher Creek | 10.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Rogers Ditch | 10.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Love Creek | 9.6 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Little Hog Creek | 9.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Hog Creek | 9.4 | Cool | 72.7°F | — |
| Spencer Creek | 9.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Sauk River | 9.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Lemon Creek | 9.1 | untyped | — | Type 2, Type 4 |
| Berlin Court Grand Ditch | 9.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Cold Creek | 9.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Little Swan Creek | 8.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Nottawa Drain | 8.7 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Alder Creek | 8.6 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Cobus Creek | 8.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Buck Creek | 8.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Little Elkhart Creek | 8.1 | untyped | — | — |
| East Fly Creek | 8.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Burnett Creek | 8.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Trout Creek | 7.9 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Tekonsha Creek | 7.8 | Cool | — | — |
| Mather Ditch | 7.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Dowagiac Drain | 7.6 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 |
| Gourdneck Creek | 7.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Sheldon Creek | 7.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Little Fawn River | 7.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Willow Creek | 7.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Johnson Ditch | 7.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Gast Ditch | 7.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Riley Creek | 7.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Stony Creek | 7.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Huston Ditch | 7.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Dausman Ditch | 7.1 | untyped | — | — |
| East Buck Creek Ditch | 6.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Crooked Creek | 6.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Ox Creek | 6.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Four County Drain | 6.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Hayden Creek | 6.6 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Authen Ditch | 6.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Page Ditch | 6.3 | untyped | — | — |
| York Township Ditch | 6.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Eagle Lake Drain | 6.2 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Red Creek | 6.2 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Goose Lake Drain | 6.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Butternut Creek | 6.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Sherman Mill Creek | 6.0 | Warm | — | Type 2 |
| Garman Foster Drain | 6.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Peavine Creek | 5.8 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Campbell Creek | 5.8 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Eller Ditch | 5.8 | untyped | — | — |
| North Extension Drain | 5.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Croft Ditch | 5.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Rimmell Branch | 5.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Clock Creek | 5.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Hostetler Ditch | 5.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Tamarack Creek | 5.4 | Cool | — | — |
| Horn Ditch | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Long Ditch | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Bagley Creek | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Township Ditch | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Davisson Ditch | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Gretzinger Ditch | 5.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Osborn Drain | 5.2 | Cold-transitional | 65.7°F | Type 2 |
| Summers Ditch | 5.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Boyer Ditch | 5.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Kieffer Ditch | 5.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Cromwell Ditch | 5.2 | untyped | — | — |
| McKinzie Creek | 5.1 | untyped | — | Type 2, Type 4 |
| Washington Township Ditch | 5.1 | Cool | — | — |
| Reinbold Drain | 5.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Leedy Ditch | 5.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Silver Creek | 5.0 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Coppes Ditch | 5.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Asher Drain | 4.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Bowen Creek | 4.9 | Cool | — | — |
| Lawton Drain | 4.8 | untyped | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Indian Creek | 4.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Keelo Creek | 4.6 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Portage Lake Drain | 4.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Farmers Creek | 4.4 | Cool | — | Type 2, Type 4 |
| Osolo Township Ditch | 4.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Black Run | 4.4 | Cool | — | — |
| Henderson Lake Ditch | 4.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Hire Ditch | 4.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Rowe Ditch | 4.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Clarendon and Eckford Drain Number Three | 4.3 | Cool | — | — |
| Bakertown Drain | 4.2 | Cold-transitional | — | Type 2 |
| Berlien Ditch | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Puterbaugh Creek | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Stoner Ditch | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Church Drain | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Little Yellow Creek | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Hoopingarner Ditch | 4.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Parker Ditch | 4.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Smathers Ditch | 4.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Profile Lake Drain | 4.0 | Cold | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| White Creek | 4.0 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Stewart Lake Drain | 4.0 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Fawn River Drain | 4.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Mud Lake Drain | 4.0 | Cool | — | — |
| Nunemaker Ditch | 4.0 | untyped | — | — |
| South Fork Pine Creek | 4.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Lake of the Woods Drain | 3.9 | Cool | — | Type 2, Type 4 |
| Goose Pond Drain | 3.9 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Truesdale Ditch | 3.9 | untyped | — | — |
| McAllister Ditch | 3.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Rousch Ditch | 3.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Osborn Manning Ditch | 3.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Skinner Ditch | 3.8 | untyped | — | — |
| McCoy Creek | 3.7 | Cold-transitional | — | Type 2, Type 4 |
| Darkwood Ditch | 3.7 | untyped | — | — |
| North Branch Hickory Creek | 3.6 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Nye Drain | 3.6 | untyped | — | — |
| North Fork Pine Creek | 3.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Fulmer Ditch | 3.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Barkey Ditch | 3.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Hutchins Ditch | 3.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Nottawa Ditch | 3.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Miller and Melody Drain | 3.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Middle Branch Elkhart River | 3.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Winebrenner Branch | 3.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Omar Neff Ditch | 3.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Histand Drain | 3.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Kohler Ditch | 3.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Boyd Ditch | 3.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Preston Miles Ditch | 3.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Farver Ditch | 3.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Metz Ditch | 3.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Mudd Lake Drain | 3.2 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Hallwood Drain | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Fetch Ditch | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Dillon Creek | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Uhl Ditch | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Juday Ditch | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Gates Extension Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Carrol Creek | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Granger Drain | 3.1 | Cool | — | — |
| Kendig Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Hoke Ditch | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| McManus Ditch | 3.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Rowe and Wallace Drain | 2.9 | untyped | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Hassinger Drain | 2.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Thumma Ditch | 2.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Love Joy Ditch | 2.9 | Cool | — | — |
| Colon Ditch | 2.9 | Warm | — | — |
| Armalege Drain | 2.9 | Cool | — | — |
| Steffy Ditch | 2.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Worley Ditch | 2.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Sparta Lake Ditch | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Ryan Ditch | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Hoover Ditch | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Cable Run | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Miller Ditch | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Cole Ditch | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Eberly Ditch | 2.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Wagner Ditch | 2.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Three Mile Lake Drain | 2.6 | Cool | — | Type 1, Type 2 |
| Ritter Creek | 2.6 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Carter Creek | 2.6 | Cool | — | — |
| Kerr Creek | 2.6 | Cool | — | — |
| East Lake Ditch | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Menges Ditch | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Blue Ditch | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Jack Ditch | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Spring Valley Drain | 2.5 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Grey Run Drain | 2.5 | Cold-transitional | — | Type 1 |
| Todd Drain | 2.5 | Cold | — | Type 2 |
| Shuler Drain | 2.5 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Mattawan Creek | 2.5 | untyped | — | Type 2 |
| Follette Creek | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| South Histand Drain | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Dove Creek | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Oonseentia Creek | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Sheep Creek | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Oviatt Ditch | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Werntz Ditch | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Weaver Ditch | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Crothers Ditch | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Wenger Ditch | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Hammond Ditch | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Bell Lake Ditch | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Eatinger Ditch | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Heltzel Ditch | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Yost Francisco Drain | 2.2 | Cool | — | — |
| Van Natta Ditch | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Phillips Ditch | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Piper Branch | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Yarian Ditch | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Shull Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Louck Ditch | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Boughey Ditch | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Smalley Ditch | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Himebaugh Drain | 2.0 | Cool | — | — |
| Spring Run | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Mather Lateral | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Cotton Lake Ditch | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Billman Ditch | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Shaffer Ditch | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Schwab Ditch | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Maumee Ditch | 1.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Beal Branch | 1.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Bixler Lake Ditch | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Davidhizer Ditch | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Black Ditch | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Painter Creek | 1.7 | Cold-transitional | — | — |
| Rich-Dillon Drain | 1.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Haarer Ditch | 1.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Longman Drain | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Waterhouse Ditch | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Meyer Ditch | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Owl Creek | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Fetters Martin Ditch | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| New Miller Ditch | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Forker Creek | 1.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Honey Lake Drain | 1.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Oliver Lake Outlet | 1.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Whetten Ditch | 1.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Fuller Arm | 1.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Ryno Drain | 1.4 | Cool | — | — |
| Indian Lake Drain | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Iden Branch | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Goodale Ditch | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Gandy Ditch | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Buckley Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| McNutt Ditch | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Andrus Drain | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Snyder and Snyder Drain | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Marker Ditch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Angelmyer Loucke Ditch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Hildreth Ditch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Christophel Ditch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Morrison Channel | 1.1 | untyped | — | Type 1 |
| Bowman Creek | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Waterman Drain | 1.1 | Cool | — | — |
| Stump Ditch | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Crawford Ditch | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Ladig Ditch | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Williams Drain | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Kehr Ditch | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Conrad Ditch | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Kauffman Ditch | 1.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Power Drain | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Stutz Ditch | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Brown Ditch | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Bollinger Ditch | 0.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Jacobs Ditch | 0.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Holderman Ditch | 0.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Wakeshma Drain | 0.6 | untyped | — | — |
Public land in the watershed
62,232 acres in 1017 units, which is 2.1% of the 3,016,829 acres the basin covers. Private inholdings carried in the same source file are excluded, here and on the map.
| Managing agency | Acres | Share | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFW | 16,558 | 27% | 41 |
| Michigan DNR | 12,487 | 20% | 125 |
| Local Government land | 6,943 | 11% | 377 |
| Indiana Department of Natural Resources | 5,812 | 9% | 9 |
| City and township land | 4,500 | 7% | 172 |
| Elkhart County Parks | 1,201 | 2% | 11 |
| Land trusts and conservancies | 1,167 | 2% | 33 |
| Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife | 1,099 | 2% | 3 |
The biggest named blocks of it, each with its own page — the streams on that ground, what is open to hunt on it, and where the access sites are.
- Crane Pond State Game Area 4,238 ac
- Gourdneck State Game Area 2,148 ac
- Three Rivers State Game Area 2,098 ac
- Heritage Park 1,020 ac
- Kal-Haven Trail Sesq. State Park 913 ac
- Fulton State Game Area 675 ac
- Sarett Nature Center 554 ac
- Camp Makisable 529 ac
Species present
Recorded by MDNR at 1 survey station in this basin, or in its stocking record. The temperature ranges are this repo's own species table and are the same numbers the app's picker uses.
| Species | Best water | Tolerates | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis |
50–60°F | 42–65°F | stocked |
|
Brown trout
Salmo trutta |
55–63°F | 45–70°F | surveyed stocked |
|
Rainbow trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
55–64°F | 44–70°F | stocked |
|
Chinook salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha |
50–58°F | 42–68°F | stocked |
|
Coho salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch |
48–56°F | 40–65°F | stocked |
|
Walleye
Sander vitreus |
62–72°F | 50–80°F | stocked |
| Channel catfish | — | — | stocked |
| Lake trout | — | — | stocked |
| Yellow Perch | — | — | stocked |
Best time to fish
The hatch calendar for southern lower Michigan, which is the region this basin's centre falls in — the same regions the app's hatch panel uses. It is a regional record, not a survey of this watershed: nobody has counted insects basin by basin. Year-round records (midges, scuds, sculpins) are left out; they are true every month and they are not what a calendar is for.
January
February
April
May
June
July
- Crayfish
- Spotted / Tan Caddis
- Sulphur
- Black Ant
- +8 more
August
September
November
December
Nothing seasonal on the water.
27 insects are recorded from southern lower Michigan. Each links to its own page, with the flies that imitate it.
Neighbouring watersheds
The subbasins that share a boundary with this one and carry coldwater streams.