BirdTrout
Flint Watershed, Michigan
2,283 miles of mapped stream across 1,331 square miles of drainage in Genesee, Lapeer, Oakland counties, in 216 named streams. Michigan designates 79 of those miles as trout water, on 7 streams.
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 04080204 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.
Cold, cool and warm water
MDNR's Valley Segment Ecological Classification, which types the valley segment rather than measuring the water. It covers 23% of this basin's stream miles (519.1 of 2,283); the rest is untyped and is drawn grey on the map above.
- Cold-transitional 0.3 mi (0%)
- Cool 66.3 mi (13%)
- Warm 452.5 mi (87%)
0.3 of the 519.1 typed miles in this basin — 0% — are cold or cold-transitional water. The dominant class is warm.
There is no elevation model behind this page, so it carries no elevation range. MDNR's gradient class is the field that answers the same question, and over the typed miles it reads: medium 317.4 mi, low 114.8 mi, very low 48.7 mi, high 38.3 mi.
What makes this watershed distinctive
This is a warm-water basin. Of the 519.1 miles MDNR has typed — 23% of 2,282.8 mapped stream miles, one of the better-sampled watersheds on this map — 452.5 are warm and 66.3 cool, with 0.3 miles of cold-transitional water and no cold water at all. The Flint River runs 76.3 miles warm and untyped by trout regulation; the South Branch, Misteguay Creek, Swartz Creek and Thread Creek all run warm too. 7 of the 216 named streams are designated trout water, over 78.6 miles, and no stream here holds a Blue Ribbon designation. Kearsley Creek, 47.8 miles of cool Type 2 water, is the longest designated stream in the basin. Public land is 50,807 acres and 6% of the ground, broken across 319 units that are mostly municipal and county holdings rather than state forest. The stocking record is warmwater — crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye — with brown trout among it.
Every named stream in the basin
All 216 of them, longest first. 1 has a page of its own and is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint River | 76.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Kearsley Creek | 47.8 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| South Branch Flint River | 46.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Misteguay Creek | 38.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Swartz Creek | 33.9 | Warm | — | — |
| Thread Creek | 32.9 | Warm | — | — |
| North Branch Flint River | 23.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Pine Run | 19.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Brent Run | 18.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Silver Creek | 17.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Butternut Creek | 17.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Hasler Creek | 14.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Indian Creek | 14.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Porter Creek | 13.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Northwood Creek | 12.9 | Warm | — | — |
| Gilkey Creek | 11.9 | Warm | — | — |
| Pattee Creek | 10.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Armstrong Creek | 10.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Pine Creek | 10.2 | Warm | — | Type 2 |
| Cedar Creek | 10.1 | Cool | — | — |
| Bottom Creek | 9.4 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Onion Creek | 9.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Rush Creek | 9.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Black Creek | 9.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Kinsman Drain | 8.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Evergreen Creek | 8.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Gravel Creek | 8.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Cole Creek | 8.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Brent Creek | 8.3 | Warm | — | — |
| West Branch Swartz Creek | 8.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Kimball Drain | 8.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Henry Drain | 8.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Negus Drain | 8.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Mitchell Creek | 7.7 | Warm | — | — |
| South Branch Farmers Creek | 7.3 | Cool | — | — |
| Mud Creek | 7.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Mill Creek | 7.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Forest Drain | 7.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Fitch Drain | 6.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Fostoria Drain | 6.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Elm Creek | 6.8 | Cool | — | — |
| Central Drain | 6.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Parker Scothan Drain | 6.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Rockwell Drain | 6.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Eickholt Drain | 6.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Carman Creek | 6.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Pitch Creek | 6.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Crystal Creek | 5.8 | Cool | — | — |
| Whigville Creek | 5.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Hartshorn Drain | 5.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Sigmund Drain | 5.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Duck Creek | 4.9 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Hutchinson and Young Drain | 4.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Benjamin Run | 4.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Dollar Creek | 4.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Rumph Drain | 4.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Kintz Creek | 4.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Montrose Drain | 4.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Parker Creek | 4.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Peasley Drain | 4.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Clark Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Spring Brook Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Geer Williams Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Bishop Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Hammond and Misener Drain | 4.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Peart Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Silver Creek Drain | 4.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Dawe Drain | 4.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Mirror Lake Drain | 4.0 | Warm | — | — |
| North Branch Drain | 4.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Runnels Drain | 4.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Pierson Branch | 4.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Bouck Drain | 4.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Hobson Drain | 4.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Denslow Drain | 3.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Bare Drain | 3.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Hewitt Drain | 3.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Lum Drain | 3.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Cattail Swamp Drain | 3.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Spring Bank Creek | 3.7 | Cool | — | — |
| Limbarg Drain | 3.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Bush Creek | 3.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Misner Drain | 3.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Plum Creek Drain | 3.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Compton Drain | 3.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Reed Drain | 3.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Pirnie Creek | 3.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Hathon Drain | 3.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Hunters Creek | 3.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Trinklein Drain | 3.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Bogart Drain | 3.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Bryant Drain | 3.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Chipmunk Creek | 3.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Crawford Drain | 3.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Guinan Drain | 3.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Paddison Drain | 3.1 | Warm | — | Type 2 |
| Sand Hill Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Hemmingway and Whipple Drain | 3.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Zimmerman Branch | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Saxon Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Sutter and Eight Line Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Murray Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Kester Drain | 3.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Lees Lake Drain | 3.0 | Cool | — | — |
| Geiger Drain | 3.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Galloway Drain | 3.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Kelland Drain | 3.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Bailey Drain | 3.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Ballard Drain | 3.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Alexander Drain | 2.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Hertrich Drain | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Cronk Drain | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| South Clifford Drain | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Drudge Drain | 2.8 | Warm | — | — |
| North County Drain | 2.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Crooked Creek Drain | 2.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Joslyn Drain | 2.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Slocum Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Rogers Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Poplar Creek | 2.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Treadway and Powelson Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Degrow Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Lyons Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Fowler Drain | 2.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Rowe Drain | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Almas Drain | 2.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Drake Drain | 2.5 | Warm | — | — |
| Lake Drain | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Zufelt Drain | 2.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Sprague Drain | 2.4 | Warm | — | — |
| East Fork Evergreen Creek | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Galbraith Drain | 2.4 | untyped | — | — |
| South Branch North County Drain | 2.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Cames Drain | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Bowerman Drain | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Tupper Drain | 2.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Alpine and Blackmore Drain | 2.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Lassen Drain | 2.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Carpenter Drain | 2.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Atwell Drain | 2.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Clute Drain | 2.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Harding Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Gansley Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Goyer Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Butler Drain | 2.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Bortle Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Coon Drain | 2.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Kurtz Drain | 2.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Reid Drain | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Hunters Creek Drain | 2.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Coal Mine Drain | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Shippley Drain | 2.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Andres Drain | 2.0 | untyped | — | — |
| Mayfield and Oregon Drain | 2.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Evans Drain | 2.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Sanborn Drain | 1.9 | untyped | — | — |
| McCullough Drain | 1.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Five Lakes Drain | 1.9 | Cool | — | — |
| High Drain | 1.9 | Warm | — | — |
| Seymour McKinley Drain | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Geesey Drain | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Palmer Branch Drain | 1.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Andison Drain | 1.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Fishell Drain | 1.7 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Bear Swamp Ditch | 1.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Coe Drain | 1.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Hewson Lanoe Drain | 1.7 | Warm | — | — |
| Howland Drain | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Delaney Drain | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Saxton Drain | 1.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Jackson Branch | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| May and White Drain | 1.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Slattery Drain | 1.6 | Warm | — | — |
| Robinet Drain | 1.5 | Cool | — | Type 2 |
| Gilna Drain | 1.5 | untyped | — | — |
| Monroe Drain | 1.5 | Cool | — | — |
| Conlin Drain | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Craven and Benson Drain | 1.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Killpatrick Drain | 1.4 | Warm | — | — |
| Barden Branch | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Sickles Drain | 1.4 | untyped | — | — |
| Fish Lake Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Fellews Drain | 1.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Andress Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Lennon Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Hughes Drain | 1.3 | Warm | — | — |
| Puffer Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Rood Lake Drain | 1.3 | untyped | — | — |
| Petry Branch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Brewer Drain | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Simon Branch | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Buell Drain | 1.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Town Line Drain | 1.2 | Warm | — | — |
| Crawford Lake Drain | 1.2 | untyped | — | — |
| Huggins Drain | 1.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Riegle Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Cutting Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Ottaway Drain | 1.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Pollock Brook | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Monroe Brook | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Washington Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Wilger Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Maxwell Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| Stiver Drain | 1.1 | Warm | — | — |
| Goodrich Mill Drain | 1.1 | untyped | — | — |
| McKillop Drain | 1.0 | Warm | — | — |
| Riskin Drain | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Ivey Drain | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Rudner Drain | 0.9 | untyped | — | — |
| Cornwell Drain | 0.8 | Warm | — | — |
| Earl Branch Drain | 0.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Degrow Branch | 0.8 | untyped | — | — |
| Runnel Drain | 0.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Taft Drain | 0.7 | untyped | — | — |
| Davenport Drain | 0.6 | untyped | — | — |
| Arnold Drain | 0.6 | untyped | — | — |
Public land in the watershed
50,807 acres in 319 units, which is 6.0% of the 851,585 acres the basin covers. Private inholdings carried in the same source file are excluded, here and on the map.
| Managing agency | Acres | Share | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government land | 23,754 | 47% | 170 |
| Michigan DNR | 11,768 | 23% | 17 |
| County land | 5,279 | 10% | 6 |
| Genesee County | 3,118 | 6% | 4 |
| City and township land | 2,037 | 4% | 42 |
| Other State Land | 947 | 2% | 2 |
| Land trusts and conservancies | 880 | 2% | 3 |
| City of Flint | 738 | 1% | 38 |
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.
- Lapeer State Game Area 8,596 ac
- Holly State Recreation Area 7,927 ac
- Ortonville State Recreation Area 4,713 ac
- Forest Reserve 4,246 ac
- Genessee Recreation Area 4,052 ac
- Gravel Pit 2,414 ac
- Murphy Lake 2,354 ac
- Genessee County Recreational Area 2,315 ac
- Hogbacks Area 1,550 ac
- Seven Lakes State Park 1,477 ac
- Holloway Reservoir Regional Park 1,434 ac
- State Forest 1,357 ac
Species present
Recorded by MDNR at 0 survey stations in this basin, or in its stocking record. The temperature ranges are our own species table and are the same numbers the app's picker uses.
| Species | Best water | Tolerates | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brown trout
Salmo trutta |
55–63°F | 45–70°F | stocked |
|
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus |
70–80°F | 55–88°F | stocked |
|
Largemouth bass
Micropterus salmoides |
70–80°F | 58–88°F | stocked |
|
Walleye
Sander vitreus |
62–72°F | 50–80°F | stocked |
| Black crappie | — | — | stocked |
| Fathead minnow | — | — | stocked |
| Golden shiner | — | — | stocked |
| Lake sturgeon | — | — | 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
April
May
- Blue-Winged Olive
- Blackfly
- Blue Quill
- Cranefly
- +11 more
June
- Blackfly
- Cranefly
- Caterpillar
- Crayfish
- +15 more
July
- Caterpillar
- Crayfish
- Light Cahill
- Little Sulphur
- +17 more
August
- Caterpillar
- Crayfish
- Spotted / Tan Caddis
- Black Ant
- +14 more
September
- Blue-Winged Olive
- Cranefly
- Caterpillar
- Crayfish
- +10 more
October
- Fish Eggs
- Blue-Winged Olive
- Cranefly
- Crayfish
- +2 more
November
December
47 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.