|
| |
What exactly is a watershed?
|
|
A watershed is the area of land that drains its surface runoff and
groundwater to a given waterbody. What we do on the land directly affects what
happens in our lakes, streams, and rivers. It is this connection between the
water and the land that makes understanding watersheds so important. Once we
realize how our actions impact the water, we will be well on our way toward
improving and protecting our world’s most vital natural resource.
|
 |
Location
The Iron River Watershed is located in southwestern Iron County in Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula. The watershed is approximately 61,440 acres and stretches over
the townships of Iron River, Stambaugh, and Bates. It contains the cities of
Iron River, Caspian, and Gaastra, as well as the community of Beechwood. The
Iron River drains into the Brule River which flows into the larger Menominee
River, and then eventually on to Lake Michigan.
|
Click on image above to get larger version.
|
Lakes and Streams
There are approximately 40 miles of streams that constitute the major flowing
water systems in the Iron River watershed. Major streams and their lengths
include:
|
| South Branch Iron River - 3 miles |
Autio Creek - 2.5 miles |
| North Branch Iron River – 4 miles |
Baker Creek – 2.5 miles |
| Iron River – 15.5 miles |
Holmes Creek - 3 miles |
| Iron Lake Creek – 1 mile |
Stanley Creek – 1.5 mile |
| Nash Creek – 2 miles |
Sunset Creek – 5 miles |
Along with the streams, the watershed contains a number of lakes including
Bates Lake, Bennan Lake, Ice Lake, Iron Lake, Lake Nine, Lake Fifteen, Lake
Sixteen, Lake Ottawa, Snipe Lake, Stanley Lake, Sunset Lake, and Wildwood Lake. The watershed also
contains smaller perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, vernal springs and
wetlands, many of which are unnamed. The Iron River is a rather low gradient
river, dropping only about 150 feet in elevation between the headwaters to its
confluence with the Brule River. |
Population & Land Use
|
|
According to the 2000 census, Iron County has a population of 13,138 people. Of this, roughly 6000 people reside within the Iron River Watershed or about 46%
of the county. Most of these people are concentrated within the cities of Iron
River, Caspian, and Gaastra, through which the Iron River passes. Additionally
there are a number of residents who own homes or camps along many of the larger waterbodies in the watershed. Land use for the Iron River watershed is
distributed as 57% forested, 12% agricultural, 7% wetland, 16% urban, and 8% of
other varied classifications.
|
Click on image above to get larger version.
|
Climate & Precipitation
The yearly average temperature for the area is 39.8° F with extremes
ranging from 98 to –44° F. The average daily maximum is 51.8 and the
average daily minimum is 27.7. On average the watershed will see 31.68 inches
of rainfall each year and 76.9 inches in snowfall. (Climate and precipitation
statistics were taken from data recorded in the period 1956-85 at Stambaugh,
MI. Stambaugh was incorporated into the city of Iron River in July of 2000.)
|
|
