Michigan STATE OF MICHIGAN DNR DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Number 27 July 2001 Flint River Assessment Joseph M. Leonardi and William J. Gruhn www.dnr.state.mi.us FISHERIES DIVISION SPECIAL REPORT MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FISHERIES DIVISION July 2001 Flint River Assessment Joseph M. Leonardi and William J. Gruhn The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), provides equal opportunities for employment and access to Michigan’s natural resources. Both State and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, sex, height, weight or marital status under the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, as amended, (1976 MI P.A. 453 and 1976 MI P.A. 220, Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, or if you desire additional information, please write the MDNR Office of Legal Services, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909; or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, State of Michigan, Plaza Building, 1200 6th Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 or the Office of Human Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs, 4040 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. 22203. For information or assistance on this publication, contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Box 30446, Lansing, MI 48909, or call 517-373-1280. This publication is available in alternative formats. Printed under authority of Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan DNR Total number of copies printed 440 — Total cost $2,743.50 — Cost per copy $6.24 Flint River Assessment Suggested Citation Format Leonardi, J.M., and W.J. Gruhn. 2001. Flint River Assessment. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Special Report.27, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 2 Flint River Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................6 LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................8 LIST OF APPENDICES ...........................................................................................10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..........................................................................................11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................13 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................17 RIVER ASSESSMENT.............................................................................................21 Geography ..................................................................................................................... 21 Upper South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 21 Middle South Branch Flint River................................................................................ 21 Lower South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 21 Upper Flint River....................................................................................................... 21 Middle Flint River ...................................................................................................... 21 Lower Flint River....................................................................................................... 22 History............................................................................................................................ 22 Geology and Hydrology................................................................................................ 24 Geology ....................................................................................................................... 24 Climate.........................................................................................................................25 Annual Stream Flow..................................................................................................... 25 Seasonal Water Flow................................................................................................... 26 Daily Water Flow.......................................................................................................... 27 Consumptive Water Use, Irrigation............................................................................... 28 Flooding ....................................................................................................................... 28 Soils and Land Use Patterns ........................................................................................ 29 Soils............................................................................................................................. 29 Upper South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 29 Middle South Branch Flint River................................................................................ 30 Lower South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 30 Upper and Middle Flint River..................................................................................... 30 Lower Flint River....................................................................................................... 30 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 31 Agriculture.................................................................................................................... 31 Urban Development ..................................................................................................... 32 Channel Morphology..................................................................................................... 32 Gradient....................................................................................................................... 32 Channel Cross Section ................................................................................................ 33 Dams and Barriers ........................................................................................................ 33 Upper South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 35 Middle South Branch Flint River................................................................................ 36 Lower South Branch Flint River ................................................................................ 36 Upper Flint River....................................................................................................... 36 Middle Flint River ...................................................................................................... 37 Lower Flint River....................................................................................................... 38 Bridges and Other Stream Crossings........................................................................... 38 3 Flint River Assessment Special Jurisdictions .....................................................................................................39 U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Jurisdiction...............................................39 Coastal Zone Management...........................................................................................39 Navigability ...................................................................................................................39 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)..........................................................40 Natural and Scenic River Designation...........................................................................40 County Drain Commissions...........................................................................................40 Federal Government.....................................................................................................41 State Government.........................................................................................................42 Water Quality..................................................................................................................42 Overview.......................................................................................................................42 Point Source Pollution...................................................................................................43 Nonpoint Source Pollution.............................................................................................44 Sites of Environmental Contamination (Part 201 Sites).................................................44 Water Parameters.........................................................................................................45 Bacteria ........................................................................................................................45 Sediment Parameters ...................................................................................................46 Fish Contaminants........................................................................................................46 Summary by valley segments .......................................................................................47