White River (White Lake)

The White River (Ottawa: Wabigungweshcupago, "White Clay River") is a 23.6-mile-long (38.0 km)[3] river located on the western side of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Its source is the Oxford Swamp in Newaygo County. The rural town of Hesperia borders the river.[4]

White River
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMonroe Township, Newago County, Michigan
 • coordinates43°40′48″N 85°44′17″W / 43.68001°N 85.7381°W / 43.68001; -85.7381[1]
Mouth 
 • location
White Lake, Michigan
 • coordinates
43°25′21″N 86°20′13″W / 43.42251°N 86.33701°W / 43.42251; -86.33701[2]
Basin size470 sq mi (1,200 km2)
Discharge 
 • average450 cu ft/s (13 m3/s)
 • minimum220 cu ft/s (6.2 m3/s)
 • maximum1,834 cu ft/s (51.9 m3/s)
Basin features
CitiesWhite Cloud, Hesperia, Whitehall
Population48,000
The White River in August 2005
The White River 'Mouth' on Lake Michigan in White River Township

Continuing onward, the White River flows in a southwesterly direction through the southern section of Manistee National Forest. The river passes through Oceana County and into Muskegon County and White Lake. The lake and river discharge into Lake Michigan, near the towns of Whitehall and Montague.

The White River system drains a surface area of approximately 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) and includes about 253 miles (407 km) of streams.[4]

The river has a large population of wild brook trout, which have not been fished for much of its length. It is very common to only find fish eight inches or longer. The population is healthy and regularly produces large, even trophy trout. The trout prefer to feed on creek chubs and flies, and take to lure imitations very well.

The White River is designated as a State of Michigan Natural River, which includes a special zoning overlay preventing land development from occurring within 400 feet of the riverbank.[5]

Bridges edit

List of Bridge Crossings on White River
Route Type City County Location
Dowling Street City Street Whitehall Muskegon
Whitehall Rail Trail Non-Motorized Vehicles
US-31 US Route
East Fruitvale Road County Road
East Garfield Road County Road Oceana
East Hawley Avenue County Road
M-20 Michigan Highway 43°34′20.00″N 86°2′36.62″W / 43.5722222°N 86.0435056°W / 43.5722222; -86.0435056
West Michigan Avenue County Road Hesperia Newaygo
North Maple Island Road County Road
Fitzgerald Avenue County Road
Green Avenue County Road
Luce Avenue County Road
M-20 Michigan Highway
North Baldwin Avenue County Road
Bingham Avenue County Road
Echo Drive County Road White Cloud
M-37 Michigan Highway

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "South Branch White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed November 21, 2011
  4. ^ a b White River Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  5. ^ "The White River: Newaygo County's Forgotten River Part II". Near North Now. Retrieved 2021-01-20.