Galena River (Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Galena River (Indiana) |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Galina Creek, Golina Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana, Michigan |
| Region | Berrien County, LaPorte County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Springfield Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, United States 720 ft (220 m) 41°41′07″N 086°42′40″W / 41.68528°N 86.71111°W |
| River mouth | South Branch Galien River Berrien County, Michigan 610 ft (190 m) 41°45′42″N 086°39′25″W / 41.76167°N 86.65694°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The Galena River is a small stream, about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long, located in northern Indiana, United States. It starts in Springfield Township, near LaPorte, and flows towards the northeast. As it crosses into Michigan, it joins with Spring Creek. Together, they form the South Branch Galien River. The Galien River eventually flows into Lake Michigan near New Buffalo.
Contents
River's Name: A Look Back
The Galena River was named after René Bréhant de Galinée. He was a French missionary and explorer. In 1829, the name of the river in Michigan was officially changed to the Galien River. It is believed that the Galena River in Indiana shares the same naming history.
Understanding the River's Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common river, lake, or ocean. The Galena River is mostly in Indiana. However, its entire watershed, including the Galien River, covers a large area. This area is about 112,222 acres (45,414 hectares). About a quarter of this, 29,630 acres (12,000 hectares), is in Indiana. The rest is in Berrien County, Michigan.
In Indiana, the Galena River watershed is mostly undeveloped. This means there are not many buildings or cities. The main uses of the land are forests and farms. Compared to other areas near Lake Michigan, the Galena River has not been greatly changed by people.
The Indiana part of the watershed is in a special area called the Valparaiso Morainal Area. A moraine is a hill or ridge formed by glaciers. The Valparaiso Moraine is a curved ridge that runs along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This moraine divides LaPorte County into two parts. Water north of the moraine flows into Lake Michigan. Water south of it flows into the Kankakee River. Many small lakes, called kettle lakes, are found on the moraine.
Nature and Wildlife Around the River
The Galena River begins from two important wetland areas. One is the 165-acre (67-hectare) Galena Wetland Conservation Area. The other is a 45-acre (18-hectare) prairie fen. A fen is a type of wetland that gets its water from groundwater. These two areas combine to form the river.
Long ago, before many people settled here, the area was covered in thick forests. These included oak-hickory forests on higher ground. There were also beech and swamp forests in the wet areas. Today, most of these old forests have been cut down.
Keeping the River Clean: Pollution Concerns
In 2009, tests showed that the water in the Galena River had high levels of Escherichia coli, often called E. coli. This is a type of bacteria that can make water unsafe. It was found at eight out of nine testing spots.
E. coli usually comes from things like animal waste from farms. It can also come from broken septic systems or sewage pipes that are not connected properly. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has named the Galena River a "salmonid stream." This means it is a place where fish like salmon and trout could live. Because of this, the river needs to have very clean water to protect these fish.
