Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed facts for kids
The Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed, often called the Chain of Lakes, is a cool waterway in Michigan. It's about 75 miles (121 km) long and has 14 lakes connected by rivers. This amazing water system is in the northwest part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. All its water eventually flows into the big Lake Michigan.
This watershed covers a huge area of about 500 square miles (1,295 sq km). It stretches across four counties: Antrim, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska. The water starts its journey from Beals Lake, which is the highest lake in the chain. From there, it travels about 55 miles (89 km) and drops 40 feet (12 m) in height before reaching Lake Michigan. The Chain of Lakes has over 200 miles (322 km) of shoreline and nearly 60 square miles (155 sq km) of water!
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Exploring the Waterway
The journey of the water in the Chain of Lakes starts in the hills of central Antrim County. It begins as the upper part of the Intermediate River. From these hills, the water flows through several small lakes. It then makes a sharp turn near the village of Ellsworth.
The River's Journey South
The river then flows south through a narrow valley. It passes by the old Pere Marquette Railroad tracks. Finally, it empties into Intermediate Lake. When the water leaves Intermediate Lake, it joins with the Cedar River in the village of Bellaire. Here, the river gets much bigger!
Now a strong river, it continues south into Lake Bellaire, which is about 1,700 acres (6.9 sq km) in size. After leaving Lake Bellaire, the stream becomes the Grass River. This part of the river winds for about 2 miles (3 km) through the beautiful Grass River Natural Area.
Major Lakes in the Chain
The Grass River then flows into Clam Lake. Clam Lake quickly empties into Torch Lake. Torch Lake is super big, covering over 18,000 acres (73 sq km)! It's the largest lake in the entire system. After passing through the deep waters of Torch Lake, the water becomes very clear.
The waterway continues south through the Torch River. It then meets the Rapid River, which adds even more water. Finally, it flows into Lake Skegemog. This lake is about 2,500 acres (10 sq km) and has many old tree stumps sticking out. These stumps are from when the lake's water level was raised by a dam. Lake Skegemog is a special spot where three counties meet: Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Antrim.
The Final Stretch to Lake Michigan
At its western end, Lake Skegemog connects to Elk Lake. Elk Lake is about 7,700 acres (31 sq km) and is the second-largest and last lake in the system. The water flowing out of Elk Lake forms the Elk River. This river flows a short distance to a power dam in the town of Elk Rapids. From there, it flows into the east arm of the Grand Traverse Bay and then into Lake Michigan.
Most of the Chain of Lakes can be explored by small boats. The only break is a dam in Bellaire. Larger boats can travel between Elk Rapids and Torch Lake.
A Look Back in Time
Native American tribes, mostly the Ojibwa, lived in this area for a long time. The first white settlers arrived in the mid-1800s, hoping to farm. However, the soil was thin, and summers were short and cool, making traditional farming tough. So, not many people lived here until the 1880s.
The Lumber Boom and Tourism
Around the 1880s, lumber companies started cutting down the huge white pine forests in the region. The Chain of Lakes was perfect for floating logs down to sawmills. When railroads arrived in the 1890s, lumbering grew even faster. The railroads also brought visitors from far away. These visitors loved the natural beauty of the lakes and rivers, making the area a popular vacation spot. Many resorts popped up along the lakes, welcoming fishermen and nature lovers.
By 1910, most of the big trees were gone, and the lumber era ended. Many towns and villages that had grown during the lumber boom started to shrink.
Farming and the Future
Many farmers who couldn't grow traditional crops either moved away or started growing fruit. They found that the sandy soil and cool lake climate were great for growing cherries! Fruit farming and tourism became, and still are, the main ways people make a living in the region.
Rivers and Lakes in the Watershed
Here are the 14 main lakes (numbered) and connecting waterways in the Chain of Lakes. The important ones are in bold. Other smaller rivers and creeks are also listed.
* Bissell Creek
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- Battle Creek
- 2) Lake Skegemog
- Barker Creek
- Desmond Creek
- Torch River
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* Rapid River ** Rugg Pond (also known as Antrim Pond) *** Little Rapid River * 3) Torch Lake ** Spencer Creek ** Eastport Creek ** Wilkinson Creek (also Wilkenson Creek) ** 4) Clam Lake *** Finch Creek **** Crow Creek *** Grass River **** Cold Creek **** Shanty Creek **** 5) Lake Bellaire ***** Grass Creek ***** Intermediate River ****** Cedar River ******* Blair Lake ******* North Branch Cedar River ******* Woolcott Creek ****** 6) Intermediate Lake ******* Openo Creek ******* Fisk Creek ******* 7) Hanley Lake ******** Green River ********* Ogletree Creek ********** Kitty Ann Creek ********** Toad Lake *********** Toad Creek ************ Mud Lake ************* Little Torch Lake ********* 8) Ben-way Lake ********** Benway Creek ********** 9) Wilson Lake *********** Vonstraten Creek ************ King Creek ************ Eaton Lake *********** 10) Ellsworth Lake ************ Skinner Creek ************* Skinner Lake ************* Marion Creek ************ 11) St. Clair Lake ************* St. Clair Creek ************** Lyman Creek *************** Lymans Lake (also Lyman Lake) ************* 12) Sixmile Lake ************** Liscon Creek *************** Ranney Creek ************** Vance Creek ************** Dingman River *************** Smith Creek *************** 13) Scotts Lake **************** Beal Creek **************** 14) Beals Lake ***************** Intermediate River ****************** Spence Creek ****************** Taylor Creek ****************** Seamon Creek ****************** Hitchcock Creek
Towns and Areas in the Watershed
The Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed includes all or parts of these cities, villages, and townships:
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