Paint Creek (Oakland County, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paint Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Oakland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Clinton River Rochester, Michigan |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Clinton River → Lake St. Clair → Detroit River → Lake Erie → Niagara River → Lake Ontario → St. Lawrence River → Gulf of St. Lawrence / Atlantic Ocean |
| Waterbodies | Lake Orion |
Paint Creek is a small river, also called a stream, in Michigan. It is about 16.8 miles (27.0 km) long. This creek starts in northern Oakland County, specifically in Brandon Township.
The creek flows through several lakes, eventually leading into Lake Orion. Paint Creek then continues its journey from the east side of Lake Orion in downtown Lake Orion. It travels southeast through Oakland Township and Rochester Hills. Finally, it joins the Clinton River in Rochester.
History of Paint Creek and Lake Orion
Paint Creek played a big part in creating Lake Orion as we know it today. In 1839, a dam was built across Paint Creek in the village of Lake Orion. A dam is like a wall that holds back water.
This dam caused the water level of a smaller lake, called Lake Canadaigua, to rise. It made the lake much bigger! The new, larger lake was then renamed Lake Orion, after the nearby village.
Fishing and Water Levels
Paint Creek is special because it is one of only two streams in Oakland County where you can find trout. The other one is Trout Creek. This means it's a great spot for fishing!
The amount of water in Paint Creek can change a lot. It depends on how much rain has fallen recently. Sometimes the creek can be very shallow. Other times, after heavy rains, it can be deep and flow very fast.
If you go fishing in Paint Creek, you might catch different kinds of fish. The most common types are brown trout and rainbow trout. You might also find creek chubs swimming in the water.
Other Paint Creeks in Michigan
It's interesting to know that there are other streams in Michigan with the same name. Besides this Paint Creek in Oakland County, there are two others.
One is called Paint Creek and it is located in Washtenaw County. The third Paint Creek is in Iron County. Iron County is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
