Pigeon River (Ottawa County, Michigan) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pigeon River
The Pigeon River in Hemlock Crossing Park in Port Sheldon Township
A map of the Pigeon River and its watershed.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Ottawa
Townships	Olive, Port Sheldon
Physical characteristics
Main source	Olive Township 625 ft (191 m) 42°55′09″N 86°02′41″W / 42.9191895°N 86.044766°W / 42.9191895; -86.044766
River mouth	Lake Michigan Port Sheldon Township 581 ft (177 m) 42°54′04″N 86°12′55″W / 42.9011315°N 86.2153253°W / 42.9011315; -86.2153253
Length	12.9 miles (20.8 km)
Basin features
Progression	Lake Michigan—Lake Huron—St. Clair—Lake St. Clair—Detroit—Lake Erie—Niagara—Lake Ontario—St. Lawrence—Atlantic Ocean
Basin size	61.7 sq mi (160 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Sawyer Creek, Ten Hagen Creek
Waterbodies	Pigeon Lake
Hydrologic Unit Codes	040500020302, 040500020303 (USGS)

The Pigeon River is a small river in Michigan, USA. It flows into Lake Michigan on the western side of the Lower Peninsula. This river is about 12.9 miles (20.8 km) long. It helps drain an area of 61.7 square miles (160 km²) of land. This area is mostly rural and sits between the cities of Holland and Grand Haven. The Pigeon River is part of a much larger water system. Its waters eventually reach the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

Where the Pigeon River Flows

The Pigeon River and all the land it drains are located entirely within Ottawa County. The river starts from farm drainage ditches in Olive Township. It then flows generally towards the west and southwest.

The river passes through a place called Pigeon Lake. This is the only lake that is part of the river's system. After leaving Pigeon Lake, the river flows into Lake Michigan. This happens in Port Sheldon Township. This spot is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) northwest of Holland and 11.3 miles (18.2 km) south of Grand Haven.

Parks Along the River

There are two public parks run by the county along the lower part of the Pigeon River. These parks are called Pigeon Creek Park and Hemlock Crossing. They offer great places for people to enjoy nature.

Fish in the River

Since 2003, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been adding brown trout to the Pigeon River every year. This helps keep the fish population healthy and provides opportunities for fishing.

Understanding the Pigeon River's Watershed

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or lake. The Pigeon River watershed covers parts of seven different townships in Ottawa County.

Here's a look at how much of each township is part of the watershed:

Changes in Land Use Over Time

Long ago, most of the Pigeon River watershed was covered by thick forests and wetlands. About 75% of the area was a black ash swamp. But by the 1920s, much of this land was cleared for farming. People cut down trees and drained the wet areas to create farmland.

In the 1940s, some parts of the watershed were replanted with trees. This was done to help stop wind from eroding the soil. A study in 1997 found that about half of the land in the watershed was used for farming. This farming included growing plants for nurseries, Christmas trees, blueberries, and other vegetables. Farmers also raised turkeys, chickens for eggs, beef and dairy cattle, and hogs.

Here's how the land was used in the watershed in 1992:

Smaller Streams Feeding the Pigeon River

Many smaller streams and drains flow into the Pigeon River, adding to its water. These are called tributaries. The National Hydrography Dataset helps identify these streams.

Here are some of the named streams that are part of the Pigeon River watershed: