Sycamore Creek (Michigan) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sycamore Creek
Sycamore Creek in Lansing
A map of Sycamore Creek and its watershed.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Ingham
Townships	Leslie, Vevay, Alaiedon, Delhi
Municipalities	Mason, Lansing
Physical characteristics
Main source	Leslie Township 973 ft (297 m) 42°28′55″N 84°27′13″W / 42.481981°N 84.453583°W / 42.481981; -84.453583
River mouth	Red Cedar River Lansing 820 ft (250 m) 42°42′51″N 84°31′42″W / 42.7142018°N 84.5283112°W / 42.7142018; -84.5283112
Length	26.5 mi (42.6 km)
Basin features
Basin size	106.1 sq mi (275 km2)
Hydrologic Unit Codes	040500040505, 040500040506, 040500040507 (USGS)

Sycamore Creek in Lansing

Sycamore Creek is a stream in Michigan, United States. It flows into the Red Cedar River. The creek is about 26.5 miles (42.6 km) long. It helps drain an area of 106.1 square miles (275 km²) in and around the city of Lansing.

This creek is part of a larger water system. Its waters eventually flow into the Grand River. From there, they reach Lake Michigan. Finally, the water joins the Great Lakes system and flows out to the St. Lawrence River.

Where Sycamore Creek Flows

Sycamore Creek flows entirely within Ingham County. It starts in Leslie Township. This is about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) northwest of the city of Leslie.

The creek generally flows north and northwest. It passes through several areas. These include Leslie and Vevay townships. It also flows through the city of Mason. Further along, it goes through Alaiedon and Delhi townships. The creek then enters the southeastern part of Lansing. It joins the Red Cedar River in Lansing. This meeting point is about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) upstream from where the Red Cedar River meets the Grand River.

Understanding the Sycamore Creek Watershed

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common point. For Sycamore Creek, this means all the rain and snowmelt in its watershed eventually flows into the creek.

Land Use in the Watershed

The land around Sycamore Creek has different uses. The area is generally hilly, with some swampy parts. In 2010, about 72,975 people lived in the Sycamore Creek watershed. Most of these people lived in the northern part, which includes parts of Lansing.

In 2006, the land was used in these main ways:

• About 30% of the land was used for farming.
• Another 30% was developed, meaning it had buildings and roads.
• About 21% was shrubland or grassland, including areas where animals graze.
• Wetlands made up about 10% of the area.
• Forests covered about 9% of the land.

There are also about 2,478 large farm animals in the watershed. Around 2,504 homes in the area used septic systems in 2012.

Recreational Trails Along the Creek

People can enjoy the creek in several places. There are trails built alongside or near parts of Sycamore Creek.

• In Mason, you can find the Hayhoe Riverwalk.
• In Delhi Township, there is the Sycamore Trail.
• In Lansing, the southern part of the Lansing River Trail follows the creek. These trails are great for walking or biking.

Exploring Sycamore Creek's Tributaries

Tributaries are smaller streams or rivers that flow into a larger one. Sycamore Creek has several named tributaries. They add water to the main creek as it flows. Here is a list of some of these streams, starting from the ones closest to Sycamore Creek's mouth and moving upstream towards its source: