Galien River
Encyclopedia
The Galien River is a 30 miles (48.3 km) stream in the southwest region
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The river begins at the outlet of Dayton Lake and flows in a predominantly westerly direction until it enters southeastern Lake Michigan
at New Buffalo
. The South Branch Galien River rises just north of the border with Indiana
, at the confluence of Spring Creek and the Galena River
, the latter rising in LaPorte County, Indiana
.
, a French missionary, mapmaker and explorer. The name was changed to Galien by legislative action in 1829.
which supports the last climax beech-maple forest
in the state of Michigan. The Galien River watershed supports the state's largest breeding population of Yellow-throated Warbler
s (Dendroica dominica), and a substantial population of breeding Cerulean Warbler
s (Dendroica cerulea). Also supports a high diversity of bottomland forest obligate bird species.
Designated coldwater streams in the watershed include: the main stem of the Galien River, east branch Galien River, Blue Jay Creek, south branch Galien River, and a portion of Spring Creek.
. The main branch of the Galien rises from the outflow of Dayton Lake in the northwest corner of Bertrand Township
and flows west to the village of Galien, Michigan
. It then flows northwest into Weesaw Township
and north to near New Troy, where it is joined by the East Branch and begins to flow west and then southwest to New Buffalo.
Agriculture is the dominant land use in the watershed and the majority of the water bodies have been dredged or channelized to facilitate the rapid conveyance of water from the relatively flat landscape.
Tributaries (from the mouth):
Michiana
Michiana is a region in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan centered on the city of South Bend, Indiana. The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County, Indiana defines Michiana as "counties that contribute at least 500 inbound commuting workers to St. Joseph County daily." Those counties...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The river begins at the outlet of Dayton Lake and flows in a predominantly westerly direction until it enters southeastern Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
at New Buffalo
New Buffalo, Michigan
New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,200 at the 2000 census. This city is within New Buffalo Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:...
. The South Branch Galien River rises just north of the border with Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, at the confluence of Spring Creek and the Galena River
Galena River (Indiana)
The Galena River is an stream in northern Indiana in the United States. It rises in the northeast corner of Springfield Township, about north of LaPorte in LaPorte County and flows northeast. Just after it cross the state boundary into Three Oaks Township in Berrien County, Michigan, it is...
, the latter rising in LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...
.
History
The river was named after René Bréhant de GalinéeRené Bréhant de Galinée
René Bréhant de Galinée was a member of the Society of Saint-Sulpice at Montreal and an explorer and missionary to the Native Americans. In 1670, he and François Dollier de Casson were the first Europeans to make a recorded transit of the Detroit River...
, a French missionary, mapmaker and explorer. The name was changed to Galien by legislative action in 1829.
Ecology
The Galien River passes through Warren Woods State ParkWarren Woods State Park
Warren Woods is a 311 acre state park in Berrien County, Michigan, near the town of Three Oaks. It is leased by private owners to the state of Michigan....
which supports the last climax beech-maple forest
Beech-maple forest
A beech-maple forest is a climax mesic closed canopy hardwood forest. It is primarily composed of American Beech and Sugar Maple trees which co-dominate the forest and which are the pinnacle of plant succession in their range...
in the state of Michigan. The Galien River watershed supports the state's largest breeding population of Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
The Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica dominica, is a small migratory songbird species breeding in temperate North America. It belongs to the New World warbler family .-Description:...
s (Dendroica dominica), and a substantial population of breeding Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
The Cerulean Warbler, Dendroica cerulea, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.-Description:Adult males have pale cerulean blue upperparts and white underparts with a black necklace across the breast; they also have black streaks on the back and flanks...
s (Dendroica cerulea). Also supports a high diversity of bottomland forest obligate bird species.
Designated coldwater streams in the watershed include: the main stem of the Galien River, east branch Galien River, Blue Jay Creek, south branch Galien River, and a portion of Spring Creek.
Watershed
The watershed encompasses approximately 180 square miles (466.2 km²) in portions of La Porte County, Indiana, and Berrien County, MichiganBerrien County, Michigan
Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph....
. The main branch of the Galien rises from the outflow of Dayton Lake in the northwest corner of Bertrand Township
Bertrand Township, Michigan
Bertrand Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,380.- Communities :...
and flows west to the village of Galien, Michigan
Galien, Michigan
Galien is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 593 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Galien Township. The village provides its own sewer utility.-History:...
. It then flows northwest into Weesaw Township
Weesaw Township, Michigan
Weesaw Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,065 at the 2000 census. The township was organized in 1837.-Communities:...
and north to near New Troy, where it is joined by the East Branch and begins to flow west and then southwest to New Buffalo.
Agriculture is the dominant land use in the watershed and the majority of the water bodies have been dredged or channelized to facilitate the rapid conveyance of water from the relatively flat landscape.
Tributaries (from the mouth):
- South Branch Galien River, rises just north of the stateline with Indiana and flows mostly north until joining the main branch north of New Buffalo
- Squaw Creek, rises south of New Buffalo and flows north around the east side of town
- Blood Run, rises in Springfield Township in LaPorte County, IndianaLaPorte County, IndianaLaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...
, and flows north and east - Spring Creek, rises in Hudson Township in the northeast corner of LaPorte County, flows north into Galien Township then east into Three Oaks TownshipThree Oaks Township, MichiganThree Oaks Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the border with the state of Indiana. The population was 2,949 at the 2000 census.The Village of Three Oaks is the only incorporated community within the township....
and south into the South Branch on the Michigan-Indiana border - Galena RiverGalena River (Indiana)The Galena River is an stream in northern Indiana in the United States. It rises in the northeast corner of Springfield Township, about north of LaPorte in LaPorte County and flows northeast. Just after it cross the state boundary into Three Oaks Township in Berrien County, Michigan, it is...
, rises in LaPorte County, Indiana, near SpringvilleSpringville, LaPorte County, IndianaSpringville is an unincorporated town in Springfield Township in northern LaPorte County, Indiana, at the intersection of U.S. Route 20 and Indiana Route 39, less than one mile north of the LaPorte exit on the Indiana Toll Road. It took its name from a large spring that formerly flowed near the...
- Kirktown Creek, rises in Lake Township and flows mostly south into the main branch west of New Troy
- East Branch Galien River, rises in the northwest corner of Buchanan Township and flows mostly west and south into the main branch southeast of New Troy
- Judy Lake Drain, rises from the outflow of several lakes in western Buchanan Township
- Blue Jay Creek, rises in southeast Weesaw Township and flows northwest to the main branch in eastern Weesaw
- Dowling Creek, rises on the southern edge of Galien Township, near the Indiana border where LaPorte and St. JospephSt. Joseph County, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 265,559 people, 100,743 households, and 66,792 families residing in the county. The population density was 581 people per square mile . There were 107,013 housing units at an average density of 234 per square mile...
counties meet.- Beaverdam Creek, rises in southwest Galien Township.
External links
- Chikaming Open Lands Trust
- Galien River Watershed Management Plan Prepared for Berrien County Drain Commissioner by fishbeck, thompson, carr & huber, July 2003, MDEQ Tracking Code #2000-0122
- Galien River Transition/Implementation I, August 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005, Federal Clean Water Act, Section 319 Grant
- Galien River Watershed at Southwest Michigan Planning Commission
- Michigan to clean up the Galien River, The Detroit News, Wednesday, August 31, 2005, accessed 2007-04-10