Michigan Paw Paw River Paw Paw Nottawa Creek Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Dowagiac River Three Rivers Mendon Sturgis Dam Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Mottville Constantine Fawn River Coldwater Baw Beese South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Little Elkhart Bristol River Shipshewana Goshen Mongo Pigeon River Angola Elkhart River Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 1. The St. Joseph River watershed. 217
Benton Harbor St. Joseph Michigan 57 66 58 54 Berrien Springs Buchanan 64 Watervliet 51 65 55 56 52 46 53 49 South Bend 47 45 63 50 62 Dowagiac Pucker-Street Dam Niles 43 Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka 44 60 Decatur 48 42 40 61 Paw Paw 59 19 18 14 13 12 17 15 16 Mendon Three Rivers 21 10 32 26 25 Bristol 35 Goshen 41 38 Mottville 22 Constantine 24 33 31 Shipshewana 39 Schoolcraft 34 Wawasee 36 37 30 23 29 Albion Union City Mongo 28 9 20 11 Burlington Tekonsha 6 4 5 Allen Coldwater 8 7 Angola 27 N W Litchfield Jonesville 3 2 1 E S Figure 2. Major tributaries in St. Joseph River watershed. 218
1. St. Joseph River (Headwaters) 2. Beebe Creek 3. Sand Creek 4. Soap Creek 5. Hog Creek 6. N. Br. Hog Creek 7. Fisher Creek 8. Coldwater River 9. Swan Creek 10. Little Swan Creek 11. Nottawa Creek 12. Pine Creek 13. Bear Creek 14. Little Portage Creek 15. Portage River 16. St. Joseph River (Upper) 17. Rocky River 18. Little Portage Creek 19. Flowerfield Creek 20. Prairie River 21. Spring Creek 22. St. Joseph River (Middle) 23. Fawn River 24. Sherman Mill Creek 25. Mill Creek 26. Curtis Creek 27. Pigeon Creek 28. Turkey Creek 29. Pigeon River 30. Fly Creek 31. Buck Creek 32. Trout Creek 33. Little Elkhart River 34. Rowe Eden Ditch 35. Pine Creek 36. N. Br. Elkhart River 37. S. Br. Elkhart River (Rimmell Branch) 38. Solomon Creek 39. Elkhart River 40. Turkey Creek 41. Rock Creek 42. Yellow Creek 43. Christiana Creek 44. Baugo Creek 45. Juday Creek 46. St. Joseph River (Lower) 47. Brandywine Creek 48. Dowagiac Creek 49. Dowagiac River 50. Pokagon Creek 51. McCoy Creek 52. Lover Creek 53. Farmers Creek 54. Lemon Creek 55. Love Creek 56. Pipestone Creek 57. Yellow Creek 58. Hickory Creek 59. E. Br. Paw Paw River 60. S. Br. Paw Paw River 61. N. Br. Paw Paw River (Campbell Creek) 62. Brush Creek 63. Paw Paw River 64. Mill Creek 65. Blue Creek 66. Ox Creek 219
Mouth segment Middle segment Upper segment Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville Lower segment South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Headwaters segment Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 3. Valley segements of St. Joseph River mainstem. 220
Gauge sites Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 4. Location of United States Geological Survey continuous gauges in St. Joseph River watershed. 221
6000 5000 Discharge (cfs) 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Month Figure 5. Mean monthly discharge for St. Joseph River at Niles for period of record (1931-95). Data are shown from October through September, a traditional water year. Data from United States Geological Survey. 222
4.5 4.0 3.5 St. Joseph @ Burlington Hog Creek @ Allen Nottawa Creek @ Athens Standardized discharge 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Percent exceedence Figure 6. Standardized high flow exceedence curves for St. Joseph River and tributaries in the headwaters and upper valley segments. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 223
1.0 0.9 0.8 St. Joseph @ Burlington Hog Creek @ Allen Nottawa Creek @ Athens Standardized discharge 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Percent exceedence Figure 7. Standardized low flow exceedence curves for St. Joseph River and tributaries in headwaters and upper valley segments. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 224
3.0 St. Joseph @ Three Rivers 2.5 St. Joseph @ Mottville St. Joseph @ Elkhart Standardized discharge 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Percent exceedence Figure 8. Standardized high flow exceedence curves for mainstem of St. Joseph River within the middle valley segment. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 225
1.0 0.9 0.8 St. Joseph @ Three Rivers St. Joseph @ Mottville St. Joseph @ Elkhart Standardized discharge 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Percent exceedence Figure 9. Standardized low flow exceedence curves for mainstem of St. Joseph River within the middle valley segment. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 226
5.0 Standardized discharge 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Prairie River @ Nottawa Pigeon Creek @ Angola Pigeon River @ Scott Little Elkhart @ Middlebury Pine Creek @ Elkhart 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Percent exceedence Figure 10. Standardized high flow exceedence curves for major tributaries within the middle valley segment of St. Joseph River. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 227
Standardized discharge 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Prairie River @ Nottawa Pigeon Creek @ Angola Pigeon River @ Scott Little Elkhart @ Middlebury Pine Creek @ Elkhart 0.0 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Percent exceedence Figure 11. Standardized low flow exceedence curves for major tributaries within the middle valley segment of St. Joseph River. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 228
10.0 Standardized discharge 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 Forker Creek @ Burr Oak Rimmel Branch @ Albion Solomon Creek @ Syracuse Turkey Creek @ Syracuse Elkhart River @ Cosperville Elkhart River @ Goshen 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Percent exceedence Figure 12. Standardized high flow exceedence curves for Elkhart River and major tributaries. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 229
Forker Creek @ Burr Oak 1.0 0.9 0.8 Rimmel Branch @ Albion Solomon Creek @ Syracuse Turkey Creek @ Syracuse Elkhart River @ Cosperville Elkhart River @ Goshen Standardized discharge 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Percent exceedence Figure 13. Standardized low flow exceedence curves for Elkhart River and major tributaries. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 230
3.0 Juday Creek @ South Bend Standardized discharge 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 St. Joseph @ Niles Dowagiac River @ Sumnerville Paw Paw River @ Riverside 0.5 0.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Percent exceedence Figure 14. Standardized high flow exceedence curves for mainstem and major tributaries within lower and mouth valley segments of St. Joseph River. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 231
Standardized discharge 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Juday Creek @ South Bend St. Joseph @ Niles Dowagiac River @ Sumnerville Paw Paw River @ Riverside 0.0 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Percent exceedence Figure 15. Standardized low flow exceedence curves for mainstem and major tributaries within lower and mouth valley segments of St. Joseph River. Standardized discharge is the discharge (Q)/ median (50% Q) discharge. Exceedence curves represent the probability of a discharge exceeding a given value. Data from United States Geological Survey gauge stations for period of record. 232
2.0 1.8 1.6 Yield (cfs/watershed area) 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Date Figure 16. St. Joseph River yield at Niles for water year 1995. Data from United States Geological Survey. 233
14 12 Yield (cfs/watershed area) 10 8 6 4 2 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Date Figure 17. Rimmell Branch yield for water year 1995. Data from United States Geological Survey. 234
3.0 2.5 Yield (cfs/watershed area) 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Date Figure 18. Dowagiac River yield in Sumnerville for water year 1995. Data from United States Geological Survey. 235
850 800 750 Discharge (cfs) 700 650 600 550 450 01:00 PM 03:00 PM 05:00 PM 07:00 PM 09:00 PM 11:00 PM 01:00 AM 09:00 AM 11:00 AM 07:00 AM 09:00 AM 11:00 AM 01:00 PM 03:00 PM 05:00 PM 07:00 PM 03:00 AM 05:00 AM Time 09:00 PM 500 Figure 19. Instantaneous discharge of St. Joseph River at Three Rivers from June 20 to June 21, 1999. Fish habitat ranking in parenthesis. Data from United States Geological Survey. 236
160 River miles 140 120 100 80 60 Sturgeon River Natural flooding Other impoundment Hydro-impoundment 40 20 0 0.0-2.9 (low) 3.0-4.9 (fair) 5.0-9.9 (good) 10.0-69.9 (excellent) Gradient class (ft/mi) Figure 20. Gradient class and length of river in each, separated by water type, for St. Joseph River. Fish habitat ranking in parenthesis. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 237
Elevation above sea level in feet 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 Baw Beese Litchfield Dam Sturgis Dam Riley Dam Elkhart Dam Niles Dam Michigan 0 50 100 150 200 River mile Figure 21a. Elevation changes, by river mile, from headwaters to mouth of St. Joseph River. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. Gradient (feet per mile) 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Michigan Berrien Springs Niles Elkhart Sturgis Dam Mottville Sturgeon Baw Beese Riley Litchfield 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 River mile Figure 21b. Gradient (elevation change in feet per mile) of St. Joseph River. Gradient is shown without existing dams. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 238
30 River miles 25 20 15 10 River Impoundment 5 0 0.0-2.9 (low) 3.0-4.9 (fair) 5.0-9.9 (good) 10.0-69.9 (excellent) Gradient class (ft/mi) Figure 22a. Gradient class and length of river in each, separated by water type, for headwater segment of the St. Joseph River. Fish habitat rankings in parenthesis. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 25 Natural flooding River miles 20 15 10 Sturgeon River Hydro 5 0 0.0-2.9 (low) 3.0-4.9 (fair) 5.0-9.9 (good) 10.0-69.9 (excellent) Gradient class (ft/mi) Figure 22b. Gradient class and length of river in each, separated by water type, for upper segment of the St. Joseph River. Fish habitat rankings in parenthesis. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 239
River miles 40 30 20 River Hydro Impoundment 10 0 0.0-2.9 (low) 3.0-4.9 5.0-9.9 (fair) (good) Gradient class (ft/mi) 10.0-69.9 (excellent) Figure 23a. Gradient class and length of river in each, separated by water type, for middle segment of the St. Joseph River. Fish habitat rankings in parenthesis. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. River miles 60 50 40 30 20 River Other Impoundment Hydro Impoundment 10 0 0.0-2.9 (low) 3.0-4.9 (fair) 5.0-9.9 (good) Gradient class (ft/mi) 10.0-69.9 (excellent) Figure 23b. Gradient class and length of river in each, separated by water type, for lower segment of the St. Joseph River. Fish habitat rankings in parenthesis. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 240
Depth (ft) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Width (ft) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 Figure 24a. Stream channel cross-section of St. Joseph River at Three Rivers. Data from United States Geological Survey. Depth (ft) 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 Width (ft) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Figure 24b. Stream channel cross-section of Dowagiac River at Sumnerville. Data from United States Geological Survey. 241
Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Union City Tekonsha Litchfield Dowagiac Jonesville Mendon Allen Berrien Springs Three Rivers Coldwater Buchanan Niles Mottville Constantine South Bend Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola N Albion W E S Figure 25. Approximate locations of major dams (192) in St. Joseph River watershed. 242
,, yygroup A (sandy, loamy sand, or sandy loam),, yy,,,,, yyyyy yy,,,,,, yyyy,, yy,,,, yyyy,,, yyy,, yy,, yy,,, yyy,,,,, yyyyy,, yy, y Michigan Group B (silt loam or loam) Group C (clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay or clay) N W E S Figure 26. Soil groups in St. Joseph River basin. Data from State Soil Geographic Database (Michigan); IDNR 1987. 243
Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 27. Sections of St. Joseph River included in advisories against whole body contact. Data from Michigan Department of Community Health. 244
Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 28. Reaches in St. Joseph River with fish consumption advisories. Data from Michigan Department of Community Health and Indiana Department of Health. 245
Top quality coldwater Second quality coldwater Top quality warmwater Second quality warmwater Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 29. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, stream classifications, 1964. Indiana did not classify streams in this way. 246
Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 30. Streams with natural reproduction of salmon and steelhead in St. Joseph River watershed. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 247
Michigan Paw Paw Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Three Rivers Mendon Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Constantine Mottville South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Bristol Goshen Shipshewana Mongo Angola Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 31. Streams that sea lampreys have been found in St. Joseph River watershed. Data from United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 248
Michigan Paw Paw River Paw Paw Nottawa Creek Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Dowagiac River Three Rivers Mendon Sturgis Dam Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Mottville Constantine Fawn River Coldwater Baw Beese South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Little Elkhart Bristol River Shipshewana Goshen Mongo Pigeon River Angola Elkhart River Wawasee Albion N W E S Figure 32. Canoe and boat launches in St. Joseph River watershed. 249
State game area Michigan Mini state game area State park County park/forest Paw Paw River Paw Paw Crane Pond Gourdneck Three Rivers Leidy Pigeon River Nottawa Creek Benton Harbor St. Joseph Watervliet Decatur Schoolcraft Burlington Berrien Springs Dowagiac Dowagiac River Three Rivers Mendon Sturgis Dam Union City Tekonsha Allen Coldwater Litchfield Jonesville Buchanan Pucker-Street Dam Niles Mottville Constantine Fawn River Coldwater Baw Beese South Bend Twin Branch Dam Elkhart Mishawaka Little Elkhart Bristol River Shipshewana Goshen Elkhart River Mongo Pigeon River Angola Pokagon Pigeon River Wawasee Albion N Lawless Baugo Creek W E St. Patricks S Figure 33. Large public lands in St. Joseph River watershed. 250
140,000 120,000 100,000 Number of fish 80,000 60,000 40,000 Total Catch Angler trips Angler days 20,000 0 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Year Figure 34. Estimated total catch and effort (angler hours, trips, and days) for lower St. Joseph River, 1992-96. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division and Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Section. 251