St. Joseph River (Maumee River tributary)

The St. Joseph River is an 86.1-mile-long (138.6 km)[1] tributary of the Maumee River in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States, with headwater tributaries rising in southern Michigan. It drains a primarily rural farming region in the watershed of Lake Erie.

St. Joseph River
Map of the Maumee River watershed showing the St. Joseph River.
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationHillsdale County, Michigan
  coordinates41°38′53″N 84°33′56″W
  elevation856 ft (261 m)
Mouth 
  location
Maumee River, Ft. Wayne, Indiana
  coordinates
41°05′00″N 85°07′56″W
  elevation
751 ft (229 m)
Length100 mi (160 km)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftWest Branch St. Joseph River
  rightEast Branch St. Joseph River
GNIS ID2678706
St. Joseph River near Newville in DeKalb County, Indiana.
Floodwall along St. Joseph River in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The St. Joseph River of Lake Michigan is an entirely separate river that rises in western Michigan, dips into Indiana, and flows west into Lake Michigan.

Origin

At the end of the Wisconsin glaciation, the glacier's Erie Lobe retreated toward the northeast, leaving large debris deposits called moraines. The St. Joseph formed as a meltwater channel between the north limbs of two of these moraines, the Wabash Moraine on the west and the Fort Wayne Moraine on the east. At that time it joined the St. Marys River to drain into the Wabash River. Later, the shrinkage of Glacial Lake Maumee, the ancestor of modern Lake Erie, brought about the opening of the modern Maumee River, which captured the flow of the St. Joseph and the St. Marys, causing the St. Marys to reverse its course to meet the flow of the St. Joseph almost head-on.

The St. Joseph today

The St. Joseph River forms in northern Williams County, Ohio, at the confluence of the East and West branches at 41°38′54″N 84°33′55″W.[2][3][4] Both branches rise in southern Hillsdale County, Michigan. The headwaters of the East Branch are within 3 miles (4.8 km) of those of the St. Joseph River of Lake Michigan. Both branches initially flow southeast, then turn to the southwest to flow across the northwestern corner of Ohio past Montpelier. The St. Joseph enters De Kalb County in northeastern Indiana, flowing southwest past Saint Joe and into the city of Fort Wayne, where it meets the St. Marys River to form the Maumee River at 41°04′58″N 85°07′56″W.[5] The US Army Corps of Engineers built a flood control project in Fort Wayne that includes a floodwall and upper roadway along the St. Joseph River. (See photo)

Tributaries

From the mouth:

  • (left) Becketts Run[6]
  • (right) Tiernan Ditch
  • (left) Ely Run[7]
  • (left) Cedar Creek[8]
  • Cedarville Reservoir[9]
    • (left) Nettlehorst Ditch[10]
    • (left) Warner Ditch
    • (right) Wittmer Ditch[11]
      • (right) Haifley Ditch[12]
  • (left) Swartz-Carnahan Ditch[13]
  • (right) Boger Ditch[15]
  • (left) Metcalf Ditch[16]
  • (right) Walker Ditch[17]
  • (left) Dilley Ditch[18]
  • (left) Wade Ditch[19]
  • (left) Bear Creek[20]
    • (right) North Branch Hursey Ditch[21]
      • (right) Carper Ditch[22]
    • (left) South Branch Hursey Ditch[23]
      • (right) Swander Ditch[24]
  • (right) Nancy Davis Ditch
  • (left) Sol Shank Ditch[25]
    • (right) Weicht Ditch[26]
    • (left) Sebert Ditch[27]
    • (right) Varner Ditch[28]
    • (left) Hoodelmier Ditch[29]
  • (right) Melissa Ditch[30]
  • (left) Buck Creek[31]
    • (left) Smith Ditch[32]
    • (right) Mason Ditch[33]
      • (left) Metcalf Ditch[34]
        • (right) Harwood Ditch[35]
  • (left) Christoffel Ditch[36]
  • (right) Willow Run[37]
  • (right) Amaden Ditch[38]
  • (right) Greens Ditch[39]
  • (right) Foulks Ditch[40]
  • (left) Peter Grube Ditch[41]
  • (left) Big Run[42]
    • (right) Ayford Ditch[43]
      • (left) Walters Ditch[44]
      • (right) Streeter Ditch[45]
    • (right) Praul Ditch[46]
      • (right) Mary Metcalf Ditch[47]
    • (left) Teutsch Ditch[48]
    • (left) Donnell Ditch[49]
      • (right) King Ditch[50]
    • (right) John Smith Ditch[51]
      • (left) Haverstolk Ditch[52]
  • (left) Russell Run[53]
  • (left) Fish Creek[54]
    • (right) Cornell Ditch[55]
    • (left) Hiram Sweet Ditch[56]
      • (right) Baker Ditch[57]
      • (left) Hamilton Lake[58]
        • Black Creek[59]
          • (left) Haughey Ditch[60]
          • (left) Lillian Metz Ditch[61]
            • (right) Burch Ditch[62]
      • Ball Lake[63]
      • (left) Myers Ditch[64]
      • Perfect Lake[65]
    • (left) West Branch Fish Creek[66]
      • (left) Donald Nunkle Ditch[67]
  • (left) Bluff Run[68]
  • (left) Bear Creek[69]
    • (left) Tamarack Ditch[70]
  • (left) Eagle Creek[71]
    • (right) North Branch Eagle Creek[72]
  • (left) Nettle Creek[73]
    • Nettle Lake[74]
      • (right) Mill Stream Drain[75]
  • (right) East Branch St. Joseph River (rises in southwest Adams Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan at 41°54′17″N 84°33′52″W[3])
    • (left) Clear Fork[76]
    • (left) Silver Creek[77]
      • Merry Lake
    • (left) Laird Creek[78]
      • (right) Nile Ditch[79]
      • (left) Ransom Ditch[80]
    • (left) Bird Creek[81]
    • (left) Newton Drain[83]
    • (left) Dillon Drain[84]
    • (left) Anderson Drain[85]
    • (left) Goose Creek[86]
    • (left) Lake Number One[87]
    • Pittsford Millpond[89]
  • (left) West Branch St. Joseph River (rises just south of the intersection of Carpenter Rd. and W. Territorial Rd. in southern Cambria Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan at 41°38′53″N 84°41′24″W[4])

Drainage basin

The St. Joseph River and tributaries drain all or portions of the following:

Near the Ohio Turnpike in Bridgewater Township
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See also

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 19, 2011
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Saint Joseph River
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Branch Saint Joseph River
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Branch Saint Joseph River
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Maumee River
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Becketts Run
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ely Run
  8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cedar Creek
  9. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cedarville Reservoir
  10. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nettlehorst Ditch
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wittmer Ditch
  12. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Haifley Ditch
  13. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Swartz-Carnahan Ditch
  14. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dunton Lake
  15. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Boger Ditch
  16. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Metcalf Ditch (Allen County)
  17. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Walker Ditch
  18. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dilley Ditch
  19. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wade Ditch
  20. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Creek
  21. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Branch Hursey Ditch
  22. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Carper Ditch
  23. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Branch Hursey Ditch
  24. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Swander Ditch
  25. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Shank Ditch
  26. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Weicht Ditch
  27. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sebert Ditch
  28. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Varner Ditch
  29. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hoodelmier Ditch
  30. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Melissa Ditch
  31. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Buck Creek
  32. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Smith Ditch
  33. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mason Ditch
  34. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Metcalf Ditch (DeKalb County)
  35. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Harwood Ditch
  36. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Christoffel Ditch
  37. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Willow Run
  38. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Amaden Ditch
  39. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Greens Ditch
  40. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Foulks Ditch
  41. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Peter Grube Ditch
  42. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Big Run
  43. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ayford Ditch
  44. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Walters Ditch
  45. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Streeter Ditch
  46. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Praul Ditch
  47. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mary Metcalf Ditch
  48. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Teutsch Ditch
  49. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Donnell Ditch
  50. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: King Ditch
  51. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: John Smith Ditch
  52. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Haverstolk Ditch
  53. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Russell Run
  54. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fish Creek
  55. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cornell Ditch
  56. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hiram Sweet Ditch
  57. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baker Ditch
  58. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hamilton Lake
  59. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Black Creek
  60. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Haughey Ditch
  61. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lillian Metz Ditch
  62. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Burch Ditch
  63. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ball Lake
  64. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Myers Ditch
  65. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Perfect Lake
  66. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Branch Fish Creek
  67. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Donald Nunkle Ditch
  68. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bluff Rub
  69. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Creek (Ohio)
  70. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tamarack Ditch
  71. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eagle Creek
  72. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Branch Eagle Creek
  73. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nettle Creek
  74. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nettle Lake
  75. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mill Stream Drain
  76. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clear Fork
  77. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Silver Creek
  78. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Laird Creek
  79. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nile Ditch
  80. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ransom Ditch
  81. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bird Creek
  82. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bird Lake
  83. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Newton Drain
  84. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dillon Drain
  85. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Anderson Drain
  86. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Goose Creek
  87. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Number One
  88. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Number Two
  89. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pittsford Millpond
  90. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Otto Drain
  91. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Deer Lake
  92. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Twin Lake
  93. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Seneca
  94. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake La Su An
  95. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Fork West Branch Saint Joseph River
  96. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Jonas Brown Drain
  97. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Carruthers Drain
  98. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cub Lake
  99. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cambria Millpond
  100. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cambria Drain
  101. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Meade Drain
  102. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Lake
  103. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pike Lake
  104. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Broom Lake
  105. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Wilson
  106. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bankers Lake
  107. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Fork West Branch Saint Joseph River
  108. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Joe Drain
  109. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Prouty Drain
  110. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rebeck Lake
  111. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mead Lake
  112. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Turner Lake

Further reading

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