Goose Creek (River Raisin)

Goose Creek
Goose Creek
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CitiesBrooklyn, Cement City, Somerset Center
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSomerset Township, Michigan
 • coordinates42°03′32″N 84°22′15″W / 42.05889°N 84.37083°W / 42.05889; -84.37083[1]
MouthRiver Raisin
 • location
Columbia Township, Michigan
 • coordinates
42°06′52″N 84°14′51″W / 42.11444°N 84.24750°W / 42.11444; -84.24750
Length12 mi (19 km)
Basin size40 sq mi (100 km2)

Goose Creek is a small stream in Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a tributary of the River Raisin. The headwaters form in Somerset Township in northeast Hillsdale County flowing northeast to join the River Raisin just north of the village of Brooklyn. The total length of the creek is approximately 12 miles (19 km).[2] The Goose Greek subbasin covers an area of 40 sq mi (100 km2) with 44% used for agriculture and 38% forest, wetlands, and grasslands. Only about 12% of the watershed is made up of urban development. Of all the subbasins within the River Raisin watershed, Goose Creek has maintained the largest share of wetlands and maintains the lowest levels of pollutants.[3]

Course[edit]

Goose Creek is formed in a marshy area of Somerset Township just south of the unincorporated community of Somerset Center within a short distance of the headwaters of the Grand River. From Somerset Center Goose Creek flows in an easterly direction through Lake Somerset, Goose Lake and Little Goose Lake. The village of Cement City is located along the stream just north of Little Goose Lake. Beyond Cement City, the creek turns north running into Lake Columbia. North of the lake, Goose Creek turns east again, traveling 4 mi (6.4 km) before merging with the River Raisin north of Brooklyn.

Lakes[edit]

Lake Columbia is the largest lake within the Goose Creek watershed.

Goose Creek drains nine natural and man-made lakes:[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Goose Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 19, 2011
  3. ^ http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wb-nps-rr-wmp1_303614_7.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "U.S. Board on Geographic Names".