The St. Clair River is a 40-mile long river that begins underneath the Blue Water Bridges in Port Huron, is fed by Lake Huron at its northern end and empties into Lake St. Clair at its southern end. The St. Clair River forms the eastern boundary of St. Clair County and an international boundary between the United States and Canada. The cities of Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair, East China, Marine City, and Algonac are along its course.
The St. Clair River contains the largest threatened Lake Sturgeon population in the Great Lakes; surrounds ten islands, six of which are land of the Canadian Walpole Island First Nation; forms the largest freshwater coastal delta in the Great Lakes; and provides drinking water to 60% of St. Clair County’s residents. For these reasons, the health of St. Clair County’s natural resources must be protected to preserve the quality of life for all people, plants and wildlife.
The service area of Friends of the St. Clair River is contained within the jurisdictional boundary of St. Clair County, Michigan. It includes the St. Clair River and five subwatersheds: Black River, Pine River, Belle River, Lake Huron and Anchor Bay.
Despite centuries of challenges, the St. Clair River today is well-known for commercial and sport walleye fishing, world-class scuba diving and duck hunting, boating and sailing, and international freighter watching. The River supports plant and animal species listed as threatened and endangered by both State and Federal agencies, including: the Spotted Turtle, Lake Sturgeon, 5 different mussel species, Mooneye, and Painted Trillium. The River also plays an integral role in the travel of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
Current threats to St. Clair County’s watersheds are similar to those of other rapidly urbanizing areas including: pathogens from combined sewer overflows and wildlife waste; nutrients from agricultural and residential runoff; storm water runoff from impervious areas (i.e. parking lots, roads, driveways); toxic pollutants from industrial spills; aquatic and terrestrial invasive species; loss of wetlands and high quality habitats; and soil erosion causing sedimentation and log jams.
These threats can lead to advisories for fish and drinking water consumption, closed beaches, and impaired recreational activities. For a prosperous and sustainable Blue Water Region, we recognize that it is our responsibility to bring together the private, public, and non-profit sectors to promote and protect its most significant natural features.
St. Clair River Watershed Facts
- St. Clair County has 58 miles of shoreline along Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, and Lake St. Clair
- Drains 1,000 miles of tributaries across 720 square miles of land
- The 40-mile long St. Clair River forms an international boundary between the U.S. and Canada
- Home to the largest threatened Lake Sturgeon population in the Great Lakes
- The St. Clair River current is swift and dangerous at of 2.5 knots (4ft/ second)
- Surrounds 10 islands, six of which are land of the Canadian Walpole Island First Nation
- Forms the 2,500-acre largest freshwater delta in the Great Lakes, known as the St. Clair Flats
- Home to Michigan’s first National Water Trail, The Island Loop
- Provides drinking water to 60% of St. Clair County’s residents
- Boasts 14 Great Lakes beaches
- Most diverse population of threatened and endangered mussels in Michigan, found in the Belle River
- Is a world-class scuba diving, duck hunting, fishing, boating, and freighter-watching destination
St. Clair County Watershed Planning
Watershed planning is rooted in achieving the best water quality possible for Michigan’s rivers. The goal of a Watershed Management Plan is to prioritize the sources of water quality pollutants, assess historical changes the watershed has undergone, and identify future water and land use challenges. Since 2005, the St. Clair County Health Department has led watershed management planning efforts to assess current water quality conditions and identify projects that will help protect and restore our natural resources. Three Watershed Management Plans have been created for five St. Clair County watersheds: Black River, St. Clair River, Lake Huron, Belle River and Anchor Bay.
Watershed Advisory Groups were formed to assist with the development of these plans comprised of citizens, organizations, agencies and municipalities that have jurisdiction over land use and stormwater. As a result, these plans have prioritized projects and actions needed to restore, enhance, and protect St. Clair County’s rivers, tributaries, and headwaters.
Click the images below to visit each watershed page and to find the Management Plan for each watershed.
