Betsie River


The Betsie River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of the state, flowing into Lake Michigan at Frankfort. The river's course is mostly within Benzie County,, although the river rises in western Grand Traverse County and flows briefly through northern Manistee County.
The river widens to form Betsie Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan between Frankfort and Elberta. The Betsie River is a part of Michigan's Natural Rivers Program.

Etymology

The name is derived from the French la rivière aux Bec-scies, meaning river of sawbill ducks. A corruption of this pronunciation led to the name of Benzie County. Other alternate historical names include the following:
  • Aug-sig-o-sebe
  • Aux Buscies River
  • Betsey's River
  • Benzie River
  • Black Robe River
  • Gay-she-say-ing
  • Riviere du Pere Marquette
  • Sawbill Ducks River
  • Shelldrake Ducks River

    Course

While most sources indicate the river rises as the outflow of Green Lake in southwestern Grand Traverse County, some consider it navigable immediately south of US-31 from Tullers Lake into Green Lake. Another tributary of the river flows directly out of northern Duck Lake and into northern Green Lake, connecting with the aforementioned Tullers Lake Outlet. Although not considered part of the Betsie River today, older maps of the area do say so. Green Lake straddles the boundary between Grant Township on the south and Green Lake Township on the north between Karlin and Interlochen. Several nearby lakes, including Duck Lake and its tributaries, drain into Green Lake.
The river winds southwesterly from Green Lake into eastern Benzie County, and then briefly into northern Manistee County before turning northerly back into Benzie County. A dam on the river forms Homestead Pond, after which is flows mostly west and slightly north to Lake Michigan.
Image:Betsie River emptying into Betsie Lake.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Betsie River emptying into Lake Betsie, Elberta, MI

Drainage basin

The Betsie River drains an area of approximately in three counties. The drainage basin include about of linear stream, of which is part of the mainstream.

Dams

  • Homestead Dam was mostly removed in 1974 and currently acts as a lamprey barrier. It impounds little water and does not impede salmon migrations. The remains of the dam are now sometimes called "Homestead Falls". The dam was a power generating facility formerly owned by Consumers Energy.
  • Grass Lake Dam, approximately downstream from Green Lake, forms an approximately impoundment. The dam was constructed in 1951 to improve waterfowl habitat and northern pike fishing. The dam was installed by the state Wildlife Division and created a waterfowl flooding.
  • Thompsonville Dam was an old power dam that failed in the spring of 1989 and was subsequently removed. Prior to its removal, the dam posed a barrier to salmon migration. Salmon and trout have access to the entire mainstream of the river, even above the Grass Lake Dam.

    Bridges

Below is a list of public crossings of the Betsie River:
RouteTypeMunicipalityCountyLocation
State highwayBenzonia TownshipBenzie
Betsie Valley Trailway Paved trailBenzonia TownshipBenzie
River Road County roadCrystal Lake TownshipBenzie
River Road County roadBenzonia TownshipBenzie
Grace RoadCounty roadBenzonia TownshipBenzie
US 31/M-115 State highwayBenzonia TownshipBenzie
State highwayWeldon TownshipBenzie
County Line RoadCounty roadWeldon/Springdale townshipBenzie/Manistee line
Psutka RoadCounty roadSpringdale TownshipManistee
Kurick RoadCounty roadSpringdale TownshipManistee
State highwaySpringdale TownshipManistee
Lindy RoadCounty roadWeldon TownshipBenzie
Wolf RoadCounty roadWeldon TownshipBenzie
Betsie Valley Trailway Paved trailWeldon TownshipBenzie
King RoadCounty roadWeldon TownshipBenzie
South Thompsonville HighwayCounty roadColfax TownshipBenzie
South Carmean RoadCounty roadColfax TownshipBenzie
Wallin RoadCounty roadColfax TownshipBenzie
Nostwick RoadCounty roadColfax TownshipBenzie
South Reynolds RoadCounty roadColfax TownshipBenzie
Betsie River RoadCounty roadGrant TownshipGrand Traverse
Diamond Park RoadCounty roadGreen Lake TownshipGrand Traverse
J. Maddy ParkwayCounty roadGreen Lake TownshipGrand Traverse
Birch RoadCounty roadGreen Lake TownshipGrand Traverse
State highwayGreen Lake TownshipGrand Traverse

Tributaries