Flint

The Flint River drains 1,332 square miles of Michigan, mostly in Lapeer, Genesse, Shiawassee, and Saginaw counties.  It is formed in Lapeer County where the river’s South branch and North branch come together.  The river is supplemented by four major creeks:  the Kearsley, Thread, Swartz, and Misteguay.  The river empties into the Shiawassee River in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge near the city of Saginaw.  The Flint River Trail that runs 21.5 miles along the river in the city of Flint is enjoyed recreationally by its citizens.

“Unregulated discharges by industries, municipalities and the channelization of the Flint River Basin has led to poor water quality. Point source pollution has decreased over the past thirty years through restrictive discharge regulations and with improved technology and managerial practices. Pollution from point sources will continue to be reduced as municipal wastewater treatment plants upgrade their facilities, transport lines, and technology, and with tighterrestrictions on industrial discharge permits. Nonpoint source pollution is the greatest factor that degrades water quality in the Flint River watershed. This type of pollution consists of sediments, nutrients, bacteria, organic chemicals, and inorganic chemicals from agricultural fields, construction sites, parking lots, roads and road crossings, and septic seepage. Extensive channelization facilitates pollutant transport by eliminating the filtering capacity of wetlands. Reduced nonpoint source pollution can occur through implementation of best management practices. However, drainage ditches will continue to transport pollutants at an accelerated rate unless corrective and rehabilitative efforts to restore wetlands in the watershed are implemented.”

-DNR River Assessment