Southwestern Michigan’s Natural River

Michigan is blessed with more than 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, including more than 12,000 miles of cold-water trout streams. Michigan’s Natural Rivers Program was:

developed to preserve, protect and enhance . . . [the] State’s finest river systems for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations by allowing property owners their right to reasonable development, while protecting Michigan’s unique river systems [emphasis added].

Of the 16 Michigan waterways designated as State Natural Rivers, only one is located in the ten southwestern-most counties (i.e., Allegan, Berrien, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren), that being portions of the Lower Kalamazoo River and selected tributaries in Allegan County.