Plaster Creek
Plaster Creek west of Kalamazoo Avenue
Plaster Creek is located in Michigan
Plaster Creek
Location of the mouth within Michigan
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyKent
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationGaines Township, Kent County, Michigan
Mouth 
 • location
Grand River at Grand Rapids, Michigan
 • elevation
581 ft (177 m)
Length26 mi (42 km)
Basin size57 sq mi (150 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationmouth
 • average66.42 cu ft/s (1.881 m3/s) (estimate)[1]

42°56′56″N 85°41′55″W / 42.94889°N 85.69861°W / 42.94889; -85.69861

Plaster Creek is a 25.9-mile-long (41.7 km)[2] urban stream in Kent County, Michigan in the United States. It is a tributary of the Grand River. The stream is named for the large deposit of gypsum found at its mouth. Its mean monthly flow averages 22 million gallons per day.

Two bridges listed on the National Register of Historic Places cross the creek.

Watershed

The headwaters are located in Dutton Shadyside Park, at Hanna Lake Avenue and 76th Street, just south of the unincorporated town of Dutton in Gaines Township. The creek flows into the Grand River just south of Wealthy Street in downtown Grand Rapids. The main stream is approximately 26 miles (42 km) long and drains a 57-square-mile (150 km2) basin.


The Plaster Creek Watershed is considered to contain one of the most polluted creeks in West Michigan. Priority pollutants of the creek can be linked to stormwater runoff but include issues such as sedimentation, E.coli contamination, nutrient pollution, thermal pollution and toxic substances. However, local groups such as The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds and Plaster Creek Stewards have worked to address these issues. "Plaster Creek Stewards is a collaboration of Calvin University faculty, staff, and students working with local schools, churches, and community partners to restore the health and beauty of the watershed".[3]

Flora and fauna

Plaster Creek is a salmon spawning stream, and salmon have been seen as far upstream as the headwaters at Dutton Shadyside Park. The stream is not considered to be a trout stream, but has been designated as a warm water fishery. One endangered species Epioblasma triquetra (the snuffbox mussel) lives in the Plaster Creek watershed.[4] The threatened Beak Grass (Diarrhena americana) as well as Endangered Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) grows along the banks in some areas.

Tributaries

Streams flowing into the creek include Little Plaster Creek, the small Maple Creek, Whiskey Creek, and the former Silver Creek, now culverted as the Silver Creek Drain.

Trails

A series of trails along Plaster Creek is being planned in Grand Rapids:

Plaster Creek Trail - Phase I

Beginning at Ken-O-Sha Park School (1353 VanAuken SE) and following Plaster Creek, this pathway offers interpretive signs and a stunning display of spring-blooming wild flowers along the creek's bank and wetland areas. This portion of the Plaster Creek Trail is 1.2 miles (1.9 km).

Plaster Creek Trail - Phase II

The Plaster Creek extension is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. It starts at Plaster Creek and Eastern Avenue, travels north on the east side of Eastern Avenue, crosses 28th Street, then proceeds westerly to Division Avenue. The trail serves two purposes, as a non-motorized trail and as a flood protection[5] and mitigation facility.[6]

Plaster Creek Trail - Phase III

Division Avenue to Oxford Street.

Eventually, this trail will connect with Kent Trails and the Paul Henry-Thornapple Rail Trail.[7]

References

  1. ↑ United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Watershed Report: Plaster Creek". watersgeo.epa.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 19, 2011
  3. ↑ "Plaster Creek Stewards". Calvin University. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  4. ↑ Fishbek, Thompson, Carr& Huber, Inc. (October 2008). "Plaster Creek Watershed Management Plan" (PDF). p. 20. Retrieved 24 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Michigan (April 2006). "Draft Environmental Assessment Plaster Creek Flood Mitigation Project" (PDF).
  6. ↑ Randel Lemoine. "Blazing New Trails" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  7. ↑ "Kent County Trails & Parks" (PDF). Archived from the original (Map) on 2009-07-11.
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