The Ocqueoc River (/ˈɑːkɑːk/ AH-key-ock) is a 34.2-mile-long (55.0 km)[2] blackwater river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is located in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, flowing into Lake Huron in Presque Isle County. The river drains a watershed of approximately 94,394 acres (382.00 km2).[3] Along the river are the Ocqueoc Falls, the largest and only named waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.[4][5]

Ocqueoc River
River Road over the Ocqueoc River.
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBismarck Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan
Mouth 
 • location
Lake Huron at Ocqueoc Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan
 • elevation
584 feet (178 m)[1]
Length34 miles (55 km)[2]
Basin size94,394 acres (382.00 km2)[3]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSilver Creek, Little Ocqueoc River, Indian Creek

Ocqueoc is a French adaptation of an Anishinabemowin (Ojibwe) term meaning "crooked waters".[6]

Description and course

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The Ocqueoc River is the largest river entirely within Presque Isle County and drains several lakes, including Ocqueoc Lake, and receives a few tributaries, the largest being the Little Ocqueoc River and Silver Creek. The Ocqueoc River's source is in southern Bismarck Township at 45°13′15″N 83°55′45″W / 45.22083°N 83.92917°W / 45.22083; -83.92917 approximately 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the village of Millersburg, which with a population 263 people at the 2000 Census is the largest community in the watershed.[7]

Ocqueoc Falls[8] are the largest waterfalls in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with a drop of about 5 feet (1.5 m). The falls and the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, which offers groomed winter trails and summer hiking trails, are a tourist attraction of Presque Isle County. The Ocqueoc River is one of the few rivers in the Lower Peninsula to flow north.[9]

The Ocqueoc River flows through a limestone karst region, and some of its tributaries, notably the Little Ocqueoc, are not continuous on the surface but flow through subterranean systems for part of their course. The upper reaches of the river's watershed is swampy with cedar, tamarack, balsam, poplar, aspen and black ash common. The warmer upper ranges have more warm-water fish including sunfish, pike and bass, while the lower cooler part of the river has salmon and trout.[10] Smelt dipping is a style of fishing used near the mouth of the Ocqueoc.

Drainage basin

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Ocqueoc Falls in winter

The Ocqueoc River drainage basin includes all or portions of the following townships and municipalities in Presque Isle County:

Bismarck Township

A very small portion of the watershed is located in northern Montmorency County but contains no surface water.[3]

Named tributaries

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Named waterbodies with direct surface flow into the Ocqueoc River system, from the mouth:

  • Ocqueoc Lake[11]
  • (right) Orchard Lake[12]
  • (left) Silver Creek[14]
  • (left) Little Ocqueoc River[15]
    • (right) Fox Creek[16]
  • (left) Indian Creek[17]
  • Upper Barnhart Lake[18]
    • (right) McIntosh Lake[19]
  • Lower Barnhart Lake[20]
  • Lake Nettie[22]
    • (left) Bullhead Lake[23]
    • (right) Lake Ann[24]
    • (left) Horseshoe Lake[25]
    • (right) Lake Emma[26]
    • (right) Marl Bed Lake[28]

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ocqueoc River
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed November 21, 2011
  3. ^ a b c Ocqueoc River Watershed Management Plan, 2005, Ocqueoc River Watershed Commission, Accessed 22 August 2010
  4. ^ "Ocqueoc Falls Scenic Site". US-23 Heritage Route. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ^ "Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page". www2.dnr.state.mi.us. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. ^ Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  7. ^ "The Ocqueoc River Watershed- an Introduction", Bearinger Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan, December, 2008
  8. ^ "Ocqueoc Falls", Michigan Interactive
  9. ^ Area Attractions, Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce
  10. ^ Biological Survey of the Ocqueoc River, MI/DEQ/SWQ-96/017, Michigan Department of Environment Quality, April 1996
  11. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ocqueoc Lake
  12. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Orchard Lake
  13. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mud Lake
  14. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Silver Creek
  15. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little Ocqueoc River
  16. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fox Creek
  17. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Indian Creek
  18. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Upper Barnhart Lake
  19. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: McIntosh Lake
  20. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lower Barnhart Lake
  21. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mud Lake
  22. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Nettie
  23. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bullhead Lake
  24. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Ann
  25. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Horseshoe Lake
  26. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Emma
  27. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Moores Lake
  28. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Marl Bed Lake
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45°29′24″N 84°04′27″W / 45.49000°N 84.07417°W / 45.49000; -84.07417