Watershed Summary 

The Dowagiac River Watershed lies within the St. Joseph River Basin and is located in the southwestern corner of Michigan's lower peninsula in Cass, Van Buren, and Berrien Counties. The Dowagiac River Watershed is approved under the CMI administrative rules and was funded under section 604b. The Dowagiac River Watershed has a total area of about 286 square miles or 183,117 acres. By reducing sediment and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, the cold-water fisheries were enhanced, and the water quality, temperature, and flow was improved. 

MDEQ Nonpoint Source Links 

• Dowagiac River Meander Restoration II (270 KB) 
• Watershed Management Plan (600 KB PDF) 
• St. Joe River Watershed (a larger watershed management plan encompassing Dowagiac River)

Watershed Websites 

• Van Buren County 
• Meeting Ecological and Agricultural Needs within the Dowagiac River System (MEANDRS) 

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