Watershed Summary

The Galien River Watershed is a 111,714-acre watershed located in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. The Galien River Watershed is approved under the CMI administrative rules and was funded under section 319. Land use is 4% urban, 62% agricultural, 19% forested, 8% wetlands, and 7% other. It sustains tourism in the harbor area of New Buffalo, and recreational use in Warren Woods, a State Park valued for its unique wildflower displays and mature hardwood forests. The Galien River used to be on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's 303(d) non-attainment list of impaired waters. A reduction of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria was necessary to protect and improve the Galien River.

MDEQ Nonpoint Source Links

• Galien River Transition/Implementation Project fact sheet (740 KB PDF)
• Watershed Management Plan (2,300 KB PDF)
• Watershed Management Plan Figures (7,400 KB PDF)
• Watershed Management Plan Appendices (8,000 KB PDF)
• Watershed Management Plan Addendum, November 2005 (3,600 KB PDF)

(A current version of Adobe Reader  or Adobe Acrobat may be needed to open PDF documents.)

Watershed Websites

• Watershed Management Plan on Southwestern Michigan Commission website

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