The Upper Rabbit River Watershed, located in rural Allegan, Barry, and Ottawa Counties encompasses 91,210 acres of agricultural, urban and forested land. The Upper Rabbit River Watershed is approximately 60 percent agricultural land. The Rabbit River originates east of Wayland, MI, in Leighton Township, and flows westerly to join the Kalamazoo River at New Richmond, which then flows on to Lake Michigan. The Rabbit River is a State Designated Trout Stream, as are several of its tributaries. Very few rivers in southwestern Michigan are designated trout streams, making the Rabbit River a unique resource in our area.
Shawn McKenney
Project Manager
Rabbit/Gun River Watershed Projects
Allegan Conservation District
1668 Lincoln Road
Allegan, MI 49010
Ph 269-673-8965 ext. 3
Ph 269-673-9671
Uncontrolled livestock access to surface water can lead to excessive sedimentation and phosphorous loads in rivers and lakes. The Watershed Project worked with a local producer to provide limited livestock access to the Knuth Drain in Allegan County. Previous to the project livestock had unrestricted access to the drain and were causing erosion and sedimentation problems.
Total Project Cost: $5925.00
Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 4.5 tons/ac
Phosphorous: 5lbs
Nitrogen:1lb