The Betsie River ( ) is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed November 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of the state, flowing into Lake Michigan at Frankfort. The river's course is mostly within Benzie County, (which takes its name from a variant pronunciation of the river), although the river rises in western Grand Traverse County and flows briefly through northern Manistee County.
The river widens to form Betsie Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan between Frankfort and Elberta. The Betsie River is a part of Michigan's Natural Rivers Program.Betsie River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Etymology The name is derived from the French , meaning river of sawbill ducks (bec-scie). A corruption of this pronunciation led to the name of Benzie County. Other alternate historical names include the following:
Aug-sig-o-sebe Aux Buscies River Betsey's River Benzie River Black Robe River Gay-she-say-ing Riviere du Pere Marquette Sawbill Ducks River Shelldrake Ducks River
Course While most sources indicate the river rises as the outflow of Green Lake in southwestern Grand Traverse County, some consider it navigable immediately south of US-31 from Tullers Lake into Green Lake. Another tributary of the river flows directly out of northern Duck Lake and into northern Green Lake, connecting with the aforementioned Tullers Lake Outlet. Although not considered part of the Betsie River today, older maps of the area do say so. Green Lake straddles the boundary between Grant Township on the south and Green Lake Township on the north between Karlin and Interlochen. Several nearby lakes, including Duck Lake and its tributaries, drain into Green Lake.
The river winds southwesterly from Green Lake into eastern Benzie County, and then briefly into northern Manistee County before turning northerly back into Benzie County. A dam on the river forms Homestead Pond, after which is flows mostly west and slightly north to Lake Michigan.
Drainage basin The Betsie River drains an area of approximately in three counties. The drainage basin include about of linear stream, of which is part of the mainstream.
Dams Homestead Dam was mostly removed in 1974 and currently acts as a lamprey barrier. It impounds little water and does not impede salmon migrations.Betsi River, Mark A. Tonello, "Status of the Fishery Resource Report, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, No. 2004-3, 2004 The remains of the dam are now sometimes called "Homestead Falls".The Betsie River, Hanmer's Canoe Trips The dam was a power generating facility formerly owned by Consumers Energy. Grass Lake Dam, approximately downstream from Green Lake, forms an approximately impoundment. The dam was constructed in 1951 to improve waterfowl habitat and northern pike fishing. The dam was installed by the state Wildlife Division and created a waterfowl flooding.Betsie River Natural River Plan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, July 1973, revised March 12, 2002 Thompsonville Dam was an old power dam that failed in the spring of 1989 and was subsequently removed. Prior to its removal, the dam posed a barrier to salmon migration. Salmon and trout have access to the entire mainstream of the river, even above the Grass Lake Dam.
Bridges Below is a list of public crossings of the Betsie River: RouteTypeMunicipalityCountyLocation (Frankfort Avenue)State highwayBenzonia TownshipBenzieBetsie Valley Trailway (west)Paved trailRiver Road (west)County roadCrystal Lake TownshipRiver Road (east)County roadBenzonia TownshipGrace RoadCounty roadUS 31/M-115 (Benzie Highway)State highway (west)State highwayWeldon TownshipCounty Line RoadCounty roadWeldon/Springdale township Benzie/Manistee linePsutka RoadCounty roadSpringdale TownshipManisteeKurick RoadCounty road (east)State highwayLindy RoadCounty roadWeldon TownshipBenzieWolf RoadCounty roadBetsie Valley Trailway (east)Paved trailKing RoadCounty roadSouth Thompsonville HighwayCounty roadColfax TownshipSouth Carmean RoadCounty roadWallin RoadCounty roadNostwick RoadCounty roadSouth Reynolds RoadCounty roadBetsie River RoadCounty roadGrant TownshipGrand TraverseDiamond Park RoadCounty roadGreen Lake TownshipJ. Maddy ParkwayCounty roadBirch RoadCounty roadState highway
Tributaries Betsie Lake Crystal Lake Outlet Crystal Lake Cold Creek in Beulah Rice Creek Dair Creek Little Betsie River Pickerel Creek Twin Lake Upper Twin Lake Grass Lake Mud Lake Green Lake Bridge Lake Tullers Lake Cedar Hedge Lake Mud Lake Duck Lake Horton Creek Brigham Creek Mason Creek Weidenhamer Swamp Tonawanda Lake Ellis Lake Saunders Lake Notes
External links Map of the Betsie River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources