GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE (2020-2022)
ST. JOSEPH RIVER INVENTORY SURVEY
Funded by the USDA Forest Service GLRI Program, trained technicians from the St. Joseph County Conservation District conducted a comprehensive inventory survey of the entire St. Joseph River in 2020-2022. Over 6,000 georeferenced data points were mapped along the river’s mainstem, documenting invasive species, water quality trends, and other areas of interest. Survey kayaks were equipped with 360-degree GoPro video cameras and multiparameter water quality sensors. Preliminary data representations include a St. Joseph River Inventory - Observations Map created in 2022 by Dr. Douglas McLaughlin, and a virtual waterway tour developed by EarthViews.
Survey technicians arrive at the mouth of the St. Joseph River along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
New Interactive St. Joseph River Mapping Tools Now Available
With support from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the St. Joseph County Conservation District (SJCCD) has developed a series of interactive ArcGIS mapping tools to expand public access to environmental information and support watershed education and project planning across the St. Joseph River Subbasin.
St. Joseph River Subbasin Interactive Mapping Tool
The St. Joseph River Subbasin Interactive Mapping Tool is the primary, watershed-scale map developed through this effort. It brings together fully processed results from the 2020–2022 St. Joseph River Inventory Survey and places them within the broader context of the St. Joseph River Subbasin in southwest Michigan and northcentral Indiana. With 43 total data layers, users can explore survey findings in relation to partner-sourced information such as live stream gauges, public river access points, dams and wastewater facilities, PFAS response sites, invasive species records, priority wildlife information, and environmental justice indicators — helping inform understandings of patterns and conditions across the region.
This map is optimized for desktop viewing rather than mobile devices. Because it includes many interactive layers, users who are not familiar with the ArcGIS platform are strongly encouraged to review the Navigation Guide before exploring the tool. Learning a few basic map controls will make the tool much easier to use and help users get the most out of the information provided. Users may also wish to review the map’s Overview Page for additional context and access to related resource links.
Project Contact: Kaitlin Renehan // kaitlin.renehan@macd.org
GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE (2023-2026)
St. Joseph River Tributary Surveys
Awarded a second round of funding under the USDA Forest Service GLRI Program, specialized SJCCD technicians are currently conducting inventory surveys on 10 select tributaries of the St. Joseph River, including the Portage, Prairie, Rocky, Elkhart, Dowagiac, and Paw Paw rivers. Expanding the scope of this survey allows for a more in-depth look at the overall health of the greater St. Joseph River Watershed. Survey kayaks are equipped with 360-degree GoPro video & time-lapse cameras, audio recorders, multiparameter water quality sensors, and bathymetric sonar mapping devices. Technicians are documenting location coordinates of key observations, such as the presence of invasive species, eroding riverbanks, wastewater discharge pipes, excessive algae growth, vertical retaining walls, high-quality habitats, etc.
Project Contact: Kaitlin Renehan // kaitlin.renehan@macd.org
Paddling along restored bends of the Dowagiac River on Pokagon Band land.
MICORPS VOLUNTEER STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM
BUG BRIGADE STREAM MONITORING PROJECT
The MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program supports volunteer training and aquatic macroinvertebrate data collection for the purpose of assessing regional water quality. The St. Joseph County Conservation District holds annual sampling events in the spring and fall, training community volunteers to conduct stream habitat assessments, collect and identify macroinvertebrates, and recognize findings as indicators of overall habitat health. It is the shared goal of MiCorps and SJCCD that partners throughout the Great Lakes region utilize publicly available stream assessment results featured on MiCorps Data Exchange to further the protection and management of critical water resources.
Check out our 'Events' page for updates regarding upcoming collection dates (typically held in May and October).
Project Contact: Kaitlin Renehan // kaitlin.renehan@macd.org
GREAT LAKES FISHERY TRUST
ST. JOSEPH RIVER WATERSHED ROAD-STREAM CROSSING ASSESSMENTS
The Great Lakes Fisheries Trust has awarded the St. Joseph County Conservation District (SJCCD) project funding to evaluate stream and culvert crossings throughout the St. Joseph River Watershed from 2023 to 2025. The project aimed to gather data for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to identify sites that hinder fish passage, such as dams, undersized culverts, or areas with high flow rates. It will also provide culvert inventories for county road and drain commissions to highlight sites in need of repair or remediation.
Using ArcGIS and other mapping tools, SJCCD personnel compiled a comprehensive list of road-stream crossing locations across select subwatershed areas including Prairie River, Coldwater River-Hog Creek, Dowagiac River, Portage River, Rocky River, and Christiana Creek (MI only). MDNR provided a 10-page digital survey through the Survey123 app to assess infrastructure stability, bank erosion, fish passability, and other site conditions at each crossing. Results can be viewed on the MDNR's Great Lakes Stream Crossing Inventory dashboard and mapping tool.
MICORPS VOLUNTEER STREAM CLEANUP PROGRAM
Looking to help make a positive impact on our local environment? Join the District for stream cleanup events at Big Swan Creek, Prairie River, Nottawa Creek, and Portage River during the 2026 field season. Visit our homepage for updates on this year's event schedule!
Watershed project Partners
