Stream length = 288 km (179 miles)

Watershed drainage area = 9412 km² (3634 mi²)

Total watershed river and stream miles = 4053 km (2519 miles); 3800 km continuously flowing

Z_max = 8.2 m (in dredged channels)

Littoral area = high

HRT = short

1% Urban

81% Forest

50% Cultivated/Pasture

(overlapping, sum is > 100%)

Secchi = 0.75 m
Chlorophyll a = < 12 ppb
TP = ~30 - 150 ppb
NO₃/NO₂-N = 100 - 300 ppb
NH₄ = ~20 - 100 ppb
TN = ~ 500 - 1200 ppb
Turbidity = ~5 - 50 NTU (high)
Alkalinity = 100 (moderately soft)
pH = ~8
EC = ~110 µS/cm
Color = highly colored
DO > 5 mg/L throughout

Non-stratified; mixed water column

~30% dredged

suspended sediment-dominated

Remnant Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Heavy industry; shipping; sewage disposal (~40 mgd)

Non-point source pollution; sediment contaminated

Relatively high N and P; algal growth light-limited, due to root beer-colored water and often high turbidity

light development

Population in the watershed (1990): 142,502

Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
River Ruffe
Goby

not applicable