{{Short description|River in United States of America}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river |length={{convert|54|mi|km|abbr=on}} |image=Frankfort Harbor 2.JPG |image_size=250px |image_caption=Mouth of the Betsie River at [[Lake Michigan]], in [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]] | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = Michigan | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of mouth | pushpin_map_alt = |mouth_location=[[Lake Michigan]] at [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]]|name=Betsie River |source1_location=[[Green Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Green Lake]] near [[Interlochen, Michigan|Interlochen]] |source1_coordinates={{coord|44.5919459|-85.794522}}<ref name="gnis1"/> |mouth_coordinates={{coord|44.6291652|-86.2459287|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis1"/>}}
The '''Betsie River''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɛ|t|s|i:}} ''{{respell|BET|see}}'') is a {{convert|54.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}<ref name="NHD">U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed November 21, 2011</ref> river in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The river is located in the northwestern [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] of the state, flowing into [[Lake Michigan]] at [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]]. The river's course is mostly within [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]], (which takes its name from a variant pronunciation of the river), although the river rises in western [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] and flows briefly through northern [[Manistee County, Michigan|Manistee County]].
The river widens to form Betsie Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan between Frankfort and [[Elberta, Michigan|Elberta]]. The Betsie River is a part of Michigan's Natural Rivers Program.<ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_31442-95764--,00.html Betsie River], [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]</ref> [[File:Betsie River Delta.jpg|thumb|Betsie River Wetland Delta near [[Elberta, Michigan|Elberta]]]]
== Etymology == The name is derived from the [[French language|French]] '''''{{lang|fr|la rivière aux Bec-scies}}''''', meaning river of [[sawbill duck]]s (''bec-scie''). A corruption of this pronunciation led to the name of [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]]. Other alternate historical names include the following:<ref name="gnis1">{{gnis|621247}}</ref>
* 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 (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Green Lake]] in southwestern [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|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 (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/473125/Blair+++Left/Grand+Traverse+County+1881/Michigan/|title=Blair - Left, Atlas: Grand Traverse County 1881, Michigan Historical Map|last=LLC|first=Historic Map Works|website=www.historicmapworks.com|access-date=2019-08-12}}</ref> Green Lake straddles the boundary between [[Grant Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grant Township]] on the south and [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]] on the north between [[Karlin, Michigan|Karlin]] and [[Interlochen, Michigan|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.
[[Image:Betsie River emptying into Betsie Lake.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Betsie River emptying into Lake Betsie, Elberta, MI (bridge shown is M-22 crossing the river outlet)]]
== Drainage basin == The Betsie River drains an area of approximately {{convert|155026|acre|km2}}<ref name="fisherystatus2004"/> in three counties. The drainage basin include about {{convert|93|mi|km}} of linear stream, {{convert|52|mi|km}} of which is part of the mainstream.<ref name="naturalriverplan"/>
==Dams== * Homestead Dam {{coord|44|35|48|N|86|04|48|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|628519|Homestead Dam}}</ref> was mostly removed in 1974 and currently acts as a [[lamprey]] barrier. It impounds little water and does not impede salmon migrations.<ref name="fisherystatus2004">[http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/status/waterbody/2004-3Betsie.pdf Betsi River], Mark A. Tonello, "Status of the Fishery Resource Report, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, No. 2004-3, 2004</ref> The remains of the dam are now sometimes called "Homestead Falls".<ref>[http://www.hanmers.com/canoetrips.html The Betsie River], Hanmer's Canoe Trips</ref> The dam was a power generating facility formerly owned by [[Consumers Energy]].<ref name="naturalriverplan"/> * Grass Lake Dam, approximately {{convert|4|mi|0}} downstream from Green Lake, forms an approximately {{convert|90|acre|ha|adj=on}} impoundment. The dam was constructed in 1951 to improve waterfowl habitat and [[northern pike]] fishing.<ref name="fisherystatus2004"/> The dam was installed by the state Wildlife Division and created a {{convert|482|acre|ha}} waterfowl flooding.<ref name="naturalriverplan">[http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Betsie_River_Plan_23126_7.pdf Betsie River Natural River Plan], Michigan Department of Natural Resources, July 1973, revised March 12, 2002</ref> * Thompsonville Dam was an old power dam<ref name="naturalriverplan"/> 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.<ref name="fisherystatus2004" />
== Bridges == Below is a list of public [[Bridge|crossings]] of the Betsie River: {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" |Route ! scope="col" |Type ! scope="col" |Municipality !County ! scope="col" |Location |- ! scope="row" |{{jct|M|22|state=MI}} (Frankfort Avenue) |State highway | rowspan="2" |[[Benzonia Township, Michigan|Benzonia Township]] | rowspan="7" |[[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie]] |{{coord|44|37|13.1|N|86|13|18.1|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Betsie Valley Trailway (west) |Paved trail |{{coord|44|37|09.2|N|86|13|13.5|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |River Road (west) |County road |[[Crystal Lake Township, Michigan|Crystal Lake Township]] |{{coord|44|37|05.9|N|86|10|04.0|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |River Road (east) |County road | rowspan="3" |[[Benzonia Township, Michigan|Benzonia Township]] |{{coord|44|37|05.2|N|86|07|24.0|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Grace Road |County road |{{coord|44|36|16.0|N|86|06|44.3|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |[[U.S. Route 31 in Michigan|US 31]]/[[M-115 (Michigan highway)|M-115]] (Benzie Highway) |State highway |{{coord|44|36|02.2|N|86|07|24.0|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |{{jct|M|115|state=MI}} (west) |State highway |[[Weldon Township, Michigan|Weldon Township]] |{{coord|44|33|26.3|N|86|03|12.3|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |County Line Road |County road |[[Weldon Township, Michigan|Weldon]]/[[Springdale Township, Michigan|Springdale]] township |[[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie]]/[[Manistee County, Michigan|Manistee]] line |{{coord|44|30|52.0|N|86|02|40.6|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Psutka Road |County road | rowspan="3" |[[Springdale Township, Michigan|Springdale Township]] | rowspan="3" |[[Manistee County, Michigan|Manistee]] |{{coord|44|29|46.4|N|86|01|47.7|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Kurick Road |County road |{{coord|44|30|05.3|N|85|58|45.2|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |{{jct|M|115|state=MI}} (east) |State highway |{{coord|44|30|26.9|N|85|58|06.3|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Lindy Road |County road | rowspan="4" |[[Weldon Township, Michigan|Weldon Township]] | rowspan="9" |[[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie]] |{{coord|44|31|13.8|N|85|57|41.5|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Wolf Road |County road |{{coord|44|31|43.1|N|85|56|55.8|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Betsie Valley Trailway (east) |Paved trail |{{coord|44|31|48.6|N|85|56|51.6|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |King Road |County road |{{coord|44|32|32.1|N|85|56|32.9|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |South Thompsonville Highway |County road | rowspan="5" |[[Colfax Township, Benzie County, Michigan|Colfax Township]] |{{coord|44|37|47.2|N|85|56|16.9|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |South Carmean Road |County road |{{coord|44|33|19.6|N|85|55|05.8|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Wallin Road |County road |{{coord|44|34|13.7|N|85|53|35.0|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Nostwick Road |County road |{{coord|44|34|23.4|N|85|53|16.7|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |South Reynolds Road |County road |{{coord|44|34|28.8|N|85|52|40.2|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Betsie River Road |County road |[[Grant Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grant Township]] | rowspan="5" |[[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse]] |{{coord|44|35|34.7|N|85|47|48.0|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Diamond Park Road |County road | rowspan="4" |[[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]] |{{coord|44|37|59.5|N|85|46|55.2|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |[[M-137 (Michigan highway)|J. Maddy Parkway]] |County road |{{coord|44|38|29.2|N|85|46|02.2|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |Birch Road |County road |{{coord|44|39|14.5|N|85|45|04.6|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |- ! scope="row" |{{jct|US|31|state=MI}} |State highway |{{coord|44|39|30.9|N|85|44|59.7|W|type:landmark_region:US}} |}
== Tributaries == * Betsie Lake {{coord|44|37|42|N|86|13|47|W|type:landmark_region:US}}<ref>{{gnis|621246|Betsie Lake}}</ref> * Crystal Lake Outlet {{coord|44|37|32|N|86|08|18|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1618425|Crystal Lake Outlet}}</ref> ** [[Crystal Lake (Benzie County, Michigan)|Crystal Lake]] ***Cold Creek {{coord|44|37|47|N|86|05|46|W|}} in [[Beulah, Michigan|Beulah]]<ref>{{gnis|623561|Cold Creek}}</ref> * Rice Creek {{coord|44|36|19|N|86|06|51|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|635836|Rice Creek}}</ref> * Dair Creek {{coord|44|33|05|N|86|03|15|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|624461|Dair Creek}}</ref> * Little Betsie River {{coord|44|32|01|N|85|56|44|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|630563|Little Betsie River}}</ref> * Pickerel Creek {{coord|44|35|29|N|85|50|25|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|634772|Pickerel Creek}}</ref> ** Twin Lake {{coord|44|34|19|N|85|49|46|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1615243|Twin Lake}}</ref> ** Upper Twin Lake {{coord|44|34|19|N|85|49|17|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1615418|Upper Twin Lake}}</ref> * Grass Lake {{coord|44|36|30|N|85|51|03|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|627199|Grass Lake}}</ref> * Mud Lake {{coord|44|34|31|N|85|47|55|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|632996|Mud Lake}}</ref> * [[Green Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Green Lake]] {{coord|44|36|41|N|85|47|03|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1623734|Green Lake}}</ref> ** Bridge Lake {{coord|44|38|21|N|85|47|07|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|621960|Bridge Lake}}</ref> ** Tullers Lake {{coord|44|39|15|N|85|46|43|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1615161|Tullers Lake}}</ref> ** [[Cedar Hedge Lake]] {{coord|44|40|12|N|85|47|04|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|622913|Cedar Hedge Lake}}</ref> ** Mud Lake {{coord|44|38|36|N|85|45|28|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|632997|Mud Lake}}</ref> ** [[Duck Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Duck Lake]] {{coord|44|37|53|N|85|44|42|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|624946|Duck Lake}}</ref> *** Horton Creek *** Brigham Creek {{coord|44|37|18|N|85|43|42|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|2104305|Brigham Creek}}</ref> *** Mason Creek {{coord|44|37|51|N|85|43|26|W}}<ref>{{gnis|631701|Mason Creek}}</ref> **** Weidenhamer Swamp {{coord|44|37|35|N|85|36|10|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|2104324|Weidenhamer Swamp}}</ref> *** Tonawanda Lake {{coord|44|39|03|N|85|45|07|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|1614950|Tonawanda Lake}}</ref> **** Ellis Lake {{coord|44|39|47|N|85|44|54|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|625489|Ellis Lake}}</ref> ***** Saunders Lake {{coord|44|40|17|N|85|43|56|W|}}<ref>{{gnis|637281|Saunders Lake}}</ref> == Notes == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == * [https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/Fisheries/NaturalRivers/Natural-River-Maps/natural-rivers-betsie-map.pdf Map of the Betsie River], [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Rivers of Michigan]] [[Category:Rivers of Benzie County, Michigan]] [[Category:Tributaries of Lake Michigan]] [[Category:Rivers of Grand Traverse County, Michigan]] [[Category:Rivers of Manistee County, Michigan]]