Ocqueoc River

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Ocqueoc River | image = Ocqueoc River Bridge.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_caption = River Road over the Ocqueoc River. | source1_location = Bismarck Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan | mouth_location = Lake Huron at Ocqueoc Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | progression = | length_mi = 34 | length_ref = <ref name=NHD/> | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = {{convert|584|ft|m}}<ref name="gnis-OR">{{gnis|633937}}</ref> | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = {{convert|94394|acre|sqkm|sp=us}}<ref name="ORWP" /> | river_system = | tributaries_left = Silver Creek, Little Ocqueoc River, Indian Creek | tributaries_right = }} The '''Ocqueoc River''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑ:|k|i:|ɑ:|k}} ''{{respell|AH|key|ock}}'') is a {{convert|34.2|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}}<ref name="NHD">U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed November 21, 2011</ref> blackwater river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is located in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, flowing into Lake Huron in Presque Isle County. The river drains a watershed of approximately {{convert|94394|acre|sqkm|sp=us}}.<ref name="ORWP">[http://www.huronpines.org/upload/File/Ocqueoc%20Watershed%20Plan-Comp.pdf Ocqueoc River Watershed Management Plan], 2005, Ocqueoc River Watershed Commission, Accessed 22 August 2010</ref> Along the river are the Ocqueoc Falls, the largest and only named waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ocqueoc Falls Scenic Site |url=https://www.us23heritageroute.org/location.asp?ait=av&aid=331 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=US-23 Heritage Route |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page |url=https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=51&type=SFPW |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www2.dnr.state.mi.us}}</ref>

''Ocqueoc'' is a French adaptation of an Anishinabemowin (Ojibwe) term meaning "crooked waters".<ref name="Romig">{{cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | orig-date= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | isbn = 0-8143-1838-X}}</ref>

== Description and course == The Ocqueoc River is the largest river entirely within Presque Isle County and drains several lakes, including Ocqueoc Lake, and receives a few tributaries, the largest being the Little Ocqueoc River and Silver Creek. The Ocqueoc River's source is in southern Bismarck Township at {{coord|45|13|15|N|83|55|45|W|region:US-MI_type:river_source:GNIS}} approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} southeast of the village of Millersburg, which with a population 263 people at the 2000 Census is the largest community in the watershed.<ref>[http://www.bearingertownship.org/Water%20Shed.doc "The Ocqueoc River Watershed- an Introduction"], Bearinger Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan, December, 2008</ref>

Ocqueoc Falls<ref>[http://www.fishweb.com/maps/presqueisle/ocqueoc/falls/index.html "Ocqueoc Falls"], Michigan Interactive</ref> are the largest waterfalls in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with a drop of about {{convert|5|ft}}. The falls and the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, which offers groomed winter trails and summer hiking trails, are a tourist attraction of Presque Isle County. The Ocqueoc River is one of the few rivers in the Lower Peninsula to flow north.<ref>[http://www.onawaychamber.com/attractions.htm Area Attractions], Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce</ref>

The Ocqueoc River flows through a limestone karst region, and some of its tributaries, notably the Little Ocqueoc, are not continuous on the surface but flow through subterranean systems for part of their course. The upper reaches of the river's watershed is swampy with cedar, tamarack, balsam, poplar, aspen and black ash common. The warmer upper ranges have more warm-water fish including sunfish, pike and bass, while the lower cooler part of the river has salmon and trout.<ref>[http://www.huronpines.org/upload/File/OcqueocWS_appendix%20a.pdf Biological Survey of the Ocqueoc River], MI/DEQ/SWQ-96/017, Michigan Department of Environment Quality, April 1996</ref> Smelt dipping is a style of fishing used near the mouth of the Ocqueoc.

== Drainage basin == [[File:Ocqueoc Falls (8897493304).jpg|thumb|Ocqueoc Falls in winter]] The Ocqueoc River drainage basin includes all or portions of the following townships and municipalities in Presque Isle County: * Bearinger Township Bismarck Township * Case Township * Millersburg * Moltke Township * Ocqueoc Township

A very small portion of the watershed is located in northern Montmorency County but contains no surface water.<ref name="ORWP" />

== Named tributaries == Named waterbodies with direct surface flow into the Ocqueoc River system, from the mouth: * Ocqueoc Lake<ref>{{gnis|633936|Ocqueoc Lake}}</ref> * (right) Orchard Lake<ref>{{gnis|1617390|Orchard Lake}}</ref> ** Mud Lake<ref>{{gnis|633060|Mud Lake}}</ref> * (left) Silver Creek<ref>{{gnis|637922|Silver Creek}}</ref> * (left) Little Ocqueoc River<ref>{{gnis|630716|Little Ocqueoc River}}</ref> ** (right) Fox Creek<ref>{{gnis|626367|Fox Creek}}</ref> * (left) Indian Creek<ref>{{gnis|628972|Indian Creek}}</ref> * Upper Barnhart Lake<ref>{{gnis|1615392|Upper Barnhart Lake}}</ref> ** (right) McIntosh Lake<ref>{{gnis|631917|McIntosh Lake}}</ref> * Lower Barnhart Lake<ref>{{gnis|631161|Lower Barnhart Lake}}</ref> ** (left) Mud Lake<ref>{{gnis|633018|Mud Lake}}</ref> * Lake Nettie<ref>{{gnis|633306|Lake Nettie}}</ref> ** (left) Bullhead Lake<ref>{{gnis|622240|Bullhead Lake}}</ref> ** (right) Lake Ann<ref>{{gnis|620137|Lake Ann}}</ref> ** (left) Horseshoe Lake<ref>{{gnis|628630|Horseshoe Lake}}</ref> ** (right) Lake Emma<ref>{{gnis|625578|Lake Emma}}</ref> *** Moores Lake<ref>{{gnis|1618848|Moores Lake}}</ref> ** (right) Marl Bed Lake<ref>{{gnis|1618846|Marl Bed Lake}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/minorfalls.shtml Minor WaterFalls], Great Lakes Waterfalls

Category:Rivers of Presque Isle County, Michigan Category:Rivers of Michigan Category:Tributaries of Lake Huron