{{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Pinconning River | name_native = {{native name|oj|Opinikaakiing-ziibi}} | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = River at potatoing-grounds <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Pinconning River Pinconning Township Michigan.jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = The Pinconning River in Pinconning Township | map = Pinconning River MI map.png | map_size = 300 | map_caption = A map of the Pinconning River and its watershed. | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption= <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Michigan | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Bay | subdivision_type4 = Townships | subdivision_name4 = Mount Forest, Pinconning | subdivision_type5 = Municipality | subdivision_name5 = Pinconning <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|10.9|mi|km|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = | source1_location = Mount Forest Township | source1_coordinates= {{coord|43.8483564|-84.1497153|display=inline}}<ref name=GNIS>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|634901}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for Pinconning River (Feature ID #634901) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2015-08-05}}</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|679|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=NMelev>The National Map elevation query for coordinates given in cited GNIS record, http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/. Retrieved on 2015-08-05.</ref> | mouth = Saginaw Bay | mouth_location = Pinconning Township | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|43.8469655|-83.9208187|display=inline,title}}<ref name=GNIS/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|577|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=GNIS/> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|26.6|sqmi|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = Hydrologic Unit Code | custom_data = 040801020107 (USGS) | extra = }}
The '''Pinconning River''' (Ojibwe '''''Opinikaaning-ziibi''''' (syncope as '''''Pinkaaning-ziibi'''''), "River at potatoing-grounds")<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cityofpinconning.org/history/ | title = City of Pinconning—Cheese Capital of Michigan: History}}</ref> is a small river on the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. It is {{convert|15.6|mi|km}} long<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], retrieved 2015-08-05.</ref> and flows to Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron, draining an area of {{convert|26.6|sqmi|km2}}.<ref name=nhd_area>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset, area data for Pinconning River watershed, 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code 040801020107. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], retrieved 2015-08-05</ref> Via Lake Huron and the Great Lakes system, it is part of the larger watershed of the St. Lawrence River.
The Pinconning River's course and watershed are entirely in northern Bay County. It begins in Mount Forest Township, approximately {{convert|9.4|mi|km}} west of the city of Pinconning, and flows generally eastward, through Pinconning Township and Pinconning. It flows into Saginaw Bay in Pinconning Township, approximately {{convert|2.2|mi|km}} east of Pinconning.<ref name=NM>[http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed 2015-08-05.</ref> Its largest tributary is the South Branch Pinconning River,<ref name=SouthBranch>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|638302}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for South Branch Pinconning River (Feature ID #638302) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2015-08-05}}</ref> which is {{convert|6.2|mi|km}} long and flows into the Pinconning River upstream of Pinconning.<ref name=NM/>
The Saginaw Bay Land Conservancy owns a nature preserve, the Pinconning Nature Preserve, along the river in Pinconning Township.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sblc-mi.org/pinconning-nature-preserve.html |title= Pinconning Nature Preserve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612182022/http://www.sblc-mi.org/pinconning-nature-preserve.html |archive-date=2015-06-12 |access-date=2015-08-05}}</ref> Bay County operates a county park, Pinconning Park, on the north bank of the river at its mouth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/PinconningPark/ |title= Bay County Pinconning Park |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408002932/http://baycounty-mi.gov/PinconningPark/ |archive-date=2015-04-08 |access-date=2015-08-05}}</ref>
==Tributaries== This is a list of named streams in the Pinconning River's watershed, as identified by the National Hydrography Dataset. All are direct tributaries of the Pinconning River. By default, the list is ordered from the mouth of the river to its source. {| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |- ! ! Name ! Length<ref name=NHD/> |- | 1 | Fanger Drain<ref>{{GNIS | 00625822 | Fanger Drain}}</ref> | {{convert|2.4|mi|km}} |- | 2 | Walk Drain<ref>{{GNIS | 01615687 | Walk Drain}}</ref> | {{convert|1.8|mi|km}} |- | 3 | Bryce Drain<ref>{{GNIS | 00622161 | Bryce Drain}}</ref> | {{convert|4.1|mi|km}} |- | 4 | South Branch Pinconning River<ref name=SouthBranch/> | {{convert|6.2|mi|km}} |- | 5 | Hudson Branch<ref>{{GNIS | 00628762 | Hudson Branch}}</ref> | {{convert|3.3|mi|km}} |- |}
==See also== *List of rivers of Michigan
== References == {{reflist}}
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Category:Rivers of Michigan Category:Rivers of Bay County, Michigan Category:Tributaries of Lake Huron Category:Saginaw Bay