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Michigan Department of Natural Resources Allegan County (1N, 13W, Sections 31, 32, 29, 28) Van Buren County (1S, 13W, Sections 1, 12, 13, 25) Kalamazoo County (1S, 12W, Sections 21, 29, 22, 26, 27, 30) Surveyed October 30-31, and November 1, 1989 James L. Dexter, Jr. Environment Pine Creek (also known as Sand Creek in Kalamazoo County and Mentha Drain
in Van Buren County) is a marginal trout stream classified as second quality
coldwater. Originating in the glacial till area of western Kalamazoo County,
this third order stream flows west until it crosses the county line. Here
it turns and heads north into Allegan County, where it empties into the
impoundment Pine Creek Pond. A small dam separates the pond from the Kalamazoo
River. The town of Alamo is located about 5 miles from the middle reaches
of Pine Creek. Significant stretches of Pine Creek have been dredged in the past. A
major portion of the watershed lies in muck soils historically cultivated
for mint, and now for carrots and onions. The terrain is mostly flat.
Soils that characterize the drainage include very poorly drained Gilford
and Glendora sandy loams, and very poorly drained Adrian mucks. The majority
of the watershed is farmland with some woodlots throughout the area. Pine Creek is estimated to be 6-8 miles long. Stream widths average 17
feet, with an average depth of 1.5 feet. Habitat varies considerably from
section to section. The headwater areas offer undercut banks, some overhanging
brush, logs, pools, and watercress. The middle reaches contain some pools,
some undercut banks, overhanging brush, and logs. The lower stretches
have deep water and logs. Bottom substrates vary from 40% gravel and rock
and 60% sand and silt in the headwaters, to 100% sand and silt in the
lower reaches. Pine Creek falls approximately 130 feet from its source
to its confluence. No chemical characteristics of the creek have been
studied to date. Development is limited to farms and active fields along the watercourse.
No state ownership exists along the banks. A small portion of the creek
west of 6th Street in Kalamazoo County is township park land that is currently
undeveloped. We know of no present access problems for anglers. Pine Creek has been managed for trout since at least 1933. Various combinations
of brown and rainbow trout were planted yearly through 1964, when rainbow
stockings ceased. Most trout plantings in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s
occurred only in the Van Buren County sections. Since the mid-1960s, only
brown trout have been stocked. Pine Creek has historically been popular
with anglers. Many of the district's largest brown trout are caught here
each year, primarily with bait. Riparians report heavy pressure for the
first 2 weeks of the trout season generally, with much less activity for
the remainder of the season. The fish community of today (Table 1) in Pine Creek is no different from
that of 50 years ago. Trout are the main gamefish available to anglers.
Some northern pike are also caught each year by anglers, primarily in
the lower reaches, where pike move upstream from Pine Creek Pond. Based on 1989 survey results, natural reproduction of brown trout is
limited because few 3-4 inch juveniles were found. Only the upper reaches
in Kalamazoo County yielded wild fish. All sections sampled contained
brown trout, with many nice 2-year-old fish still present in late October.
Using a 220-Volt D.C. shocker with two probes, our catch per effort of
brown trout for all seven sections combined was 22.0 per hour. This compares
to 24.1 per hour in 1982 (three sections only). All trout collected were
in very good shape, with many of the 2-year-old trout in spawning condition.
Fifty percent of all trout collected were legal size (8"). As one of District 12's wider trout streams, angler opportunities are
very good for all methods of angling. Excellent caddis hatches, along
with some mayflies, provide a challenge for the fly angler. Lure and bait
anglers have very good holes to fish, especially in the lower end. Pine Creek should continue to be managed as a second quality coldwater
trout stream. It appears that the limited natural reproduction in the
upper stretches is not enough to sustain the type of fishery that exists
today. Present stocking levels of about 275 trout per acre should be maintained.
Survival of trout through the off season is very good, as evidenced by
the number of larger trout captured during our survey. Species other than trout are not so abundant in Pine Creek that trout
are impacted. No habitat restoration is possible at this time because
the sections that could use it most (Van Buren County) are designated
as a county drain. No problems can be foreseen with water quality at this
time. The major obstacles to improving the trout fishery are the sand
sediments and straight channels found in the designated county drain area.
There is no possibility of changing this situation at the present time. Report completed: May, 1990. Table 1.-Species, relative abundance, and length of fish collected by
electrofishing at seven stations on Pine Creek, October 30-31, 1989.
Last Update: 08/06/02
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