Kalamazoo River

Kalamazoo River
Map of the Kalamazoo River watershed
Basin features
Main source	South Branch : Near North Adams 41°59′05″N 84°30′59″W / 41.98476°N 84.51633°W / 41.98476; -84.51633 North Branch: Near Farewell and Pine Hills lakes, Jackson County 42°05′47″N 84°28′38″W / 42.09643°N 84.47717°W / 42.09643; -84.47717
River mouth	Lake Michigan 42°40′36″N 86°12′55″W / 42.67669°N 86.21531°W / 42.67669; -86.21531Coordinates: 42°40′36″N 86°12′55″W / 42.67669°N 86.21531°W / 42.67669; -86.21531
Basin size	5,230 km2 (2,020 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	130 miles (210 km)
Discharge	Average rate: Marshall: 9.1 m3/s (320 cu ft/s) Battle Creek: 19.4 m3/s (690 cu ft/s) : 26.5 m3/s (940 cu ft/s) Allegan : 45.8 m3/s (1,620 cu ft/s) New Richmond: 52.8 m3/s (1,860 cu ft/s)

The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is 130 miles (210 km) long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to 178 miles (286 km) when one includes the South Branch. The river's watershed drains an area of approximately 2,020 square miles (5,200 km²) and drains portions of eight counties in southwest Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson, Hillsdale, Kent and Ottawa. The river has a median flow of 1863 cubic feet per second (52.8 m³/s) at New Richmond, upstream from its mouth at Saugatuck.

The North and South Branches of the Kalamazoo River originate within a few miles of each other. The South Branch begins near North Adams in Moscow Township in northeastern Hillsdale County and flows north and west through Homer before joining the North Branch at the forks of the Kalamazoo in Albion. The North Branch begins near Farewell and Pine Hills lakes in southern Jackson County and flows north and west through Concord before reaching Albion in Calhoun County. It then flows through Kalamazoo and Allegan counties.