Mill Creek
Mill Creek, the largest tributary to the Huron River
Mill Creek is the Huron River’s largest tributary. It flows into the Huron from the south in Dexter. Its watershed contains hundreds of lakes, wetlands and streams that provide important habitat for diverse plant and animal species, plus recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. The Pinckney and Waterloo State Recreation Areas figure prominently in the northwestern part of the watershed. The Nature Conservancy includes this part of the Mill Creek watershed among its aquatic conservation priorities in Michigan.
Mill Creek has seen great environmental successes and also great challenges. The creek has historically suffered from intensive agriculture, which can cause soil erosion, sedimentation, and fertilizer runoff. More recently, Mill Creek is right in the middle of some of the fastest-growing suburban sprawl in Michigan. As housing developments spread out from Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Dexter, Mill Creek has seen even more erosion and phosphorous pollution, as well as erratic stream flows.
At the same time, Mill Creek is the scene of many exciting projects and successes. HRWC has brought together nine communities, plus Washtenaw County and the Chelsea Proving Grounds, who are working together to build on this success and protect Mill Creek from ongoing threats.
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