Rogue River

The Rogue River is a major tributary of the Grand River and flows generally north to south through Rockford, Michigan. The watershed is 234 square miles and covers counties, though most of it is in northwest Kent County.

Much of the river is warm water, especially in its upper reaches. As it approaches the Grand River, smaller tributaries and ground water springs turn the river colder and it can support good populations of trout. Additionally, the river gets seasonal runs of steelhead, Chinook salmon, and Coho salmon all the way up to the dam in Rockford.

Important tributaries for cold water include Spring, Cedar, Duke, Stegman, Rum, Shaw, and Barkely Creeks.

The river has long been a focus of efforts from SWMTU and other area environmental groups. Current efforts include work done by the Rogue River Home Rivers Initiative and the Kent County Brook Trout Study.