Paint Creek (Washtenaw County, Michigan)

Paint Creek is a stream located in the counties of Washtenaw and Monroe in Southeastern Michigan. It is a tributary of Stony Creek.

Paint Creek consists of as upper portion known as "Upper Paint Creek", an inline detention pond, and a lower portion which discharges the detention pond and flows into Stony Creek.

There are two other streams known as Paint Creek in Michigan, Paint Creek in Oakland County and Paint Creek in Iron County in the Upper Peninsula.

Course

Paint Creek originates in a small marsh south of Ellsworth Road in Pittsfield Township. It runs parallel to Ellsworth Road going east, turns north and enters a culvert under Ellsworth Road, exiting the culvert into Montibeller Park. In Montibeller Park Paint Creek flows through a small marsh area, then enters the lawn of the main park area, and continues out of the park adjacent to Montibeller Park Nature Area's forest. After exiting the forest, the stream enters a culvert that bends and exits into an open area. The creek then enters a long culvert along Cole Boulevard in which it is utilized as a storm drain before exiting the culvert into a country club.

Water Quality

From it's origins, Paint Creek is either utilized as a storm drain itself or is a discharge point for other storm drains. Many portions of Paint Creek are channelized, have had riparian vegetation removed, and/or have been diverted into underground culverts. The poor management of this stream is evident by characteristics such as frequent flash floods, high turbidity, abundant litter, and severe stream side erosion.

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paint Creek