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The Portage
Creek Subwatershed lies within the Cities of Portage and
Kalamazoo and in Texas Township, with the majority flowing
through the City of Portage. This 12.5 mile creek begins
to flow west of US-131 in Texas Township to Hampton Lake.
After exiting this lake the creek then curves, flowing generally
in a northeast direction, through most of the City of Portage
before coursing sinuously almost due north through the City
of Kalamazoo, and into the Kalamazoo River. Several impoundments
exist within this water course both in Portage and the City
of Kalamazoo. The Schuring and Consolidated Drains contribute
flow to Portage Creek in the City of Portage near South
Westnedge Avenue. Both the West Branch of Portage Creek
and Axtell Creek (each considered as separate sub-watersheds
in this project) flow into Portage Creek within the City
of Kalamazoo. The portion of the creek from the Bryant Mill
Pond to the Kalamazoo River is listed on the USEPA's Superfund
National Priorities List for PCB contaminated sediments.
Only 678 acres
out of the 16,067 acres in the Portage Creek Subwatershed
contribute no flow to the creek under any conditions. The
non-contributing areas are typically due to municipal and
private retention basins in the subwatershed. The drainage
area includes land uses of approximately 21.3% urban, 52.4%
open space and forest, 3.1% water/wetlands and 23.2% agriculture.
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