Protecting Northern Michigan's Water Resources

Mullett Creek

Mullett Creek is the third largest tributary of Mullett Lake, behind the Pigeon River and the Indian River. It is fed by cold groundwater streams at its headwaters, making it a coldwater stream with good brook trout fishing.

Overview of Mullett Creek

Watershed

Mullett Lake Watershed

Mouth

Surface Area

0 acres

Shoreline

Maximum Depth

Length

11 miles

Known Aquatic Invasive Species

Invasive Phragmites (Common Reed)

Description:

Mullett Creek is the third largest tributary of Mullett Lake, behind the Pigeon River and the Indian River. It is fed by cold groundwater streams at its headwaters, making it a coldwater stream with good brook trout fishing. Along with brook trout, deer, coyote, turkeys, grouse, woodcock, and rabbits are also harvested in the Mullett Creek Watershed. The 62-mile North Central State Trail, which runs from Gaylord to Mackinaw City, crosses the creek by its mouth, and is regularly used by walkers, joggers, and bikers. The surface of the trail is crushed limestone.

Mullett Creek runs through lowland forests with large cedar, hemlock, and birch trees along its banks. Although the riparian areas of the creek are well vegetated, there is much agriculture in the watershed away from the creek corridor, including beef, dairy, and rotational crops. This agriculture has the potential to negatively impact the health of Mullett Creek; therefore, the creek’s great water quality is dependent on agriculture using Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to limit nutrient and sediment pollution into the creek and its tributaries.

Monitoring
Biological monitoring is performed by volunteers in Mullett Creek each spring and fall as part of the Watershed Council’s Volunteer Stream Monitoring (VSM) Program.

Other Threats to Water Quality

Nonpoint Source Pollution
Eroding riverbanks
Agriculture
Road/stream crossings
Residential development

Additional Resources:

Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society (MAPS)
The purpose of MAPS is to represent the best interests of its members toward the pursuit of practical lake management to protect and preserve the material character and water quality of Mullett Lake and its surrounding watershed.

Information about Threatened, Endangered, and Special Concern species in this stream’s watershed is available on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) website.

Discharge data for this stream is available online through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Low Flow Discharge Data Base.

USGS Current Water Data for Michigan provides stream flow conditions.

A wide variety of maps, including Vegetation circa 1800, National Wetlands Inventory, Land Cover Change 1800’s to 1978, Wetland Change 1800’s to 1980, and many other resources for this area are available online in the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) Data Resources page.

Learn about safely eating fish from this river in the Michigan Fish Consumption Advisory.

Title	Link

Insert Mullett Creek Map

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Every dollar invested in Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council helps leverage government and foundation grants for much needed local water quality monitoring and pollution prevention, invasive species management, shoreline restoration, education, and much more.

The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Our employee identification number (EIN) is 38-2361745.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information herein; however, it cannot be guaranteed.

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