The St. Joseph River Watershed, located in northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and south-central Michigan, encompasses 694,000 acres. With it's headwaters in Hillsdale County Michigan , the St. Joseph River flows southwest through Williams County Ohio; Defiance County Ohio; DeKalb County Indiana; and Allen County Indiana, before converging with the St. Mary's River at Fort Wayne, Indiana to form the Maumee River.
Both Noble County and Steuben County contribute water to the St. Joseph River through both the Cedar Creek and Fish Creek tributaries. The St. Joseph River is the sole source of drinking water for the residents served by Fort Wayne City Utilities.
Each day an average or 34.9 million gallons is drawn from the river for treatment, filtration and distribution. Springs, creeks and runoff from rain and snow throughout the St. Joseph River Watershed feed the river. Approximately 56% of the watershed is in the State of Indiana with 22% each in Michigan and Ohio. The watershed is primarily agricultural with about 64% in cropland and 15% in pasturage or forage. Woodlands and wetlands are found on 10% while the remaining 11% consists of urban, farmsteads, airports, golf courses and other land uses. If you would like to learn more about the St. Joseph River Watershed, call the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative at 260-484-5848 ext. 120 or visit their website at www.sjrwi.org.