Plaster Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
accessed May 19, 2011

urban stream An urban stream is a formerly natural River, waterway that flows through a Urban area, heavily populated area. Often times, urban streams are low-lying points in the landscape that characterize catchment urbanization. Urban streams are often Water ...

Kent County, Michigan Kent County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the county had a population of 657,974, making it the fourth most populous county in Michigan, and the largest outside of the Metro Detroit, ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It is a tributary of the Grand River. The stream is named for the large deposit of

gypsum Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate Hydrate, dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, drywall and blackboard or sidewalk ...

found at its mouth. Its mean monthly flow averages 22 million gallons per day. Two bridges listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

cross the creek.

Watershed

The

headwaters The headwater of a river or stream is the geographical point of its beginning, specifically where surface runoff water begins to accumulate into a flowing channel of water. A river or stream into which one or many tributary rivers or streams flo ...

are located in Dutton Shadyside Park, at Hanna Lake Avenue and 76th Street, just south of the unincorporated town of Dutton in Gaines Township. The creek flows into the Grand River just south of Wealthy Street in downtown

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

. The main stream is approximately long and drains a basin. The Plaster Creek Watershed is considered to contain one of the most polluted creeks in West Michigan. Priority pollutants of the creek can be linked to stormwater runoff but include issues such as sedimentation, E.coli contamination, nutrient pollution, thermal pollution and toxic substances. However, local groups such as Th
Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds
an

have worked to address these issues. "Plaster Creek Stewards is a collaboration of Calvin University faculty, staff, and students working with local schools, churches, and community partners to restore the health and beauty of the watershed".

Flora and fauna

Plaster Creek is a

salmon Salmon (; : salmon) are any of several list of commercially important fish species, commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the genera ''Salmo'' and ''Oncorhynchus'' of the family (biology), family Salmonidae, native ...

spawning stream, and salmon have been seen as far upstream as the headwaters at Dutton Shadyside Park. The stream is not considered to be a trout stream, but has been designated as a warm water fishery. One

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

Epioblasma triquetra ''Epioblasma triquetra'', common name the snuffbox mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, a mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is native to eastern North America, where it is a listed as an endangered species in both Canada and the United St ...

'' (the snuffbox mussel) lives in the Plaster Creek watershed. The threatened Beak Grass ('' Diarrhena americana'') as well as Endangered Virginia Bluebells (''Mertensia virginica)'' grows along the banks in some areas.

Tributaries

Streams flowing into the creek include Little Plaster Creek, the small Maple Creek, Whiskey Creek, and the former Silver Creek, now

culvert A culvert is a structure that channels water past an obstacle or to a subterranean waterway. Typically embedded so as to be surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from a pipe (fluid conveyance), pipe, reinforced concrete or other materia ...

ed as the Silver Creek Drain.

Trails

A series of trails along Plaster Creek is being planned in Grand Rapids: ;Plaster Creek Trail - Phase I Beginning at Ken-O-Sha Park School (1353 VanAuken SE) and following Plaster Creek, this pathway offers interpretive signs and a stunning display of spring-blooming wild flowers along the creek's bank and wetland areas. This portion of the Plaster Creek Trail is . ;Plaster Creek Trail - Phase II The Plaster Creek extension is approximately in length. It starts at Plaster Creek and Eastern Avenue, travels north on the east side of Eastern Avenue, crosses 28th Street, then proceeds westerly to Division Avenue. The trail serves two purposes, as a non-motorized trail and as a flood protection and mitigation facility. ;Plaster Creek Trail - Phase III Division Avenue to Oxford Street. Eventually, this trail will connect with

Kent Trails Kent Trails is a fifteen-mile rail trail in Kent County, Michigan that runs through the cities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of ...

and the

Paul Henry-Thornapple Rail Trail Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo P ...

References

{{authority control Geography of Grand Rapids, Michigan Rivers of Kent County, Michigan Rivers of Michigan Tributaries of Lake Michigan