*mywatersheds.org

*Water Is Life

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From Livingston County to Portland.

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11,000 years ago, the great glaciers receded from mid-Michigan leaving a meandering gift to the 64-mile-long watershed, to drain the melt water. The looking Glass River rises in Livington County & flows westward through Shiawassee, Clinton, & Ionia Counties emptying into the Grand River at Portland. Rich in flora & fauna, the looking Glass River became a living resource for area inhabitants, ancient to modern, including infamous Ojibwa Chief "John" Okemos, who scouted for the British Army in the War of 1812. He died of old age at his riverbank encampment east of Dewitt in 1858 & was buried near Portland where an engraved rock marks his grave. Looking Glass River watershed inhabitants regard this stream as a true community resource for many forms of recreation, study, & appreciation, & is one of their cherished quality of life assets.
The Friends of the Looking Glass, Fall 2014

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*Took Photo Looking North Bound

Nineteenth-century sources have transcribed the alternate name of Wabenasebee for the river. That name may refer to the large Chippewa settlement of Wabwahnahseepee that had existed, just north of modern De Witt, when European settlers first arrived.

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Took Photo Looking South Bound

The earliest known settlers of the Looking Glass Watershed were the Sauk people who were eventually replaced by people of the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes. The area was highly regarded for its abundance of game and fish. White settlers came to the area following trails up the Flint and Shiawassee rivers inland from Detroit and Port Huron

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