Red Cedar River (Michigan)
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The Red Cedar River is a westward flowing river in Michigan which is a tributary of the Grand River. Its source is east of Williamston; it runs about 45 miles through Okemos, East Lansing, including the campus of Michigan State University, and finally Lansing where it empties into the Grand River. It is not navigable by boats any larger than recreational size, and is not an important shipping route. Its watershed area is estimated at 472 square miles, and it has 12 tributaries of its own. Because of frequent bacterial contamination, the river serves as a tool to teach local students the importance of clean water. The river is named for the trees commonly known as "red cedar" that were prevalent and still are somewhat common near the river's source and beginning length. The tree however, is properly a type of juniper, Juniperus virginiana.
[edit] Importance to Michigan State University
The Red Cedar River is an iconic natural landmark to all Spartans. The name of the river is featured in the first line of MSU's fight song, and MSU students are often found studying in the campus park along the river's banks. Students, faculty, alumni and visitors frequently feed the large community of Mallard ducks that congregate year-round near the river dam south of the Administration Building, which contributes to overfeeding and E Coli contamination. Nevertheless, the river is popular in the summer for canoeing and kayaking. (The campus canoe dock is self-mockingly named Red Cedar Yacht Club.) In the winter, the river often freezes over, and students can be found ice skating, playing hockey and even tackle football on its ice.
