St. Clair River

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St. Clair River

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 Chart Datum, St. Clair River

Depths and vertical clearances under overhead cables and bridges given in this chapter are referred to the sloping surface of the river corresponding to a Lake Huron stage of 577.5 feet (176.0 meters) and a Lake St. Clair stage of 572.3 feet (174.4 meters) above mean water level at Rimouski, QC, on International Great Lakes Datum 1985 (IGLD 1985), which elevations are the planes of Low Water Datum for the two lakes. (See Chart Datum, Great Lakes System, indexed as such, chapter 3.)

 General description

St. Clair River is about 39 miles long from Lake St. Clair via St. Clair Cutoff Channel and South Channel to the head of the river at Lake Huron. The lower 11 miles of the river is a broad delta through which numerous channels flow into Lake St. Clair. St. Clair Cutoff Channel and South Channel form the main navigation route through the delta and connect with the dredged channel across Lake St. Clair. The upper river, above Chenal Ecarte, is generally a single deep channel, except where obstructed by Fawn Island and Stag Island. The banks of the river are clay and sand and usually quite steep.

 Canadian Waters

St. Clair Flats Canal is immediately west of the International Boundary, i.e., is in U.S. waters. At the lower end of South Channel, the International Boundary is almost centerline of the channel and when proceeding upstream the Boundary stays approximately centerline the full length of the St. Clair River to its head at Lake Huron.

 Channels

The channel through St. Clair River has been improved in places by dredging. It should be noted that the charted channel legends for the St. Clair River reflect the Corps of Engineers project depth. For further information on the most recent channel depths, direct inquiries may be made to the Office of the District Engineer, Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, and the Canadian Coast Guard. (See Appendix A for contact information.)

 Fluctuations of water level

Each year the St. Clair River has a seasonal rise and fall of about 1 foot, generally in consonance with the seasonal variations of Lake Huron. High winds may cause rapid fluctuations of up to 2 feet above or below normal.

 Currents, St. Clair River

The following currents are based on averages of water flow through the entire cross-section of the river, that is from bank to bank and from the surface to the bottom during normal flow conditions. Normal water flow conditions are encountered when there is no wind, Lake Huron is at a stage of 578.9 feet (176.4 meters), and Lake St. Clair is at a stage of 573.9 feet (174.9 meters) above mean water level at Rimouski, QC, on International Great Lakes Datum 1985 (IGLD 1985), that is 1.4 feet (0.4 meter) and 1.6 feet (0.5 meter) above their respective Low Water Datums. The current encountered at midstream is usually about 1.5 times the average velocity. Greater velocities may be expected when the difference between the lake levels is greater or the lake stages are higher.

Currents for the following locations in the St. Clair River are given at high water flow of 230,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), medium water flow of 188,000 cfs and low water flow of 130,000 cfs, respectively.

Algonac: 2.0 mph (1.7 knots), 1.6 mph (1.4 knots) and 1.3 mph (1.1 knots)

Port Lambton: 2.0 mph (1.8 knots), 1.7 mph (1.5 knots) and 1.3 mph (1.1 knots)

Marine City: 2.0 mph (1.7 knots), 1.6 mph (1.4 knots) and 1.3 mph (1.1 knots)

St. Clair: 2.1 mph (1.9 knots), 1.8 mph (1.5 knots) and 1.4 mph (1.2 knots)

Marysville: 1.9 mph (1.7 knots), 1.6 mph (1.4 knots) and 1.3 mph (1.1 knots)

Point Edward: 3.9 mph (3.4 knots), 3.3 mph (2.9 knots) and 2.5 mph (2.2 knots).

The rapids section extends from about 1,000 feet above to 200 or 300 feet below the Blue Water Bridge. During periods of sustained high north to northeast winds on Lake Huron, velocities in the upper St. Clair River are increased.

 Ice

The only need for icebreaking in the St. Clair River occurs when the ice bridge that forms across the south end of Lake Huron breaks and the broken mass of ice travels down the river to the lower end where it meets the natural ice cover and forms a massive ice jam. When this occurs, ice can clog the entire 27-foot depth of the channel and cause serious flooding. (See Winter Navigation, chapter 3.)

 Navigation regulations

The State of Michigan enforces the following speed limits for recreational craft within its jurisdictional boundaries from the mouth of Black River downstream to the mouth of St. Clair River: slow-no wake for vessels less than 26 feet long within 200 feet of any shore, dock or pierhead, and slow-no wake for vessels 26 feet or longer within 600 feet of any shore, dock or pierhead.

A vessel traffic reporting system and related navigation regulations have been established for the connecting waters from Lake Erie to Lake Huron. (See 33 CFR 162.130 through 162.140, chapter 2, for regulations.)

 Pilotage

The waters of St. Clair River are Great Lakes designated waters; registered vessels of the United States and foreign vessels are required to have in their service a United States or Canadian registered pilot. Registered pilots for St. Clair River are supplied by Lakes Pilots Association. (See Appendix A for address.) Pilot exchange points are just below the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit River and off Port Huron at the head of St. Clair River in about The pilot boat in Detroit River, MS WESTCOTT, has a black hull encircled by an orange band and a white cabin with the words “PILOT” in red letters. Three pilot boats are at Port Huron: HURON SPIRIT, HURON PRIDE, and HURON BELLE; each have an international orange hull with a white cabin with the word "PILOT" in red letters. (See Pilotage, chapter 3, and 46 CFR 401, chapter 2.)

St. Clair River flows south from Lake Huron and empties into the northeast side of Lake St. Clair. The mouth of the river is an extensive delta providing numerous outlets into the lake.

The following is extracted (partial) from Canadian Sailing Directions CEN304, chapter 3, St. Clair River. It is to be noted that the units of miles are nautical miles.

Chenail Ecarté (Chenal Ecarté) also known as The Snye, branches eastwards from St. Clair River at Baby Point (), 1.8 miles north-northeast of Russell Island. The main route to Wallaceburg is via Chenail Ecarté and Sydenham River, which flows into Chenail Ecarté 6 miles southeast of Baby Point. Consult the appropriate local authority, which is the Base Manager, Canadian Coast Guard Base, Amherstburg, Ontario, for the latest depth information.

The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations provide a speed limit of 8 km/h (4.3 knots) on Chenail Ecarté and Sydenham River as far as Dresden, which is 10 miles east of Wallaceburg. This speed limit reduces wake damage to dykes and low farmland.

The current in Chenail Ecarté sets east and south from St. Clair River to Lake St. Clair. Rates of up to 1.2 knots have been reported in Chenail Ecarté where it leaves St. Clair River.

Chenail Ecartérange lights, in line bearing 138.3°, are on the south shore of Chenail Ecarté near its junction with St. Clair River. The front light (746) is shown from a white circular tower, 12 feet (3.7 m) high, with a fluorescent-orange triangular daymark with a black vertical stripe. The rear light (747) is shown from a white circular tower, 26 feet (7.9 m) high, with a fluorescent-orange triangular daymark with black vertical stripe. The lights are visible only on the range.

There are facilities for small craft on the north side of Chenail Ecarté, 0.4 mile east of the junction with St. Clair River.

St. Clair Boating and Marine had depths of 6 feet (1.8 m) in 1994 and offered dockage with power and water, pump out, ramp, boat hardware, repairs and salvage, 20 tonne hydraulic trailer, new and used boat and motor sales and service, water taxi service, picnic area, pay phone and showers.

Ecarté Marine had depths of 6 feet (1.8 m) in 1994 and offered dockage with power and water, pump out, ramp, repairs and salvage, 20 tonne hoist, mast stepper, new and used boat and motor sales and service, water taxi service, picnic area, pay phone, showers, laundromat, boat hardware, ice and gasoline, and monitored VHF Channel 68.

The swing bridge on Chenail Ecarté at Walpole Island village is operated by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The bridge has a vertical clearance in a closed position of 14 feet (4.3 m); the channel leads each side of the central pier.

Two submerged cables cross Chenail Ecarté 0.15 mile northwest of the swing bridge; there are other submerged power cables near the bridge.

A water tower 0.8 mile west-southwest of the swing bridge is painted blue and has an elevation of 164 feet (50 m).

At a point 5 miles from the St. Clair River end of Chenail Ecarté, Johnston Channel flows south, winding and narrow, for 11.5 miles to the marshy flats of Lake St. Clair.

The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations provide a speed limit of 8 km/h (4.3 knots) on Johnston Channel from 42°34'N. to its junction with Chenail Ecarté.

The marshy land lying east of Johnston Channel is St. Anne Island; this is an Indian reserve.

The distance from St. Clair River to Sydenham River () by Chenail Ecarté is 8.5 miles. From this point, Chenail Ecarté winds southward for 8 miles to its Lake St. Clair outlet at Martin Island in Mitchell's Bay.

Caution.—Two cable ferries on Chenail Ecarté carry farm produce and farm vehicles; one is 1.2 miles northwest of the Sydenham River junction, and the other is 1.7 miles south of the junction. To avoid striking the submerged cables, vessels are cautioned to keep well clear of the ferry when it is in transit.

Blue Water Shiloh Park, on Chenail Ecarté 1 mile northwest of the junction with Sydenham River, had depths of 2 to 7 feet (0.6 to 2.1 m) in 1994 and offered dockage, ramp, canoe rentals, tent and trailer camping, picnic area, pay phone, drinking water, showers, laundromat, ice and snack bar.

An overhead power cable with a clearance of 20 feet (6.1 m) is reported to cross Chenail Ecarté 1.5 miles below the junction with Sydenham River.

There is a conspicuous microwave tower 0.8 mile north-northwest of the Chenail Ecarté junction; it is a red and white skeleton tower, 262 feet (79.9 m) high and elevation 308 feet (94 m), with air obstruction lights.

A submerged pipeline crosses Sydenham River 0.7 mile northeast of the Chenail Ecarté junction.

A Public wharf on the northwest shore of Sydenham river, 1.2 miles northeast of the Chenail Ecarté junction, is 134 feet (40.8 m) long with an elevation of 9 feet (2.6 m). In 1994, the wharf had a least depth of 10 feet (3 m) and was in a state of disrepair, with a group of piles 3 feet dry (0.9 m dry) at the south outer corner and piles awash at the north outer corner. There are no facilities at the wharf, and the land adjacent to it is overgrown (1994). There is a turning basin close upstream of the wharf.

The Seys Grain Elevator berth is on the southeast shore, opposite the Public wharf. This berth is 450 feet (137.2 m) long and consists of 6 wooden dolphins with elevations of 13 feet (4 m); there were depths of 13 to 18 feet (4 to 5.5 m) in 1994, and it was reported that no ships had used the berth in recent years.

The town of Wallaceburg, with a population of 11,846 (1991), is on Sydenham River 2.3 miles northeast of the Chenail Ecarté junction. The river at Wallaceburg is 200 feet (61 m) wide.

A CSX Transportation railway swing bridge crosses the river at Wallaceburg; there is a width of 50 feet (15.2 m) between the channel piers. This bridge remains open except when closed for railroad traffic. A pedestrian lift-bridge crosses the river 0.5 mile north of the railway bridge. The Lord Selkirk highway swing bridge lies between the railway bridge and the pedestrian bridge. There is a swing bridge for highway traffic at Libby Street and Baseline Road, 0.5 mile downstream of the railway bridge; its opening schedule is planned to coincide with that of the Lord Selkirk bridge.

There is a berthing area and slip on the southeast shore upstream of the Libby Street and Baseline Road swing bridge. In 1996, this slip was being developed as a marina and was reported to have depths of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m).

Wallaceburg is a Customs vessel reporting station for pleasure craft.

Wallaceburg Municipal Marina offered overnight dockage at 8 locations in downtown Wallaceburg in 1994; most of these wharves are on the northwest shore between the Lord Selkirk bridge and the pedestrian bridge, with depths, at the James Street wharf, of 4 to 14 feet (1.2 to 4.3 m). Power at the docks, showers, ice, and picnic areas with barbecues were also available. All the facilities of the town are within walking distance.

There is a launching ramp on the southeast shore at the foot of Wallace Street and Huron Street.

St. Clair Cutoff Channel, the main vessel route through the St. Clair River delta, extends east-northeast from the north end of Lake St. Clair ship channel for about 6 miles between Seaway Island and Bassett Island to its junction with South Channel at the southeast end of Harsens Island. The channel is maintained by the Canadian Government and is well marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, lights and a 064¼° lighted range on Squirrel Island.

Three diked disposal areas are on the southeast side of Seaway Island. Barge landing docks are at the center and east areas. The center and east disposal areas are each marked by a light.

St. Clair Flats Canal extends from the north end of Lake St. Clair ship channel northeast for about 1.7 miles along the southwest end of Seaway Island to the junction with South Channel. The canal is marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, a light and a 041.1° lighted range. extends from the north end of St. Clair Flats Canal along the northwest side of Seaway Island and bends east along the south shore of Harsens Island, to the junction with St. Clair Cutoff Channel at Southeast Bend. This section of South Channel is well marked by lights.

St. Clair Flats Canal and South Channel below Southeast Bend have good available depths but have not been maintained for deep-draft navigation since completion of St. Clair Cutoff Channel. The U.S. side of South Channel has been extensively developed with summer cottages and small-craft landings.

Caution—The earthen dike along the southeast edge of St. Clair Flats Canal south entrance is reported to be submerged during periodic high water conditions. It is reported that several small boats have struck the dike when it was submerged. A light, with a diamond-shaped white dayboard with orange border worded danger rocks, marks the approximate point where the jetty submerges.

From the junction with St. Clair Cutoff Channel, South Channel leads north-northeast for about 6.5 miles to the junction with North Channel. The channel is well marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, lights and lighted ranges and is maintained at the federal project depth of 27.2 feet.

 Currents

Vessels transiting South Channel are advised to favor the east side of the channel north of Russell Island, because the current flows strongly from the main river channel into North Channel.

Russell Island, is on the west side of South Channel just below the junction with North Channel. A shallow bank extends about 0.5 mile north-northeast from the head of the island. A lighted buoy marks the northeast side of the shoal.

North Channel, the northwesternmost part of the St. Clair River delta, branches west from the river just north of Russell Island, flows along the north side of Harsens Island and and empties into the east side of Anchor Bay. The outlet of the channel in the shallow water of Anchor Bay is well marked by buoys. Two irregularly shaped diked disposal areas front the channel on the north side of Dickinson Island.

branches southwest from North Channel at the west end of Dickinson Island and flows into Anchor Bay.

Middle Channel leads southwest from North Channel between Harsens Island and Dickinson Island. The outlet in Lake St. Clair is marked by lighted and unlighted buoys. A 22-acre diked disposal area is on the west side of Harsens Island about 1.2 miles below the junction with North Channel.

Algonac, is a summer resort at the head of North Channel opposite Russell Island. Marinas at Algonac provide transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, sewage pump-out, marine supplies and a launching ramp. A 50-foot marine railway and hoists to 25 tons are available for hull and engine repairs. Ferries operate from Algonac to Harsens Island, Russell Island and Walpole Island, ON.

 Quarantine, customs, immigration and agricultural quarantine

(See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and appendix for addresses.)

Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Health Service, chapter 1.)

A slow-no wake speed is enforced on the channels and canals at Algonac.

 Ferry

A ferry landing is on the northwest side of Walpole Island, ON, opposite the upper end of Russell Island, MI. Breakwaters protect the 105-foot wharf on the north and south sides. A light marks the west end of the detached north breakwater. A ferry operates from the wharf to Algonac, MI.

From the junction with North Channel, the dredged channel of the St. Clair River extends upstream for about 7 miles to a point about 1.3 miles above Fawn Island. The channel passes west of Fawn Island and is well marked by lighted buoys and lights. The channel is maintained at the federal project depth of 27.3 feet.

Port Lambton, ON, a village on the east side of the river about 1 mile above the junction with Chenal Ecarte, has a 125-foot government wharf with a reported depth alongside of about 12 feet. A marina is close south of the Government wharf.

About 1.7 miles above Port Lambton, a shoal with a least depth of 15 feet is in midriver along the east limit of the dredged channel. A lighted buoy off the south end of the shoal marks the limit of the dredged channel.

Fawn Island, ON, is off the Canadian side of the river about 3 miles above Port Lambton. Shoals with depths to 1 foot extend 0.4 mile south-southwest and north-northeast from the island. A buoy marks the south end of the shoals south of Fawn Island. A shoal with a least depth of 5 feet extends along the east limit of the dredged channel from about 0.3 to 1.3 miles north of Fawn Island with a deep channel between. An unmarked channel with a least depth of about 18 feet passes east of Fawn Island and the shoals. The channel is slightly winding and is not frequently used; the dredged channel west of Fawn Island is the preferred route.

Marine City is on the west side of the river 7 miles above Russell Island. Belle River flows south through the town and empties into the St. Clair River northwest of Fawn Island. A ferry operates between Marine City and Sombra, ON.

 Bridges

Bridge Street bridge, about 0.5 mile above the mouth of Belle River, has a 28-foot fixed west span with a clearance of 13 feet. Broadway bridge, about 1.1 miles above the river mouth, has a fixed span with a clearance of 7 feet. Several overhead cables in the lower 2 miles of the river have a least clearance of 37 feet.

 Quarantine, customs, immigration and agricultural quarantine

(See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and appendix for addresses.)

Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Health Service, chapter 1.)

 Harbor regulations

A slow-no wake speed is enforced on the Belle River. The Marine City Chief of Police acts as harbormaster and enforces the regulations of St. Clair County and the State of Michigan. Copies of the regulations may be obtained from the chief of police.

 Wharf

McLouth Yards, Inc. receives crushed limestone and coal at a wharf on the west side of the St. Clair River just below the mouth of Belle River. There is 1,200 feet of berthing space along the reinforced natural bank with a reported depth of 35 feet alongside and a deck height of 5 to 8 feet. The facility has 12 acres of open storage.

 Small-craft facilities

Marinas on the west side of the Belle River within 0.5 mile of the mouth provide gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, electricity, sewage pump-out, marine supplies and a launching ramp. A 20-ton hoist can handle 42-foot vessels for hull, engine and electronic repairs.

 Ferry

Reported in 2025, the ferry service from Marine City across the St. Clair River to Sombra, ON is no longer in operation.

Sombra, ON, is on the east side of the St. Clair River opposite Marine City, MI.

The following is extracted (partial) from Canadian Sailing Directions CEN304, chapter 3, St. Clair River.

Sombra (), population 420 (1981), is on the east shore 0.6 mile north-northeast of Fawn Island.

Sombra is a Customs land border reporting station for passengers, general public, and commercial highway traffic, and is a vessel reporting station for pleasure craft.

There is a Canadian Coast Guard Emergency Response building with oil spill containment equipment on the south side of the wharf, and a Customs office on the north side.

There are no facilities or shelter for small craft at Sombra Public wharf.

From a point 1.3 miles above Fawn Island, the channel through the St. Clair River is a natural deepwater channel 0.2 to 0.4 mile wide upstream for 6.5 miles to the lower end of St. Clair Middle Ground. The channel is marked by lighted buoys and lights.

At Stokes Point, ON (), about 1.5 miles above Sombra, there is a ruined wharf. The wharf is marked by a lighted buoy off its west side.

Detroit Edison Co. has a power plant with two wharves on the west side of the St. Clair River about 2 miles above Stokes Point. Several stacks at the plant are prominent, and private lights mark the upper and lower ends of the wharf area.

Wharf 1: 500 feet below Dock Upper Light; about 400 feet of berthing space; 16 feet reported alongside; deck height, about 8½ feet; storage tanks for over 11 million gallons of #2 and #6 fuel oil; receipt of fuel oil and bunkering vessels.

Wharf 2: adjacent north of Dock Lower Light; 1,069 feet of berthing space; 29 feet reported alongside; deck height, 8½ feet; open storage for over 2½ million tons of coal; two receiving hoppers, operating rates 2,400 and 10,000 tons per hour; receipt of coal and bunkering vessels.

Overhead power cables with a least clearance of 163 feet cross the river just above and 1.8 miles above the Detroit Edison Co. wharves, respectively.

Two unmarked fish havens, constructed as artificial spawning reefs, are on the west side of the river about 1 mile north of the Detroit Edison powerplant. Authorized minimum depths are 35 feet for the southern reef and 37 feet for the northern reef.

Reported in 2025, the former generating station on the east side of the river, about 2 miles above the Detroit Edison Co. wharves was dismantled in 2022. The lighted 1,000 feet (305 m) long wharf remains intact.

St. Clair is on the west side of the river about 7.5 miles above Marine City. is a stream 100 to 150 feet wide, emptying into the St. Clair River near the south limits of the city. The St. Clair Inn and Country Club 0.5 mile north of the mouth of Pine River is prominent.

 Bridges

Riverside Avenue (State Route 29) bascule bridge, just above the mouth of Pine River, has a clearance of 11 feet. (See 33 CFR 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.643, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The Port Huron and Detroit Railroad bridge about 2 miles above the river mouth has a swing span with a clearance of 11 feet. Several overhead cables cross the river.

A slow-no wake speed is enforced on the Pine River.

 Wharf

Cargill Salt Co. wharf is on the west side of the St. Clair River just below the mouth of the Pine River. The wharf has 1,085 feet of berthing space with reported depths of 16 to 19 feet alongside and a deck height of 7½ feet, but there are no tie off bollards present on the property.

 Small-craft facilities

The city of St. Clair and the Michigan State Waterways Commission have jointly developed docking and launching facilities on the Pine River immediately upstream of the Riverside Avenue bridge. Transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, electricity, sewage pump-out facilities and harbormaster services are available. The harbormaster monitors VHF-FM channels 9 and 16. In 2001, depths of 5 feet were reported available at the facility. Another facility on the west side of the river about 1.4 miles above the mouth provides gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, electricity, marine supplies, sewage pump-out and a launching ramp. A 30-ton hoist is available for hull, engine and electronic repairs.

St. Clair Middle Ground, a shoal with a least depth of 1 foot, is in midriver from just below the mouth of Pine River north for about 1.5 miles to opposite Mooretown, ON. Lighted buoys mark the shoal at its upper and lower ends and on the west side.

From the lower end of St. Clair Middle Ground, the dredged channel of the St. Clair River leads west of the middle ground and upstream for about 12.5 miles to just above the mouth of the Black River, thence for about 1.5 miles through natural deep water to the head of the river at Lake Huron. This section of the river is marked by lighted and unlighted buoys and lights and is maintained at the federal project depth of 27.3 and 27.4 feet.

Downbound vessels should exercise caution when negotiating the westerly turn at the upper end of St. Clair Middle Ground to avoid striking these shoals. The channel to the east of the middle ground, formerly for upbound channel, had a controlling depth of 24 feet in 1961 but is not being maintained.

Courtright, ON, is a village on the east side of the river opposite St. Clair, MI. The public wharf is 180 feet (54.9 m) long, 10 feet (3 m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) high and had a depth of 11 feet (3.4 m) in 1994. Courtright is a customs vessel reporting station for pleasure craft.

Mooretown, ON, is on the east side of the river 1.5 statute miles (1.3 nm) above Courtright. The wharf at Mooretown had a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) in 1994 but had no facilities for boaters. A pile 52 feet (15.8 m) south of the southwest corner of the wharf had an elevation of 3 feet (0.9 m) in 1994.

Stag Island is off the Canadian side of the river about 3 miles above St. Clair Middle Ground. The main vessel channel is along the U.S. shore west of Stag Island. Shoals extend about 0.8 mile south and 0.6 mile north from the island and are marked at the outer ends by lighted buoys. Stag Island Shoal Light is about midlength of the shoals off the south end of the island.

The Canadian channel east of Stag Island, formerly the upbound channel, had a controlling depth of 21 feet in 1950, but is no longer maintained. A 167°15' lighted range marks the approach to Corunna, ON, through the upper entrance to the channel and past the shoals off the mouth of Talford Creek.

Corunna, ON, is a village on the Canadian channel east of Stag Island. A ferry operates from Corunna to the east side of Stag Island.

 Wharf

Shell Canada, Ltd. operates a wharf on the east side of St. Clair River north of the mouth of Talford Creek. The wharf is 1,000 feet (305 m) long and 9 feet (2.7 m) high, with a depth of 23 feet (7 m) in 1994. Petroleum products are shipped and received, and bunkering is available. A tank farm here makes a good landmark.

Reported in 2025, the Detroit Edison Marysville Power Plant was demolished in 2015 but the dock frontage remains in use. Two wharves exist on the west side of the river about 2 miles above Stag Island.

Wharf 1: (); Reported in 2025, was incorporated into Blue Water Aggregates, which receives limestone products by ship. Mariners should contact the facility directly for current information on berth lenghts, deck heights, and depths alongside.

Wharf 2: 500 feet north of Wharf 1; is utilized by the U.S. Coast Guard for buoys storage.

An overhead power cable with a clearance of 177 feet crosses the St. Clair River 1.9 miles above Stag Island.

The upper part of the St. Clair River flows south between the cities of Port Huron, MI, and Sarnia, ON. The head of the river is entered from a dredged channel that leads through the shallow lower end of Lake Huron. A 180.4° lighted range on the east side of the head of the river marks the approach to the river through this channel; a racon is at the front light. (), 82 feet above the water, is shown from a white brick conical tower on the west side of the river head.

The has two fixed spans with a least clearance of 135 feet and crosses the river just below the head of the St. Clair River. The bridges are prominent when approaching the river.

Caution—Currents in the upper part of the river are considerable, at times 5 mph or more above the Blue Water Bridge and 4 mph or more for 1 mile below the bridge. Upbound vessels will experience a west set between the Blue Water Bridge and Lake Huron Cut Lighted Buoys 1 and 2. Mariners should use the lowest possible safe speed in this reach to avoid damage to wharves and moored vessels.

A 207.6° lighted range on the west side of the river 0.5 mile below the Blue Water Bridge marks the channel through the head of the river to just below the bridge.

Bay Point is a long narrow point that extends south along the east side of the river about 1.4 miles below the head. A buoy marks the south end of the point. Lighted buoys mark shallow water on the east side of the river north of the point.

Caution–traffic regulations are in effect at the head of the St. Clair River (See 33 CFR 162.134 (c)(2), chapter 2, for regulations.)

 Anchorages

Good anchorage, clay and gravel bottom, is abreast of Sarnia below the section of the rapids near the Blue Water Bridge. Good holding ground and some eddy will be found near the Canadian shore below the Canadian National Railways Wharf. Vessels should anchor as close to shore as possible to leave the midchannel clear for passing vessels.

Railroad tunnels cross under St. Clair River about 1 mile below the mouth of the Black River.

Port Huron, MI, a city at the south end of Lake Huron, fronts the west side of the upper part of the St. Clair River. flows southeast through the city and empties into the St. Clair River 2.4 miles below its head.

 Channels

A federal project provides for a 20-foot dredged channel that leads from the mouth of Black River to about 0.4 mile above the Canadian National Railroad bridge, thence an 8-foot channel to the I-94 bridge, thence a 6-foot channel for about 2.1 miles upstream to the head of the project. A light marks the south side of the river mouth.

 Fluctuations of Water Level

Each year spring freshets cause the level of the Black River to rise and fall from 4 to 6 feet. Day-to-day level changes due to wind can amount to several inches.

 Quarantine, customs, immigration and agricultural quarantine

(See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and appendix for addresses.)

Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Health Service, chapter 1.)

Port Huron is a customs port of entry.

 Coast Guard

Port Huron Coast Guard Station is on the west side of the head of the St. Clair River just south of Fort Gratiot Light. A regulated navigation area has been established off the Coast Guard Station. (See 33 CFR 165.1 through 165.13 and 165.920, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.)

 Harbor Regulations

A slow-no wake speed is enforced on the following sections of Black River: from the mouth upstream to the Canadian National Railroad bridge, from 600 feet below to 800 feet above the I-94 bridge and from 1,000 feet below to 500 feet above the intersection with the Black River Canal.

 Towage

Rescue towing is also available for any size vessel on Lake Huron or St. Clair River. Workboats ranging from 300 to 2,200 hp are also available. Tugs for Port Huron are also available from Detroit. (See Towage under Detroit.)

 Wharves

Port Huron has one deep-draft facility. The alongside depths given are reported depths.

Port Huron Seaway Terminal "Bean Dock": (); 950-foot face; 25 to 29 feet alongside; deck height, 8 feet; shore power available from 110 to 440 volts. Owned and operated by Acheson Ventures LLC of Port Huron.

Port Huron-Sarnia Tunnel, a railway tunnel, crosses under St. Clair River from Port Huron Terminal Co. Wharf east to the shores just west of the Imperial Oil Ltd. tank field at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

 Small-craft facilities

The city of Port Huron and the Michigan State Waterways Commission have jointly developed small-craft facilities on the east side of the Black River just below the Military Street Bridge, on the east side of the river below 7th Street bridge, on the east side of the river between 7th and 10th Street bridges and on the west side of the river below the I-94 bridge. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, electricity, sewage pump-out facilities and harbormaster services are available. The harbormaster monitors VHF-FM channels 16 and 9. Other marinas in Black River additionally provide launching ramps and lifts to 60 tons for hull, engine and electronic repairs.

 Supplies

Water and some marine supplies and provisions are available at Port Huron Terminal Co. Wharf. Bunker C and diesel fuel are available at oil company terminals at Sarnia.

 Communications

Port Huron has good Highway and rail connections. St. Clair County Airport is 5 miles south of the city.

Sarnia, ON, is a city near the head of the St. Clair River on the east side opposite Port Huron. The following is extracted (partial) from Canadian Sailing Directions CEN304, chapter 3, St. Clair River.

Sarnia Harbour () is on the east shore near the head of St. Clair River. Sarnia is a major importing and exporting centre; petroleum products, rubber, chemicals, beans, sand, tobacco, grain and fertilizer are exported, and grain, steel, lumber, coal, crude oil, crushed stone and cement are imported. All types of marine supplies and facilities are available, including bunker and diesel fuel. Major marine repairs can be carried out. The navigation season is from mid-March to the end of December.

The city of Sarnia, with a population of 74,376 (1991), is a petroleum refining and chemical producing area. Open farmland lies east and south of the city. Sarnia Airport offers scheduled passenger services. Sarnia is served by the Canadian National Railway and CSX Transportation. Good highways connect Sarnia with other major cities.

Sarnia is a Customs land border reporting station for passengers, general public, and commercial highway traffic, a vessel clearing station for commercial vessels, and a vessel reporting station for pleasure craft.

Immigration and agricultural inspection facilities are also available at Sarnia.

Sarnia Harbour is a Public harbour administered by Transport Canada. The harbour limits include the Canadian waters of St. Clair River from Point Edward to below Southeast Bend.

(Sarnia Harbour wharves are listed in the table.)

Point Edward, ON, is a village on the east side of the head of the St. Clair River.

For planning, not navigation. Verify current information before departure.