The Betsie Platte watershed covers approximately 700 square miles in northwest Michigan, and drains into Lake Michigan. The hydrology of the region is dominated by the Platte River, which has a discharge of around 150 cubic feet per second. The area receives an average of 100 inches of snow each year, which is stored as a snowpack through the winter before melting and contributing to the river flow in the spring. The surface water in the watershed is of high quality, with relatively low levels of pollutants. There are several reservoirs in the area, including the Platte River and Upper Herring Lake, which are important for both water storage and recreation. Recent climate trends in the region show an increase in average temperature and a decrease in snowfall, which could have significant impacts on the hydrology and ecology of the watershed in the future.