Watersheds of Illinois - 1996

8. Green River Watershed

The Green River Watershed covers a total of 715,736 acres in Whiteside, Lee, Henry, and Bureau counties. The majority of the watershed is in agricultural lands, primarily row crops. Some of the cities located in the watershed include Amboy (2,377) and Cambridge (2,124). Major streams which comprise the Green River Watershed include the Green River, Mud Creek, Willow Creek, Coal Creek, Spring Creek, Geneseo Creek, and Mineral Creek. A total of 381 stream miles were assessed on the Green River and its tributaries. Overall resource quality is "good" on 184 stream miles (48%), and "fair" conditions exist on 197 stream miles (52%). The primary causes of water quality problems are nutrients and habitat alterations attributed to hydrologic/habitat modifications. A total of seven lakes covering 137 acres were also assessed in the watershed. Overall resource quality is "good" on nine acres (7%), "fair" on 118 acres (86%), and "poor" on 10 acres (7%). The primary causes of water quality problems are nutrients and noxious aquatic plants attributed to agriculture and contaminated sediments (sediment and/or phosphorus attached to sediment particles).

Green River

Of the total 101 stream miles assessed on the Green River (PB), 43 stream miles were rated as "good." On the remaining stream miles (58 stream miles), the river was rated as "fair." The primary causes of impairment were habitat alterations due to hydrologic/habitat modifications.

Mud Creek

Mud Creek (PBJ) was assessed on 36 stream miles. All of these stream miles were found to have an overall resource quality rating of "fair." This fair rating is based upon impairments from habitat alterations due to agriculture and resource extraction.

Coal Creek

Coal Creek (PBJA), a major tributary to Mud Creek, was assessed for 45 stream miles of which 18 stream miles were rated as "good." The remaining 27 stream miles were rated as "fair" due to pollution from nutrients and suspended solids primarily from hydrologic/habitat modifications, agriculture, and resource extraction.

Johnson Sauk Trail Lake

Johnson Sauk Trail Lake (RPD) in Henry County is a state-owned lake managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The lake was built in 1955 by damming King Creek. It has a surface area of 58 acres and receives water from its 820 acre watershed. The overall resource quality of Johnson Sauk Trail Lake is considered "fair." Causes of pollution to the lake include nutrients, siltation, suspended solids, and noxious aquatic plants (mainly in early spring). Sources of pollution to the lake include runoff from forest and grassland areas. The lake was the site of a major monitoring and rehabilitation program in the early to middle 1980s to help sustain this valuable resource.

Woodhaven Lakes

Woodhaven Lakes, in Lee County, are a series of five lakes built for recreational purposes. These lakes are privately-owned and managed by the Woodhaven Lakes Association. The lakes were created in the early 1970s by damming several tributaries. Both Black Oak Lake and Pine Lake have an overall resource quality considered to be "good;" Bass, Sunset, and Woodhaven lakes have an overall resource quality considered to be "fair." Causes of pollution to the lakes include nutrients, siltation, and noxious aquatic plants. Sources of pollution to these lakes include agricultural and urban runoff. Woodhaven Lakes Association is considered to be the nation's largest private campground.