Watersheds of Illinois - 1996

9. Mississippi North River Watershed

The Mississippi North River Watershed is bordered on the west and north by the state boundaries of Iowa and Wisconsin, respectively, and on the east and south by the Rock River Watershed. The watershed covers 875,528 acres (of the total, 710,400 acres are in Illinois) and includes portions of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Whiteside, Rock Island, and Mercer counties. The Apple, Galena, and Plum rivers are the major river systems in the watershed. Most of the watershed is in agricultural lands. The largest population areas in the watershed are Moline (43,127), Savanna (3,819), Fulton (3,698), Galena (3,647), and East Dubuque (1,914). A total of 880 stream miles were assessed in the watershed. Overall resource quality is "good" on 533 stream miles (60%), and "fair" conditions exist on 347 stream miles (40%). The primary causes of water quality problems are nutrients attributed to agriculture. A total of 13 lakes covering 6,227 acres were also assessed in the watershed. Overall resource quality is "good" on 959 acres (16%), "fair" on 1,318 acres (21%), and "poor" on 3,950 acres (63%). The primary causes of water quality problems are siltation, suspended solids, and organic enrichment (low dissolved oxygen) attributed to agriculture and contaminated sediments (sediment and/or phosphorus attached to sediment particles).

Galena River

A total of 18 stream miles were assessed on the Galena River (MQ). Of these stream miles, nine miles have overall resource quality rated as "good," and nine miles have "fair" conditions. Nutrients and habitat alterations were the major causes of impairment primarily due to municipal point source pollution and hydrologic/habitat modifications.

Plum River

The Plum River (MJ) was assessed on 45 stream miles. Twelve of these stream miles were found to have "good" water conditions, and 33 stream miles have "fair" conditions. Nutrients were the major cause of pollution due primarily to agriculture.

Mud Run

A total of eight stream miles were assessed on Mud Run (MNID). The upper three stream miles have "good" overall resource quality, and the remaining five stream miles were "fair." The major cause of impairment is nutrients from municipal point source pollution.

Apple Canyon Lake

Apple Canyon Lake (RMJ), located in Jo Daviess County, is a private lake managed by the Apple Canyon Lake Property Owners Association. The lake was created by damming Hells Branch Creek in 1969. It has a surface area of 480 acres and a watershed area of 13,000 acres. The overall resource quality of Apple Canyon Lake is considered "good." Causes of pollution to the lake include nutrients, siltation, suspended solids, noxious aquatic plants, and organic enrichment (low dissolved oxygen). The primary sources of pollution are agricultural and urban runoff. During the 1980s, the Property Owners Association began an intensive watershed protection project that included cost-share payments to farmers to adopt conservation tillage practices on agricultural lands.

Lake Galena

Lake Galena (RMM), located in Jo Daviess County, is owned and managed by a private corporation. The lake was created in 1974 by damming Smallpox Creek. The lake has a surface area of 220 acres and receives its water from a 10,340 acre watershed. The overall resource quality of Lake Galena is considered "good." No causes or sources of pollution have been identified as currently impacting Lake Galena.

Lake Carroll

Lake Carroll (RMQ), located in Carroll County, is a private lake managed by the Lake Carroll Property Owners Association. The lake was built in 1972 when Plum River was dammed. The lake is 620 acres (the largest private lake in Illinois) and has a watershed area of 13,800 acres. The overall resource quality of Lake Carroll is considered to be "fair." Causes of pollution to the lake include suspended solids and noxious aquatic plants. Sources of pollution include agriculture and land disposal (septic tanks). Volunteers at the lake have helped develop an extensive fisheries management program and routinely monitor the quality of their lake. Repair work has been completed to correct water leakage through the lake dam. The Association has also been working to protect the watershed.