Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River)
Rush Creek | |
---|---|
Basin | |
Main source |
McHenry County southeast of Harvard, Illinois 1,015 ft (309 m) 42°23′18″N 88°34′07″W / 42.3883333°N 88.5686111°W |
River mouth |
Confluence with the Kishwaukee east of Belvidere, Illinois 774 ft (236 m) 42°15′23″N 88°42′10″W / 42.2563889°N 88.7027778°WCoordinates: 42°15′23″N 88°42′10″W / 42.2563889°N 88.7027778°W |
Progression | Rush Creek → Kishwaukee → Rock → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
Physical characteristics | |
Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
Features | |
GNIS ID | 417053 |
Rush Creek is a 14.9-mile-long (24.0 km)[1] tributary of the Kishwaukee River in northern Illinois.[2][3]
There is another Rush Creek that is a tributary of the Mississippi River in Carroll County. [4]
Course
Rush Creek's origin is in a complex of wetlands near Harvard, Illinois, two miles southeast.[5] The stream then flows southwest until it empties into the main stem of the Kishwaukee River one mile east of Garden Prairie.[5]
Description
Approximately 65% of the main stem of Rush Creek has been channelized (ditched and straighten), however 50% of those areas are showing signs of recovery.[5] Despite the channelization and encroachment from agriculture many of the stream's features such as riffles can still be seen.[5]
Wildlife
Twenty-nine species of fish have been identified within Rush Creek and its tributaries, two of those species have not been seen in the watershed since 1965 - the northern pike and the largescale stoneroller.[5] Three animal species are on state or federal endangered or threatened lists - river otter, and two mussels, Elliptio dilatata (Spike) and Alasmidonta viridis (Slippershell).[5]
References
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 19, 2011
- ↑ James, L. Allan. Management and Restoration of Fluvial Systems with Broad Historical Changes and Human Impacts, (Google Books link), Geological Society of America, 2009, pp. 110-111, (ISBN 0813724511), (ISBN 9780813724515).
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rush Creek
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rush Creek
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rush Creek - Subwatershed Plan, Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership, May 2005, accessed January 24, 2011.