Influences of Land Uses and Stream Modifications on Water Quality in the Streams of the Court Creek Watershed

摘要

The details of the report will illustrate the importance of all agricultural lands in the outpouring of sediment and nutrients, which are degrading lakes and streams throughout the Illinois River basin. The Court Creek watershed lies in the center of this region, which the Soil Conservation Services calls the 'critical sediment producing area' of the upper Mississippi River basin. Court Creek has three large tributaries (Middle Creek, North Creek, and Sugar Creek), whose watersheds are large enough to contain permanent fish populations. In addition to looking at the amount of sediment loading to streams from agricultural lands, the report also looks at bank erosion and stream channelization and run-off from animal confinement operations.