University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Vermilion River (Illinois River Basin) area assessment

Illinois Deptartment of Natural Resources

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/13890

Description

Title
Vermilion River (Illinois River Basin) area assessment
Author(s)
Illinois Deptartment of Natural Resources
Contributor(s)
  • Illinois Natural History Survey
  • Illinois State Geological Survey
  • Illinois State Water Survey
  • Waste Management and Research Center
Issue Date
2000
Keyword(s)
  • Natural resources surveys --Illinois
  • Natural resources conservation areas --Illinois
  • Vermilion River Watershed (Ill. and Ind.)
Geographic Coverage
Illinois
Abstract
The Vermilion River Assessment Area is located in north central Illinois and includes parts of seven counties - Ford, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, and Woodford. It encompasses 1,331 square miles and takes in two natural divisions, the Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie Section) and a small portion of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River Bottomlands (Illinois Section). The 90-mile long Vermilion River has its headwaters in southeastern Livingston and Ford counties and flows to the northwest, entering the Illinois River between LaSalle and Utica. The topography of the basin is highly varied. Upstream from Streator the land is generally flat and the river is slowflowing with a substrate of sand, silt, or gravel. Some streams in this area have been dredged. Downstream from Streator the stream falls rapidly and much of the substrate is strewn with rubble and boulders. Exposed stone cliffs are conspicuous along the stream walls and near Oglesby there are numerous riffles, falls, and canyons. Agriculture is the dominant land use in the assessment area and pastures line most of the stream banks. This assessment is comprised of four volumes. Volume 1, Geology discusses the geology, soils, and minerals in the assessment area. Volume 2, Water Resources, discusses the surface and groundwater resources and Volume 3, Living Resources, describes the natural vegetation communities and the fauna of the region. Volume 4 contains three parts: Part I, Socio-Economic Profile, discusses the demographics, infrastructure, and economy of the area; Part n, Environmental Quality, discusses air and water quality, and hazardous and toxic waste generation and management in the area; and Part Ill, Archaeological Resources, identifies and assesses the archaeological sites known in the area.
Publisher
Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Series/Report Name or Number
Critical Trends Assessment Program
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/13890
Copyright and License Information
These documents are a product of the Illinois state scientific surveys and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and have been selected and made available by the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They are intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Critical Trends Assessment Program PRIMARY
Detailed assessments of 32 major watersheds in Illinois, conducted through the Critical Trends Assessment Program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Includes contributions from each of the State Scientific Surveys which are now part of the Prairie Research Institute.