Fox River Watershed Investigation

In consultation with the Fox River Study Group, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has proposed a multi-phase water quality study of the Fox River watershed from Stratton Dam to the Illinois River confluence. The ultimate objective of the full study is to identify significant watershed issues and implement a watershed scale plan including data collection, model development, and monitoring. The findings of this research will provide guidance for public and private planners and decision-makers. The FSRG outreach statement(PDF format) describes their work plan and funding. [more]

Products

Publications Database

Search the publications database used in the Phase 1 investigation.

Publications Bibliography

Download the publications bibliography used in the Phase 1 investigation (MS Word format).

Web Mapping

View GIS data and print maps for the Fox Watershed with the Fox River Watershed GIS Data Viewer
Minimum browser requirements: Internet Explorer 5+, Netscape Navigator 6+. (Opens in a separate browser window)

Phase I Report

Download the Phase I Report.

Phase II Report - Draft

Download parts of the Phase II Report.

Finalized Phase II Documents:

Overview of Recommended Phase III Water Quality Monitoring

Overview of Delineated Tributary Watersheds

Part 1: Methodology and Procedures for HSPF Model Development

Part 2: Blackberry and Poplar Creek HSPF Models, Calibration and Initial Simulation Results.

Blackberry Creek and Poplar Creek Hydrologic and Water Quality Simulation Methods: Executive Summary.

Part 3: Validation of Hydrologic Model Parameters, Brewster Creek, Ferson Creek, Flint Creek, Mill Creek, and Tyler Creek Watersheds.

Fox Watershed GIS datasets

Download GIS datasets developed for the Fox River Watershed Investigation, as well as state-wide datasets of interest to Fox watershed users.

Fox Watershed - Tributary Watersheds: GIS data download page

Poplar Creek Watershed

Information related to work in the Poplar Creek watershed.

Water Quality Database

Download the FoxDB water quality database (updated 9/26/06) and the Data Loader/Viewer for the Fox River Watershed Investigation. The FoxDB (MS Access, 16 MB zip format) database file contains the complete water quality database. The Access database can be used with the Data Loader/Viewer to add and view sample records. The Data Loader/Viewer is a viewing and editing tool designed to work with the water quality database. A user's manual is also available.

The Fox River Study Group has worked with the Illinois State Water Survey to compile water chemistry data for the Fox River watershed. Those data are available through this database. Interpretation of the data by other parties does not represent the opinion of the Fox River Study Group or the Illinois State Water Survey (Data Disclaimer).

NPDES Dischargers downstream the Stratton Dam

Information on NPDES discharges was obtained from the USEPA EnviroFacts Data Warehouse. Locations were checked against description and corrected to better represent the described location if necessary. A 1996 dataset on NPDES provided by the IEPA was used for additional verification. The dataset was submitted to the FRSG for comments and updates. An Excel file (NPDESdsSTRATTON.zip) has been prepared listing the identified NPDES discharge sites. The USEPA 5-digit parameter codes are listed in (epacodelists.zip).

Photo Gallery (coming soon)

View photographs of study area and scientists working on the project.