Yellow Creek (Illinois)

Yellow Creek is a tributary of the Pecatonica River in Stephenson County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The 50 mile (80.5 km) stream also flows through a small part of Jo Daviess County. The waters of Yellow Creek were accessed for water quality in 1996, 28 miles (45.1 km) were listed as "fair" and 22 miles (35.4 km) "good." During the 1832 Black Hawk War the Battle of Waddams Grove was fought along Yellow Creek.

Course

Yellow Creek is a 50 mile (80.5 km) tributary within the Pecatonica River watershed, and is considered a major stream within that system." [http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/water-quality/report-1996/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-07.html Pecatonica River Watershed] , Watersheds of Illinois — 1996, "Illinois Environmental Protection Agency". Retrieved 4 October 2007.] The Pecatonica River watershed covers convert|509675|acre|km2 in Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties in Illinois. The largest city within the drainage basin is Freeport. See "Pecatonica River Watershed."] Most of its course is through Stephenson County, Illinois but a small part of the stream flows into Jo Daviess County, in extreme northwestern Illinois.GR|3" [http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/watershed/reports/303d-report/2002-report/watersheds/ws07yr02.pdf Pecatonica River Watershed — Figure 7] ," (PDF),
4 October 2007.] The stream's source is at coord|42|25|10|N|89|53|52|W| and its mouth is at coord|42|17|23|N|89|34|10|W|.GR|3

History

During the 1832 Black Hawk War, a conflict between Sauk Chief Black Hawk's British Band and settlers in Michigan Territory and the state of Illinois, the Battle of Waddams Grove occurred near Yellow Creek. After a number of Native American raids in the area, James W. Stephenson raised a group of volunteers and set out in search of the raiders.Trask, Kerry A. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=8ZIXkMBBLw0C&pg=PA220&ots=jRiESpfwqk&dq=Battle+of+Yellow+Creek+Black+Hawk&sig=mSbBrxx8pVQi-EUv-5GCHirzrnA#PPA221,M1 Black Hawk: The Battle for the Heart of America] ", (Google Books), Henry Holt: 2006, pp. 220-221, (ISBN 0805077588). Retrieved 31 July 2007.] Stephenson caught up with the band of Native Americans on June 18, 1832 in an open area near Yellow Creek, about 12 miles (19.3 km) east of Kellogg's Grove, Illinois. The battlefield itself is believed to be located along the Yellow Creek northwest of William Waddams' original land claims north of the present day unincorporated town of Waddams Grove, Illinois.Carter, Greg. " [http://www.geocities.com/old_lead/waddam.htm Captain Stephenson's Fight] ," May 2004, "Old Lead Historical Society". Retrieved 31 July 2007.]

Water quality

A total of 22 miles (35.4 km) of the stream's waters were identified as "good" and 28 miles (45.1 km) were designated as "fair" by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in 1996. Water quality problems in Yellow Creek stem from nutrient run off as a byproduct of agriculture. In Freeport, Illinois the Yellow Creek Watershed Partnership was established "to improve the health and diversity of Yellow Creek and its watershed"." [http://www.ycwp.org/ourmessage.htm Our Message] , "Yellow Creek Watershed Partnership", official site. Retrieved 4 October 2007.]

Notes