Our Place in the Mackinaw Watershed

What is a Watershed?

A Community ... landscape united by the flow of water.

A watershed is composed of soil, water, air and all living species that make homes within this collective landscape. The health of the rivers and streams in a watershed are barometers of the health of the land. They teach us about the interdependence of life.

Lake Eureka Park is part of the Mackinaw River Watershed, a 1,138 square mile land community that covers parts of Woodford, Tazewell, McLean, Ford, Livingston and Mason counties. The centerpiece of the watershed is the Mackinaw River (named from the Ojibway meaning "turtle"). The Mackinaw runs 130 miles through largely rural landscape and is considered one of "the finest examples of a Prairie stream in Illinois".

Can you find Lake Eureka on the map?

A subwatershed is the drainage area of a stream which flows into a larger river. Walnut Creek, which runs through Lake Eureka Park, is a major tributary of the Mackinaw River, flowing 23 miles from its headwaters near Metamora through Eureka on its way to join the Mackinaw River near Congerville. Walnut Creek is characterized as a high quality stream. It is a unique resource because it is capable of supporting a diverse array of animals and plants within its boundaries. Walnut Creek has a drainage area of 72.9 square miles or 6.4% of the entire Mackinaw River Watershed. Check out our location in the watershed on the maps. Lake Eureka is the largest lake in the Walnut Creek Subwatershed.

A Watershed Worth Protecting

The list of highlights above show the rich variety of life supported by the river. Although all of those species do not occur in Lake Eureka Park and Walnut Creek, our actions have the potential to invite them to thrive in our area and downstream. Or carelessness on our part can contribute to destruction of species in our backyard and throughout the watershed.

Community and Partnership

A watershed is a community linked by the flow of water. What we do affects all parts of the watershed. Though the Mackinaw River is a relatively healthy stream, it faces serious challenges. In an effort to preserve and restore the watershed for all, the Mackinaw River Partnership was formed in 1993 between local landowners, private conservation organizations and government agencies. The Partnership is a grassroots organization which seeks to find common ground on effective watershed management practices. They have published a watershed management plan to address environmental concerns raised by different sections of the watershed.

Stresses on the Mackinaw River Watershed

A decline in overall water quality has led to a loss of one quarter of the fish and mussels in the Mackinaw River. Water quality is affected by pollutants from urban areas and some agricultural practices. There has been a loss of wooded and wetland habitat which leaves the streambanks open to erosion and increased flood potential. When there are fewer trees along the streams of the watershed there is less shade cover and water temperatures rise ruining the water habitat for some aquatic species. The breakup of continuous wooded habitat along the river makes it harder for songbirds to breed because parasitic birds like the cowbird come in and take over the nests of the songbirds in these more open areas.

Problems in our Backyard

A publication prepared in 2000 by Deborah Forester of the Nature Conservancy entitled The Mackinaw River Subwatershed Management Plan: Walnut Creek notes that there are problems in the watershed occurring near urban areas like Eureka. Along some portions of Walnut Creek near Eureka, construction debris and trash were dumped in the creek . Channel incisions in the creek were identified. These channels create problems because they transport storm water rapidly downstream, contributing to flooding, sedimentation and streambank erosion. Potential sources of water pollution in the area could come from livestock operations, runoff from agricultural fields, roads or storm sewers. The 2000 report indicated that testing of the water quality downstream from the Eureka water treatment facility revealed an excess of certain nutrients generated from treated human waste. Such nutrients stimulate the growth of undesirable plants and animals and could provide a potential source of impairment. A greater problem, however, is that some areas release untreated sewage into the streams of the watershed. The amount of fecal coliform bacteria found along some along portions of the river have exceeded IEPA standards.

The Mackinaw River Watershed Management Plan was written with the help of over 120 landowners and residents of the watershed in cooperation with the Illinois chapter of the Nature Conservancy. The plan promotes practices supporting the common good of the river and the people who inhabit the watershed. Citizens concerned about preserving the unique natural resources we have in the watershed formed The Mackinaw River Watershed Council, in 1998. Council offices are located in Eureka. The council oversees the implementation of the watershed management plan and helps to fund education and outreach programs. For information on how you can join the Mackinaw River Watershed council, phone (309) 467-4662.

Natural History of Lake Eureka Website

This website is designed to address two major recommendations of the Mackinaw River Watershed Plan

1) Identification of local natural resources as a first step in local preservation and restoration efforts
"Identify and enhance or restore natural plant areas compatible with soil type and historical use. Establish, restore or widen riparian zones where desirable."
(click here to see the survey of animals and plants at Lake Eureka)

2) Education about the Mackinaw River Watershed enabling us to see how our local natural resources enhance the health of a larger community
"Develop a network of educational activities through which information about the Mackinaw River watershed and the Mackinaw River Partnership can be disseminated."

(Click here to see news about watershed activities)

Home | News | Animals and Plants | Seasonal Gallery | Maps | Learn More | Write to Us