Fishes of Boneyard Creek
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  • History
  • Fish List
    • Central Stoneroller
    • Striped Shiner
    • Carmine Shiner
    • Sand Shiner
    • Golden Shiner
    • Creek Chubsucker
    • Creek Chub
    • Hornyhead Chub
    • Blackstripe Topminnow
    • Silverjaw Minnow
    • Bluntnose Minnow
    • Green Sunfish
    • Bluegill Sunfish
    • Longear Sunfish
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Stonecat
    • White Sucker
    • Rainbow Darter
    • Johnny Darter
  • Fish Key
  • Education and Kids
  • Volunteer

What is Boneyard Creek?

Boneyard Creek is a tributary that flows into the Saline branch of the Vermillion River.  The Creek runs through the center of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus and is 3.3 miles (5.3km) long.  Beautification efforts to improve the overall appearance and prevent flooding during the summer months have resulted in landscaped stonework around the creek.

Check out the HISTORY section for more information on how the Creek has changed over time. 
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What is in Boneyard Creek?

Boneyard Creek is home to a variety of fishes.  Look at the FISH LIST to learn more about each fish species, or use the FISH KEY to identify the fish species.

The university students use seine nets as well as minnow traps to catch and mark the fishes of Boneyard Creek.  Recording where in the creek an individual fish was caught helps the students determine whether the fishes use the ladder to travel both up and down the creek.  The process of catching, marking, and releasing fish into the waterway also allows the students and local park management to better understand the creek’s diversity.

Go to the EDUCATION AND KIDS section for interactive activities, or the VOLUNTEERING section to become more involved with Boneyard Creek conservation efforts.
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Where is Boneyard Creek?

On the University of Illinois Campus, near Green Street, Grainger Library overlooks Boneyard Creek.  Other great vantage points include a cement balcony with picnic tables and a quiet waterfall alcove with park benches.  Students, however, often enjoy the Creek’s serenity by sitting on the nearby lawn.

The creek flows through Scott Park where it runs alongside the Fred B. Lamb Trail and down a fish ladder.
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Fish ladder in Scott Park
Fun Facts:
1. Fish is both singular and plural when discussing only one species of fish.  Fishes is both a singular and plural word for talking about two or more species.
2. The study of fish is called Ichthyology, and people who study fish are called Ichthyologists.
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Ichthyology Class of 2014
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Ichthyology Class of 2012
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Ichthyology Class of 2016
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