The Boneyard Creek Initiative
The goal of the University of Illinois’ Ichthyology class along with the city of Urbana and Champaign is to promote the ecological sustainability of Boneyard Creek. The quality of Boneyard Creek is important because it allows other habitats to recover from damaging contaminants, protects endangered species and provides an indirect connection to significant water systems such as the Gulf of Mexico and the Mahomet Aquifer.
We hope to improve Boneyard Creek and attain a healthier ecosystem by minimizing harmful runoff to major waterways, and creating a more natural environment so we can keep the water and landscape clean and contaminant free to preserve the its beauty.
We hope to improve Boneyard Creek and attain a healthier ecosystem by minimizing harmful runoff to major waterways, and creating a more natural environment so we can keep the water and landscape clean and contaminant free to preserve the its beauty.
In past years, Boneyard Creek has experienced major habitat degradation since much of the creek has been channelized or altered to run straight. Channelization is created with the intension to improve a stream for easier navigation and create higher discharge; however, it also damages the natural environment.
A natural stream will meander in looping curves and contain areas of pools and ripples as habitats for aquatic organisms, whereas in a stream that has been channelized the ecosystem will suffer from some of the negative effects such as increased temperature, reduction of habitat vegetation and increased erosion that increases load of sediment downstream.
A natural stream will meander in looping curves and contain areas of pools and ripples as habitats for aquatic organisms, whereas in a stream that has been channelized the ecosystem will suffer from some of the negative effects such as increased temperature, reduction of habitat vegetation and increased erosion that increases load of sediment downstream.
Why should you care?
Damaging Runoff in Boneyard Creek is devastating to the ecosystem since it affects important water systems and their habitats. Boneyard Creek flows into the Saline Branch of the Salt Fork Vermilion River which flows into the Vermilion River and the Wabash River, on to the Ohio and to the Mississippi and eventually will reach the Gulf of Mexico. In that distance, water from Boneyard Creek has the potential to affect plants and animals that inhabit the water system.
Click on the images to access more information from the Illinois Natural History Survey, Daily Illini, and IllinoisHomePage.net!
Damaging Runoff in Boneyard Creek is devastating to the ecosystem since it affects important water systems and their habitats. Boneyard Creek flows into the Saline Branch of the Salt Fork Vermilion River which flows into the Vermilion River and the Wabash River, on to the Ohio and to the Mississippi and eventually will reach the Gulf of Mexico. In that distance, water from Boneyard Creek has the potential to affect plants and animals that inhabit the water system.
Click on the images to access more information from the Illinois Natural History Survey, Daily Illini, and IllinoisHomePage.net!
The presence of polluted runoff in Boneyard Creek increases risk of contaminating clean water sources.
Did you know that right underneath us is the Mahomet Aquifer? That’s where nearly 850,000 people get their water and if toxic pollutants reach the aquifer, it would be years before the water could be safe to drink.
Did you know that right underneath us is the Mahomet Aquifer? That’s where nearly 850,000 people get their water and if toxic pollutants reach the aquifer, it would be years before the water could be safe to drink.
We are the example of a small water system that can have a large impact if runoff is not controlled. It does not only affect the plants and animals in the creek, but it also has the potential to affect endangered species, our aquifer and the ocean. Thus, the quality of Boneyard Creek needs to be maintained to keep a balanced healthy ecosystem for years to come.
References:
Brooker, M. P. 1985. The Impact of River Channelization. The Geographical Journal 151:63-69.
Panno, S.V. and Korab, H. 2000. The Mahomet Aquifer. The Illinois Steward 9: 19-21.
Photo Credit:
Opening Image: File: Boneyard Creek second street basin Champaign Illinois looking to west. jpg. 2013. Retrieved October 8th, 2014, from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boneyard_Creek_Second_Street_Basin_Champaign_Illinois_looking_to_west.jpg
Image 1. Farm*A*Syst North Carolina. http//www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/assist/farmassist/Stream/
Image 2. http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/collections/mollusk/publications/guide/index/128
Image 3. http://m.dailyillini.com/news/article_001602ee-cf3a-11e3-b52d-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm
Image 4. http://www.illinoishomepage.net/story/d/story/epa-dnr-investigate-cause-of-fish-kill/27247/_2DK_qMvmES_EXMqUJ4pxQ
Image 5. Mahomet Aquifer Consortium. http://www.mahometaquiferconsortium.org/aboutaquifer.html