Coon Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coon Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Burlington Township, Kane County, Illinois 880 ft (270 m) 42°01′09″N 88°34′59″W / 42.0191667°N 88.5830556°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Kishwaukee River east of Belvidere, Illinois 758 ft (231 m) 42°15′16″N 88°47′39″W / 42.2544444°N 88.7941667°W |
| Length | 28 mi (45 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Coon Creek → Kishwaukee → Rock → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 421756 |
Coon Creek is a stream in northern Illinois. It is about 28 miles (45 kilometers) long. This creek flows into a bigger river called the Kishwaukee River.
Contents
Where Coon Creek Flows
Coon Creek starts in DeKalb County, Illinois. It flows north from there. The creek then enters McHenry County, Illinois.
After that, it continues flowing northwest. Finally, Coon Creek joins the Kishwaukee River in Boone County, Illinois.
Coon Creek is an important stream. It drains a large area of land. This makes it the second biggest stream flowing into the Kishwaukee River. Only the South Branch Kishwaukee River drains a larger area.
How the Creek Looks
Different parts of Coon Creek look very different. This is because some parts have been changed by people.
A watershed is the area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or stream. About 72% of the Coon Creek watershed has been channelized. This means the stream beds have been straightened and dug out like ditches.
However, only 42% of the main Coon Creek itself has been channelized. In McHenry County, Coon Creek still has many natural features. These include pools (deeper, slower parts) and riffles (shallow, fast-moving parts over rocks).
In DeKalb County, the creek has been almost entirely channelized. This part of Coon Creek has very few natural pools or riffles left.
Amazing Wildlife
Coon Creek is home to many different kinds of animals. At least 34 types of fish live in its waters!
Some of the fish you might find include:
The blacknose shiner is a special fish found here. It is an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever.
The creek also provides a home for two types of reptiles:
- The Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a federally threatened species. This means it is protected by the government because its numbers are low.
- The snapping turtle is also found here.
Other Streams Joining Coon Creek
Coon Creek has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries.
Some of these tributaries include:
- Harmony Creek
- Hampshire Creek
- Burlington Creek
