North Fork Embarras River facts for kids

The North Fork Embarras River is a river in Illinois. It's about 64 miles (103 km) long. This river starts in Edgar County. It then flows through Clark, Crawford, and Jasper counties. The North Fork joins the Embarras River near Ste. Marie. It's a very important stream that feeds into the Embarras River. A smaller stream called Panther Creek also flows into the North Fork.

The land around the river is mostly used for farming. This area also has a lot of oil. You can see many oil wells and pumps along the river. Most of the oil was produced here in the 1930s.

The river's water levels can change a lot. This is because of water running off farm fields after rain. The river flows through areas with many trees and some farmland near the water. The riverbed is mostly sand, but also has some clay and mud. You might see fallen trees and log jams. Heavy floods can greatly change the river's pools and flow. Large sandbars are also common. Sometimes, the river banks wear away due to farming. You can also find rare sandstone rocks along the river.

The river's average daily water flow is about 698 cubic feet per second (20 m³/s). But during floods, it can flow much faster. It might even reach over 6,000 cubic feet per second (170 m³/s).

Amazing Wildlife Along the North Fork River

The North Fork Embarras River is home to many different kinds of animals. You can often spot deer, turkey, coyotes, foxes, squirrels, and raccoons. Sometimes, people even see bobcats in the area.

Mysteries and Legends of the River

There have been stories about mountain lions being seen here. However, no real proof has been found. A popular local story is about the "Wild Woman of North Fork." People say they hear her screaming late at night. This sound might actually be a mountain lion's call. Their calls can sound a lot like a woman crying. Bobcats and foxes can also make similar noises. The river's main tributary is called Panther Creek. This name suggests that mountain lions might have lived here a long time ago.

Animals Making a Comeback

Animals like beavers, otters, and mink were almost gone by the 1950s and 60s. This was due to too much trapping. But now, all three animals are doing well again. This is because there is less trapping, their homes have recovered, and some were brought back to the area.

Birds of the River

Many birds live near the river. You can see wood ducks and wading birds like great blue herons and sandpipers. The river and nearby wet areas are important stops for migrating geese. There are also many woodpeckers and songbirds. Birds of prey, like red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and barred owls, are common. Even Bald eagles have been seen here.

Fish Species in the River

The North Fork has many different types of fish. This is because the riverbed has various materials and slopes. Several kinds of Darters (from the Etheostoma and Percina groups) are common. Minnows include sand shiners, steelcolor shiners, silverjaw minnows, and brook silversides. Blackstripe topminnows and mosquitofish are very common along the river's edges. Madtoms, bullhead, and channel catfish also live here. You can also find sunfish species like long-eared sunfish, crappie, largemouth bass, and spotted bass. Other common fish include white suckers, common carp, and long-nosed and short-nosed gar.

Trees and Plants Along the River

The main trees right along the river are sycamore and cottonwood. You will also see silver maple, sugar maple, sassafras, and mulberry. The low-lying land nearby has many shagbark hickory and white oak trees.

Protecting the River and Its Environment

In recent years, people have worked to reduce erosion caused by farming. Some less productive farmland near the river is being turned back into natural areas. These include brush land and wetlands. Small ponds have also been created for migrating waterfowl. These improvements help the river and its surrounding environment. They make the whole system healthier and more diverse.