Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign https://archive.org/details/reportonwabashriOOilli STATE OF ILLINOIS HENRY HORNER, Governor Report on the WABASH RIVER BASIS In in inois REVISED EDITION OF THE REPORT PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES SURVEY OF THE NATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IN 1936-1937. DECEMBER, 1938 (CORRECTED TO NOVEMBER 1, 1938) By the staff of the ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION Chicago, Illinois A limited edition of this volume has been printed and distributed to public libraries, interested agencies, and public officials. (Printed by authority of the State of Illinois) ILLINOIS SUI£ LIBRARY 3 1129 00374 2061 STATE OF ILLINOIS HENRY HORNER, Governor X6P7, 1 t;^ lj a ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION Chicago, Illinois Robert Kingery, Chairman . Winnetka M. M. Baker, Vice Chairman . Peoria John W. Kapp, Jr., Secretary . Springfield A. L. Bowen . Springfield Director, Department of Public Welfare M. M. Leighton . Urbana Chief, State Geological Survey Division Ernst Lieberman . Springfield Chief Highway Engineer J. H. Lloyd . Springfield Director, Department of Agriculture *H. W. Mumford . Urbana Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Illinois F. Lynden Smith . Springfield Director, Department of Public IVorks and Buildings D. H. Burnham .Chicago Dr. N. S. Davis, III . Winnetka Emmett P. Griffin .. East St. Louis Dr. Frank J. Jirka . Cicero Verne E. Joy . Centralia Edward L. Karraker . Jonesboro Frank M. Lindsay . Decatur Walter W. McLaughlin . Decatur B. F. Stein . Waukegan Barney Thompson . Rockford Walter W. Wheatley . Harrisburg Henry L. Kellogg. Chicago State Planning Engineer Lawrence V. Sheridan. Indianapolis, Indiana Regional Counselor, National Resources Committee Harland Bartholomew . St. Louis, Missouri Consultant, National Resources Committee Deceased May, 1938. Chicago, Illinois, December, 1938. Honorable Henry Horner Governor of Illinois Springfield, Illinois Sir: On behalf of the Illinois State Planning Commission, I have the honor to present to you herewith a report on the Wabash River basin in Illinois, this being one of a series of eight studies prepared by the staff of the State Planning Commission at the request of the National Resources Committee, Washington, D. C. As indicated in the table of contents, this study follows a modified form of the standard outline which was prepared by Mr. F. H. Fowler, Director, Drainage Basin Study, National Resources Committee. The standard outline has been adopted for similar reports on a nation-wide scale. Very respectfully, Robert Kingery, Chairman, ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Index to Tables in Text... i Index to Maps and Charts in Appendix .. i Foreword . ii Standard Study Outline by F. H. Fowler* I. General Description of the Basin:. 1 a. Length. b. Breadth. c. Area in square miles. d. Physiography, including topography, geology, etc. e. Land use. f. Climate, including temperature, precipitation, rainfall, etc. g. General relation to adjoining basins. II. Human Occupancy: . 5 a. Cities and Towns: 1. Number, classified as to population. 2. Size and rate of development. 3. General character (as centers for surrounding agricultural areas, transportation centers, or manufacturing centers). b. Rural (or non-urban) Development: 1. Agriculture. 2. Industry. 3. Mining (including petroleum) and Mineral Industries. 4. Lumbering. c. Transportation Facilities: 1. Waterways. 2. Railways. 3. Highways. 4. Airports. 5. Pipe lines. d. Analysis of past trends, present conditions, and probable future tendencies under sections a. and b. above. III. Streams of the Basin:. 13 The main stream and each of its principal tributaries: a. Source. b. Course. c. Length. d. Drainage area, including topography, geology, and agricultural characteristics. e. Discharge. IV. Extent and Adequacy of Existing Water Development:. 15 a. Stream characteristics, including hydrographs of mean monthly values and of flood peaks. b. Stream flow data in relation to navigation and water power. c. Lakes of the basin and their relation to water plan. d. Lakes and streams and their relation to recreation problems and to wild life. * This study outline is a modified form of the standard outline which was prepared by Mr. F. H. Fowler, Director, Drainage Basin Study, National Resources Committee, Washington, D. C., and adopted for standardi¬ zation of water basin reports in the national water resources survey of 1936-37. Topical subdivisions are not uniformly applicable; therefore some variation in treatment is to be noted in the several basin reports. Page Land drainage: extent, condition, future. Urban ground and surface water supply for domestic and in¬ dustrial use. Rural ground and surface water supply for domestic use and stock watering. Imported and exported water supplies. Irrigation. Flood control: 1. By reservoirs or detention basins. 2. By check dams. 3. By channel improvements. 4. By levees. 5. By any combination of the above. V. Ground Water:. 22 a. Extent of areas and supply. b. Character or quality. c. Economic availability. d. Extent of use. VI. Pollution of Streams and Ground Sources:. a. Sewage. b. Trade waste. c. Oilfield and mining waste. d. Silt and erosion. e. Irrigation and drainage. VII. Summary of Deficiencies and Future Needs:.. a. Navigation. b. Flood control. c. Water supplies for municipal domestic and industrial, and rural domestic and stock watering uses. d. Irrigation. e. Water power. f. Drainage. g. Recreation and wild life. h. Rectification of existing and prevention of future contamination. i. Additional basic data. VIII. Comprehensive Plan of Development:. 26 IX. Classification and Schedule of Construction under the Comprehensive Plan: . 29 a. Projects for immediate construction. b. Projects for construction on a 10-year program. c. Projects apparently desirable for ultimate construction, but re¬ quiring further analysis. Bibliography: . Appendix: Maps and Charts 23 25 e. f. h. i. . 41 Nos. 1-13 INDEX TO TABLES IN TEXT Page Distribution of Basin Area by Counties. 1 Land Use . 2 Soil Erosion in Wahasb River Basin, 1936. 3 Average Maximum and Minimum Temperatures. 4 Average Monthly and Annual Temperatures. 4 Average Monthly and Annual Precipitation. 4 Predominant Economic Activities. 5 Soil Conditions for 16 Selected Counties. 6 Employment Distribution by Industries. 7 Relief Conditions in Wabash River Basin. 7 Oil Production. 1937. 8 Mineral Production. 1937. 9 Population Trends in the Basin. 11 Stream Flow Records, for Years Indicated. 14 Location and Duration of Stream Gaging Stations. 15 Dams in Basin. 15 Existing and Proposed Drainage Districts. 16 Relative Merits of Selected Drainage Districts. 17 Sources and Nature of Water Supply and Populations Served. 19-20 Sanitary Facilities, by Population Groups. 23 Study of Sources and Nature of Stream Pollution in 26 Communities. 24 Precipitation Stations Recommended for Reopening. 28 Stream Gaging Stations Recommended for Construction. 28 Projects for Immediate Construction. 29 Projects for Deferred Construction. 33 Projects for Indeterminate Construction. 35 INDEX TO MAPS AND CHARTS IN APPENDIX No. Map of Illinois, Defining Wabash River Basin and Adjoining Areas. 1 Proposed Reservoirs . 2 Water Supply, Stream Pollution, Flood Areas. 3 Reconnaissance Erosion Survey. 4 Forest Areas . 5 Climate; Gaging and Precipitation Stations. 6 Mineral Industries . 7 Transportation . 2 Hydrograph, Mean Monthly and Daily Discharge at Mt. Carmel. 9 Hydrograph, Mean Monthly and Daily Discharge at Ste. Marie. 10 Chart: Precipitation; Composite of Seven Stations. 11 Chart: Precipitation at Mt. Carmel 1884-1933. 12 Chart: Precipitation at Casey, 1912-1933. 13 i FOREWORD This report on the Wabash River basin in Illinois is one of a series of eight studies prepared at the request of the National Resources Committee, Washington, D. C., in connection with its national water resources survey of 1936-1937. The study covers economic conditions of the basin, its deficiencies in water resources, and a program of research and construction designed to correct these deficiencies. Similar reports have been compiled on the drainage basins of the Upper and Lower Illinois, Rock, Ohio. Kaskaskia. Big Muddy, and Sangamon rivers. In preparing this report, no field work was done. For a determination of topographical and geological features, reference was made to U. S. Geological Survey maps covering the area outlined. Distances were scaled, and areas computed by planimeter. Economic, social, and related data presented were obtained from various authoritative publications, and all source material, together with quotations used, is so indicated. Recommendations and estimates of cost, whenever made, are neces¬ sarily subject to the limitations inherent in such procedure. The report was prepared by the staff of the Illinois State Planning Commission with the assistance of an auxiliary staff supplied by the Works Progress Administra¬ tion. Special acknowledgment is made to the numerous federal and state depart¬ ments and agencies, universities, and other research institutions whose cooperation has made this study possible, and all of which are specifically cited in the footnotes and bibliography. ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION Henry L. Kellogg, State Planning Engineer December, 1938 n I GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIN The Wabash Basin, as outlined for this survey, occupies the extreme eastern portion of central and southern Illinois, paralleling the Illinois-Indiana state line. It is roughly rectangular. 196 miles long, and 78 miles wide. Its area is 8,876 square miles, or 5.680.640 acres, distributed over 27 counties and parts of counties as follows: Distribution of Basin Area, by Counties County Total square mile area in county Total square mile area in basin Percent of county in basin Champaign. 1,043 597 57.2 Clark. 493 493 100.0 Clay. 462 462 100.0 Coles. 525 418 79.6 Crawford. 453 453 100.0 Cumberland. 353 353 100.0 Douglas. 417 305 73.1 Edgar. 621 621 100.0 Edwards. 238 238 100.0 Effingham. 511 448 87.7 Fayette. 729 67 9.2 Ford. 500 220 44.0 Gallatin. 338 50 14.8 Hamilton. 455 173 38.0 Iroquois. 1,121 30 2.7 Jasper. 508 508 100.0 Jefferson. 603 125 20.7 Lawrence. 358 358 100.0 Livingston. 1.043 13 1.2 Marion. 569 187 32.9 Moultrie. 338 3 0.9 Richland. 357 357 100.0 Shelby. 772 119 15.4 Vermilion. 921 875 95.0 Wabash. 220 220 100.0 Wayne. 733 733 100.0 White. 507 450 88.8 Total. 15,188 8,876 The comparatively high lands of the extreme northern portion, centering in Ford, Champaign, and Vermilion counties, form the source of most of the rivers in central Illinois. While the western half of the remainder of the area is rolling country, forming the watersheds of the Embarrass and Little Wabash rivers, the eastern half is compara¬ tively flat. I he valley of the W abash is several miles wide, with elevations ranging from 850 feet above mean sea level in the extreme north to 500 feet in the south. 1 2 The whole basin is covered by glacial drift deposits of varying depth. Rock strata immediately underlying the drift are Carboniferous except in narrow areas which par¬ allel stream beds and are of the Quarternary age. 1 The soil in the northern half is dark, the subsoil varying from a heavy calcareous to an open, non-calcareous composition. There are areas of brownish yellow clay in Vermilion County, around Danville, in the northeast portion of Clark County, the south¬ east portion of Edgar County, and the southeast portion of Coles County. The soil in the southern half of the basin is almost entirely gray, with an impervious, non-calcareous subsoil. 2 Much of this basin is underlaid by the principal seams of the Illinois coal measures, and although unproved to a large extent, the No. 5 and No. 6 seams are mined exten¬ sively in the northern part. The leading oil and gas fields of the state are located in the south central part. Other known minerals of this area include limestone, sand, gravel, shale, and clay (see Chapter II). 3 Of the 5,680,640 acres in the basin, 2,758,872 were originally covered by forests. A survey made in 1924 reveals that the number of acres still forest-covered had been re¬ duced to 450.552 by cutting for timber and clearing for pasturage and cultivation. 4 The following table shows the uses of land: 4 ’ 5 Land U se County Forest area within basin. Acres Land available for crops within basin. Acres Pasture land not tillable, mines, city sites, etc. Acres Portion of county within basin. Acres Percent of county area within basin Champaign. 3,661 327,767 50,652 382,080 57.2 Clark. 30,617 211,386 73,517 315,520 100.0 Clay. 33,478 208,728 53,474 295,680 100.0 Coles. 25,954 207,065 34,501 267,520 79.6 Crawford. 27,108 193,360 69,452 289,920 100.0 Cumberland. 21,923 161,205 42,792 225,920 100.0 Douglas. 1,871 170,421 22,908 195,200 73.1 Edgar. 38,567 328,657 30,216 397,440 100.0 Edwards. 13,867 118,617 19,836 152,320 100.0 Effingham. 26,007 179,659 81,054 286,720 87.7 Fayette. 4,446 25,781 12,653 42,880 9.2 Ford. 1,350 124,267 15,183 140,800 44.0 Gallatin. 7,820 18,582 5,614 32,000 14.8 Hamilton. 13,235 73,192 24,293 110,720 38.0 Iroquois. 186 18,407 607 19,200 2.7 Jasper. 29,847 243,502 51,771 325,120 100.0 Jefferson. 7,756 55,346 16,898 80,000 20.7 Lawrence. 24,463 151,938 52,710 229,120 100.0 Livingston. 77 5,956 2,287 8,320 1.2 Marion. 13,921 83,249 22,510 119,680 32.9 Moultrie. 19 1,675 226 1,920 0.9 Richland. 22,456 184,129 21,895 228,480 100.9 Shelby. 7,383 44,197 24,580 76,160 15.4 Vermilion. 5,359 427,441 127,210 560,000 95.0 Wabash. 10,122 108,839 21,839 140,800 100.0 Wayne. 69,874 334,787 64,459 469,120 100.0 White. 17,005 215,951 55,044 288,000 88.8 Total. 458,372 4,224,104 988,190 5,680,640 1 Illinois Geological Survey Division, “Geological Map of Illinois,” 1917. 2 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, “Provisional Soil Map of Illinois,” 1929. 3 Illinois Geological Survey Division, “Mineral Industries of Illinois,” 1930. 4 Illinois Natural History Survey Division, “Third Report on a Forest Survey of Illinois,” 1926. 6 U. S. “Census of Agriculture,” 1935. 3 Erosion in the Wabash River basin is a serious problem and. as indicated in Chap¬ ter II. definite steps should be taken to combat it in order to preserve the productiveness of certain areas most seriously affected. The following table shows the nature and extent of erosion in this basin: Soil Erosion in Wabash River Basin, 1936 1 County Per cent Destructive Serious Harmful Negligible Champaign. 30.5 69.5 Clark.. 10.1 8.5 38.5 42.9 Clay. 7.9 11.5 15.6 65.0 Coles. 2.9 2.8 49.1 45.2 Crawford. 5.9 7.0 30.4 56.7 Cumberland. 5.8 13.0 17.3 63.9 Douglas. .2 38.3 61.5 Edgar. 6.5 11.3 27.6 54.6 Edwards. 14.2 17.5 25.2 43.1 Effingham. 5.3 9.0 26.6 59.1 Fayette. 11.2 3.1 22.3 63.4 Ford. 6.7 36.0 57.3 Hamilton. 12.1 13.2 46.1 28.6 Iroquois. 20.5 79.5 Jasper. 6.1 4.5 17.5 71.9 Jefferson. 7.5 7.5 62.7 22.3 Lawrence. 1.4 7.0 19.5 72.1 Livingston. 4.9 36.4 58.7 Marion. 5.3 8.0 31.0 55.7 Moultrie. .6 8.8 26.4 64.2 Richland. 5.7 9.9 28.3 56.1 .Shelby. 5.2 8.5 35.3 51.0 Vermilion. 2.6 8.9 43.9 44.6 Wabash. 3.7 6.9 36.7 52.7 Wayne. 3.6 9.2 37.0 50.2 White. 6.1 14.2 33.8 45.9 Average. 5.0 7.8 32.0 55.2 1 College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Illinois, "Information Pertaining to Farm, Home, and Community, with Special Refer¬ ence to Type of-Farming Area 9.” 4 To present a clearer picture of climatic conditions, the following temperature and precipitation tables show a comparison between the northern and southern halves of the area. The north half is considered as the portion including Clark and Cumberland counties, part of Shelby County, and the area north of these three. 1 Average Maximum and Minimum Temperatures 1876-1915—40-year period (Fahrenheit) North South Annual maximum . . 98.1 99.8 Annual minimum . .—11.1 — 7.1 Daily maximum . . 76.7 78.4 Daily minimum . . 24.1 28.5 Average Monthly and Annual Temperatures 1876-1915—40-year period (Fahrenheit) North South North South January . . 26.8 31.3 July . . 76.4 78.0 February .. 29 2 33.3 August . . 74.4 76.2 March . . 39.8 43.7 September . . 67.2 69.7 April . . 53.0 55.9 October . .. 55.3 57.3 May . . 62.9 65.2 November . . 41.5 44.6 June . . 71.9 74.1 December . . 30.4 34.7 Annual .. . 52.4 55.3 Average Monthly and Annual Precipitation 1856-1915—60-year period (Inches) North South North South January . . 2.16 2.84 July . . 3.89 3.92 February . . 2.42 3.00 August . . 3.04 3.47 March . 2.92 3.84 September . . 3.60 3.31 April . . 3.47 3.72 October . . 2.51 2.70 May . . 4.04 4.19 November . . 2.49 3.17 June . . 4.11 4.36 December . . 2.24 2.96 Annual .. . 36.89 41.48 In topography, climate, and economic conditions, the extreme northern portion of this basin is similar to the Upper Illinois basin. The central and southern portions pre¬ sent conditions more typical of the basins lying in the southern part of Illinois. 1 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, “Climate of Illinois,” 1918. 11 HUMAN OCCUPANCY Of the 137 incorporated cities and towns in 1930. there were: 6 with a population of 8.000 or more 13 with a population of 2.500 to 8.000 30 with a population of 750 to 2.500 88 with a population of less than 750 During the 1920-30 decade, the first of these groups showed an increase of 15.2 percent, the second an increase of 10.5 percent, and the third and fourth decreased 3.3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. The predominant economic activities in the nine largest cities are as follows: 1 - 2 Predominant Economic Activities City County Population Danville. Vermilion... 36,765 Champaign. Champaign. 20,348 Mattoon. Coles. 14,631. Urbana. Champaign. 13,060. Paris. Edgar. 8 781 Charleston. Coles. 8,012.. Mt. Carmel. Wabash. 7,132 . Lawrenceville. Lawrence. 6,303 . Olney. Richland.. 6,140. General Character Light manufacturing; coal and agricul¬ tural shipping center; coal mines; dairy, truck, grain, poultry farms. Light manufacturing; agriculture (soy¬ beans) ; University of Illinois (part in Urbana). Diverse manufacturing; railroad shops; agricultural shipping center; corn, wheat, broom corn. Railroad machine shops; manufacturing of scientific instruments ; fish hatchery ; University of Illinois. Diverse manufacturing; creamery; coal mines ; agriculture ; oil wells. Railroad machine shops; light manufac¬ turing ; agriculture; corn, wheat, broom corn. Food products; railroad center; railroad shops; oil wells; coal mines; agricul¬ ture. Grain elevators; producer goods manu¬ facturing ; oil refinery; oil and gas wells; stock and grain farms. Consumer goods manufacturing; fruit farming; fruit, live stock, and timber shipping center; oil wells. The 38,446 farms of the basin cover a total of 3,192,587 acres and average 83.3 acres each. The land actually in crops represents 70.5 percent of the total area available for crop production. The number of persons per farm averages 4.45. Land values vary from an average of $20 per acre in Hamilton County to $108.17 in Champaign County, 1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, “Population,” 1930. 2 Ayer, N. W., & Son, Inc., “Directory of Newspapers and Periodicals,” 1936. 5 6 the average for the 27 counties being $34.33. In 1929, 58 percent of all farms in this section were operated by tenants. 1 Tax delinquency is comparatively high in the counties of the lower two-thirds of the basin. Data obtained by the Civil Works Administration in 29 counties in this general region show a range of from 1.3 percent to 28.3 percent of the total farming area as tax delinquent in 1933 on the assessment of 1932. 2 For a description of its agricultural characteristics, this basin may be divided into three major sections, as follows: The northern section, comprising the counties of Moultrie, Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, Vermilion, Champaign, Edgar, Douglas, and Coles, is best described as having a cash grain type of farming. It is characterized by productive, cultivated lands, subject to slight sheet erosion. Corn is the principal crop, although oats are important in crop rotation. 3 The central section, comprising the counties of Clark, Cumberland, Crawford, Jasper, Richland, Wayne, Clay, Marion, Hamilton, and Jefferson, is a region of small farms with low capital investment and small incomes. The land is rolling to rough, low in produc¬ tiveness, and it needs protecting and soil-improving crops to decrease soil erosion and to raise the productive level. Although 80 to 85 percent of the farm land in this section is tillable, less than half of it is used for growing grain and hay crops. Dairy cattle are the predominant livestock raised in this section. The number per farm, however, is small. Only three or four cows are kept on the average farm. 3 A combination of cash grain and livestock farming is typical also of the southern section which comprises parts or all of the counties of Lawrence, Wabash, Edwards, and White. Soil conditions in this section are almost identical with those found in the central section. Eighty-six percent of the farm land is tillable, 20 percent of this being pastured and the rest, in varying proportions, producing wheat, hay, and oats. Water¬ melons are profitably grown in the sandy soils. 1 ’ 3 Crop land within the basin of the Wabash and Little Wabash rivers may be classi¬ fied on the basis of productiveness into three groups. These groups, with the propor¬ tionate amount of crop land belonging to each, are as follows: Supermarginal (soil grades 1 to 4), 25.5 percent; marginal (soil grades 5 to 7), 30.8 percent; submarginal (soil grades 8 to 10), 43.7 percent. In arriving at these percentages, 16 counties were selected as rep¬ resentative of soil conditions throughout the entire basin. 4 Soil Conditions for 16 Selected Counties County Percent of land area in basin Pe Supermarginal rcent of crop la Marginal nd Submarginal Douglas. 73.1 78.0 22.0 0 . Vermilion. 95.0 75.5 24.0 0.5 Edgar. 100.0 71.4 28.0 0.6 Coles. 79.6 52.9 46.3 0.8 Lawrence. 100.0 13.1 30.9 56.0 Wabash. 100.0 7.4 60.3 32.3 White. 88.8 7.2 58.8 34.0 Clark. 100.0 5.4 37.9 56.7 Edwards. 100.0 5.1 24.9 70.0 Crawford. 100.0 1.2 33.4 65.4 Cumberland. 100.0 1.1 30.9 68.0 Clay. 100.0 .3 24.5 75.2 Tasper. 100.0 .2 20.8 79.0 Richland. 100.0 .0 14.4 85.6 Wayne. 100.0 .0 33.6 66.4 Effingham. 87.7 .0 11.5 88.5 1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, “Census of Agriculture,” 1935. - Schlots, F. E., “A Report on Land Use in Illinois/’ 1935. 3 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, "Types of Farming in Illinois,” 1934. 4 University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, “Illinois Soil Type Acreages and Ratings by Counties,” 1936. In this rating, 1 represents the most productive and 10 the least productive grain crop land in the state. 7 Up to 1930, employment in this area was fairly stable, only 5.3 percent of the 179,463 employables being unemployed. Persons employed numbered 169,377, distributed over the principal industries as follows: 1 Employment Distribution by Industries Industry Number gainfully employed Percent gainfully employed Agriculture. 67,285 39.7 Forestry and fishing.. 281 0.6 Mining. 4,530 2.6 Building industries. 8,318 4.9 Manufacturing and mechanical industries. 24,564 14.4 Transportation. 16,108 9.4 Trade.. 20,994 12.4 Public service. 2,194 1.3 Professional service. 12,064 7.1 Domestic service. 7,391 4.3 Unclassified. 5,648 3.3 Total. 169,377 100.0 Relief expenditures in the basin, during the period from February 6, 1932 through December 31, 1937, together with the number of families receiving assistance with relief at its peak during March, 1935, are shown in the following table: 2 - 3 Relief Conditions in Wabash River Basin County Relief Expenditures in basin, Feb. 6, 1932 through Dec. 1937 Number of families on relief at peak Percent of total number of families Champaign. $ 1,514,388.74 13,831 13.6 Clark. 382,027.61 5,010 14.0 Clay. 301,694.52 4,269 14.9 Coles. 1,442,763.19 8,737 23.0 Crawford. 344,719.30 5,664 9.0 Cumberland. .. 252,313.31 2,825 29.4 Douglas. 487,058.88 3,440 20.3 Edgar. 620,225.99 6,815 12.3 Edwards. 213,162.80 2,395 20.8 Effingham.. 243,230.56 4,102 10.7 Fayette. ... 20,167.41 176 20.2 Ford. . 71,599.82 2,100 5.7 Gallatin. 32,735.44 212 31.2 Hamilton. 62,011.94 1,050 14.0 Iroquois. 7,721.43 136 11.0 Jasper. 121,952.48 3,397 12.7 Jefferson. 113,207.79 1,003 20.4 Lawrence.. 404,488.92 5,583 12.7 Livingston. 8,374.59 116 11.5 Marion. 191,663.09 1,103 27.7 Moultrie. 16,562.61 115 12.9 Richland. . 236,176.10 3,841 11.8 Shelby.. 72,592.69 748 16.7 Vermilion. 3,354,354.64 22,052 20.0 Wabash. 359,349.50 3,349 22.1 Wayne. 359,140.57 4,938 18.1 White. 307,354.43 4,426 12.2 Total. $11,541,038.35 111,433 16.6 1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, “Population,” 1930. 2 Illinois Emergency Relief Commission, monthly reports for years given. • Same, “Biennial Report,” 1936. 8 The coal industry of the Wabash basin gave employment in 1937 to 3,080 persons and produced 2,349,768 tons of coal, Vermilion County leading production with 2,274,403 tons. The output of all counties was divided as follows: 1 County Vermilion Edgar .... Wabash .. Crawford Jasper .... Jefferson Tons 2,274,403 63,575 9,419 1,436 555 380 In 1937, the oil industry employed 1,597 persons and produced 6,798,692 barrels of oil and 588,216,000 cubic feet of gas from a total of 13,429 wells. This production was distributed over counties and wells, as follows: Oil Production, 1937 2 County Number of wells Barrels of oil Cubic feet of gas 1 Lawrence County Division (Includes a few wells in Crawford Co.). 3,277 2,038.046 66,450,000 Crawford County Division (includes a few wells in Lawrence County). 6,407 1.632,174 385,295,000 Clark County Division (includes Cumber¬ land Countv and a few in Crawford County) . 3,278 461,560 90,902,000 Wabash County (Allendale). 322 139,291 1,556,260 947,940 Clay County (Clay City fields include a few wells in Wayne County). 80 Richland (Noble and Olney). 48 45,569,000 Wayne (Rinard and Cisne). 4 22,600 821 Edgar (Warrenton-Borton) . 13 Totals . 13,429 _ 6,798,692 588,216,000 Since January, 1936, new oil fields have been opened in southern Illinois, three of which, the Cisne, Clay City, and Noble fields, affect the Wabash River basin. New opera¬ tions in Clay, Richland, and Wayne counties, up to the end of 1937. are summarized in the following table: 2 County Completed* Producers Drilling Rigs Clay . 88 80 4 4 Richland . 52 47 12 31 Wayne . 4 3 Totals . 144 130 16 35 * Producers plus dry wells within mile of producing wells. The most spectacular developments are in the Noble and Clay City fields where each of several wells had an initial production of 1,500 barrels, a few as high as 2,500 barrels, and many produced about 500 barrels a day. Average production in these fields was far in excess of that in the Cisne, Patoka, and Bartelso operations. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the new oil fields is that virtually all the ter¬ ritory affected lies in the so-called ‘"problem areas” as regards land use, where naturally low productiveness of the soil, severe erosion on steep slopes, and the smallness of in¬ dividual farms have combined to impoverish the population for many years. 1 Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, “Fifty-sixth Coal Report of Illinois, 1937,” 1938. •Illinois State Geological Survey, Urbana; “Illinois Petroleum, No. 31,” July 1, 1938. 9 Considerable wealth has accrued to farm owners in the form of royalties from the better producing wells, but more especially from the sale of leases at speculative figures which are reliably reported to have reached $100 an acre. Relative affluence thrust suddenly upon indigent farm population might be expected to alter materially the land use of the affected areas, but there are indications that such will not be the case. Nearly all of the oil land was farmed, and apparently it will be farmed again as oil production diminishes. It is probable that farming will be discon¬ tinued on some of the poorest land, but most of the farm owners in the new oil fields have indicated that they will continue to work the land. A few are buying farms in more productive areas of the state. The most important and desirable effect anticipated is a reduction of population in the poor-land areas. Probably the farms will be larger and cropping will be less intensive. Expansion of the new fields is problematical, but some indication of contemplated development in respect to the Wabash basin may be seen in the fact that the major portion of the land in Shelby, Cumberland, Fayette, Effingham. Jasper, Marion, Clay, Richland, Jefferson, Wayne. Edwards, and Hamilton counties is under lease, while there has been minor leasing activity in Moultrie, Coles, Lawrence, and Wabash counties. Other mineral production, with tonnage figures and number of persons employed in 1937, was as follows: Mineral Production, 1937 1 County Mineral T onnage Persons employed Crawford, Wabash and Lawrence. Sand and gravel. 286,341 123,338 38,548 20 V ermilion. Shale and clay. 175 Clark and Vermilion. Limestone. 6 Under the provisions of House Document No. 308. Sixty-ninth Congress, first session, which was enacted into law with modifications in Section 1 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of January 21. 1927. and under the provisions of Section 10 of the Flood Control Act of May 15. 1928. the War Department transmitted to Congress a report on the Wahash River for purposes of navigation. The conclusion reached by the Corps of Engineers was stated as follows: “The investigations made in connection with this report have shown that a development for navigation on the Wabash River is not justified.” There are no other navigable streams in the basin. 1 2 This area is served by 12 major railroads from east to west, and six from north to south: 3 East and West : Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Illinois Central Railroad Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad Wabash Railway Company Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Company Pennsylvania Railroad Raltimore & Ohio Railroad Southern Railway Louisville & Nashville Railroad 1 Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, “Fifty-sixth Coal Report of Illinois, 1937,” 1938. a 73rd Congress, 1st Session, "Wabash River, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,” 1933. 3 Illinois Commerce Commission, "Railroad Map of Illinois,” 1928. 10 North and South: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Company Illinois Central Railroad Wabash Railway Company Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Excellent highways exist throughout the watershed. East and west are U. S. 150, 36, 40. and 50; and Illinois 119. 133, 16, 33, and 15. North and south are U. S. 150 and 45; and Illinois 1, 49, and 130. There are also many improved county roads. 1 There are six airports, a municipal airport at Danville, two commercial airports at Danville and Champaign, a privately-owned airport at Robinson, a U. S. Department of Commerce airport at Effingham, and the U. S. Army airport (Chanute Field) at Rantoul. 2 The two largest pipe lines are those of the Texas Empire Company and the Illinois Pipe Line Company. The Texas Empire line runs from the refinery at Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, in a northwesterly direction, through parts of Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper, Cumberland, and Coles counties, for approximately 66 miles. It leaves the basin at a point near Mattoon, in Coles County. The line of the Illinois Pipe Line Company enters the basin near the center of the west boundary of Effingham County and runs, in a northeasterly direction, through parts of Effingham, Cumberland. Clark, and Edgar counties for approximately 76 miles. Both the Texas Empire and Illinois pipe lines are used to transport oil to the Chicago region. Numerous smaller lines cross the basin. They are used primarily to transport oil from the wells to the refineries in Lawrence and Crawford counties. Pipe line locations and lengths are indicated on map No. 8, Appendix. 3 The original forest stand covered 2,758,872 acres, or approximately 48.4 percent of the total area. By 1924, when the state forest survey was made, this had been re¬ duced by clearing, lumbering, pasturing, fire, etc., to 450,552 acres, or 16.4 percent of the original forest area. Of this standing timber, in 1924, 292,009 acres were upland hardwood containing 289,651,000 board feet, and 158,543 acres were bottomland hard¬ wood containing 154,264,000 board feet, or a total of 443.915.000 board feet. 4 According to the census report for 1930, the value of forest products sold during 1929 from the farm woodlands was $857,025, representing $2.18 per acre. Farm wood¬ lands comprise 392,737 acres, of which 245.755 are pastured. A review of past and present conditions shows definite trends which justify the fol¬ lowing conclusions: The total population in 1930 was 425,839, a decrease of three percent from that of 1920. During the same period, the urban population increased 6.4 percent, although the towns and cities with populations of from 750 to 2.500, and those having populations of less than 750, showed decreases of 3.3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. The unin¬ corporated towns in that decade showed a decrease of 12.9 percent, indicating a general trend toward a smaller, more highly urbanized total population. The negro population, in 1930. was 1.4 percent of the total having increased 9.7 per¬ cent over that of 1920. Its proportion to the total population increased 12.0 percent during the decade. The foreign-born population, in 1930, was 1.9 percent of the total, having decreased 28.0 percent from the 1920 figure, and its ratio to the total population had decreased 36.1 percent during the decade. 5 1 Illinois Division of Highways, "Illinois Official Highway Map,” 1938. 2 U. S. Bureau of Air Commerce, “Airway Bulletin No. 2,” 1936. 3 Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, “Fifty-third Coal Report of Illinois, 1934,” 1935. 4 Illinois Natural History Survey Division, “Third Report on a Forest Survey of Illinois,” 1926. 6 U. S. Bureau of the Census, "Population,” 1930. 11 Estimates of the I960 Illinois population indicate an increase for only three coun¬ ties, and a decrease for the remaining 24 counties, with a net decrease of 4.1 percent for the basin. The complete table, showing anticipated population shifts by counties, follows: Population Trends in the Basin County 1930 popu¬ lation in basin 1960 esti¬ mated population in basin Percent of county population Trend Champaign. 52,478 57,936 81.6 Upward Clark. 17,872 15,000 100.0 Downward Clay.. 16,155 15,000 100.0 Coles. 33,346 35,800 89.5 Upward Crawford. 21,085 20,000 100.0 Downward Cumberland. 10.419 9,000 100.0 Douglas. 13,126 11,712 73.2 Edgar. 24,966 24,000 100.0 Edwards. 8,303 7,500 100.0 Effingham. 17,125 15,733 90.1 Fayette. 674 609 2.9 << Ford. 6,519 5,880 42.1 Gallatin. 638 567 6.3 Hamilton. 4,438 3,762 34.2 Iroquois. 522 450 1.6 Jasper. 12,809 11,000 100.0 « Jefferson. 3,805 3,660 12.3 Lawrence. 21,885 19,000 100.0 Livingston. 450 444 1.2 Marion. 4,078 3,762 11.4 Moultrie. 722 648 5.4 it Richland. 14,053 13,000 100.0 Shelby. 2,711 2,438 10.6 Vermilion. 87,031 88,816 97.4 Upward Wabash. 13,197 11,500 100.0 Downward Wayne. 19,130 16,000 100.0 it White. 16,747 13,845 92.3 it (Downward trend: Total. 424,284 407,062 4.1 percent) The oil industry of Illinois, which is largely situated in this basin, reached a peak in 1908. when 33,686,288 barrels were produced. This was 18.87 percent of the total production of the entire country. Since that time it gradually declined until the amount produced in 1934 approximated only 3,500,000 barrels. At present, new fields west of the original field are receiving a great deal of attention. New wells with sufficient initial flow to excite the whole industry have been developed, and although complete data are not yet available as to the present increase in production, it is known that a large part of the land is under lease, that much drilling is being done, and that production from this area is increasing. Due to market conditions, coal production in this area has declined 28 percent since 1927. No further decline of this industry is anticipated, and an improvement may be ex¬ pected with an improvement of general business. Demand for other minerals of the area depends upon a recovery in the building industry. 12 In analyzing the agricultural trends of the basin, the division into three sections is maintained. Thus it is found that, in the northern section, the area of farm land has de¬ creased less than four percent during the past 30 years, the number of farms has decreased about 17 percent, and the average size of farms has increased 17 percent, largely due to combining small farms. Tenant-operated farms increased in number rapidly from 1900 to 1920. remaining fairly stable after 1920. Only ten percent of the tenant farms are rented on a cash basis. Over the same 30-year period, the central section showed a decrease of about one- eighth in the total farm area, and the number of farms declined 25 percent. More than three-quarters of the farms are owner-operated, and less than a fifth of the tenant farms are rented on a cash basis. Small farms and relatively low priced land are conducive to owner operation. In the southern section, the land in farms has declined less than seven percent be¬ tween 1900 and 1930, but the number of farms has been reduced nearly 30 percent. The proportion of farms of less than 100 acres has declined 25 percent; that of farms from 100 to 174 acres has increased 15 percent; and the proportion of farms having more than 175 acres has nearly doubled. The economic depression, however, reversed many agricultural trends in this basin. Instead of a decline in number of farms, there has been a notable increase, perhaps due to the fact that most of these new farms are small part-time or self-sufficing farms. Thus, the number of farms in the basin increased from 36,301 in 1929 to 40,592 in 1934. Tbe average acre values declined from $48.25 to $34.33. 1 2 > 3 Approximately 65 percent of the land is of such low productiveness that farming is uneconomic and undesirable. Because of the rough, eroded nature of most of these lands, their highest potential use is in forests. Lands unsuited to profitable operation should be retired from farming by public acquisition, or otherwise. With such retirement of lands, and their development for purposes of recreation and wild life conservation, construction of reservoirs is indicated as a part of a national program in which local, state, and federal authorities might participate. The effect of changes in rural land use on urbanization, whether caused by retire¬ ment of marginal and submarginal lands, or otherwise, will involve a continued slow growth of cities and towns in excess of 2,500 population and a decrease of those below 2,500, a factor which has a definite bearing upon the economic propriety of constructing permanent improvements for the present population. 1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, “Census of Agriculture,” 1935. 2 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, “Types of Farming in Illinois,” 1934. 3 U. S. Department of Agriculture. Misc. Publication No. 266, Oct. 1937. “A graphic summary of the num¬ ber, size, and type of farm, and value of products.” 111 STREAMS OF THE BASIN The Big Vermilion, Embarrass, and Little Wabash rivers are tributaries of the V abash; Skillet Fork is a tributary of the Little V abash. For purposes of this survey, these streams are discussed separately. 1 Smaller tributaries of the Wabash are Bonpas Creek, also the Brulette, and the Little Vermilion rivers, each of which is approximately 40 miles long. The Vabash flows in a southwesterly direction. For 200 miles, its winding course forms the boundary between Illinois and Indiana, from Clark County south to a point ten miles north of Shawneetown. where it joins the Ohio. In Illinois, it drains a total area of 8.826 square miles including the watersheds of its tributaries. Independent of its main tributaries, the watershed of the V abash River covers an area of 1,854 square miles. 2 The land of the watershed is generally flat or gently rolling, mostly of gray soil, with a moisture resisting, non-calcareous subsoil. The three soil types may be classed as bottom¬ land soils, bottom sandy loams and sands, and yellowish gray upland soils. Bottomland soils are generally fertile, but the productiveness of the sandy loams and sands which are found next to the bottomlands along the river varies greatly. The upland soil is not natur¬ ally as productive as that of the bottoms, but it is potentially good, if properly cultivated. Erosion is a serious problem in these uplands. 3 ’ 4 The Little V abash River rises in the foothills of Moultrie, Douglas, and Coles coun¬ ties, flows south for 160 miles through the southern half of the basin, and empties into the Vabash near the boundary line of White County. Its main tributaries, omitting Skillet Fork, which is discussed separately, are Elm Creek, 36 miles long, and Muddy Creek. 38 miles long. The topography of its watershed, an area of 2.237 square miles, is rolling in the upper reaches, but flattens as the river enters the valley of the V abash itself. The soil in the watershed of the Little Wabash is almost entirely a gray soil with a moisture-resisting, non-calcareous subsoil which is strongly acid. Productiveness is rela¬ tively low, and drainage presents a problem on the level areas because the subsoil is too tight to permit adequate under-drainage. Erosion is difficult to control on the rolling land. 4 Skillet Fork, a tributary of the Little Vabash, rises in the northern portions of Clay and Marion counties. It flows southeast for 78 miles and empties into the Little Wabash River in White County. The Skillet Fork watershed, with an area of 1,047 square miles, is in the southernmost part of the basin. The topography, in the extreme upper reaches, is slightly rolling, but it is comparatively flat in most of the remaining area. Like that of the Little Vabash, the soil is almost entirely gray soil with a moisture-resisting, non- calcareous subsoil. The Embarrass River rises in the highlands of Champaign County and flows south, through the northern and central portions of the basin, to Jasper County, where it turns 1 The Vermilion River which empties into the Wabash is called “Big Vermilion” in this report to avoid confusion with the Vermilion River which empties into the Illinois River and is treated in a separate report on the Upper Illinois River watershed. 2 Illinois Geological Survey Division, “Drainage Reclamation Map of Illinois,” 1928. 3 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, “Types of Farming in Illinois,” 1934. * Same, “Provisional Soil Map of Illinois,” 1929. 13 14 southeast and empties into the Wabash in the southeastern corner of Lawrence County. It is 132 miles long and drains an area of 2.310 square miles. Its main tributary is the North Fork, which is 47 miles long. Rough and hilly in the upper reaches, the topography becomes rolling in the central portion of the watershed. The southern part is fairly level and flattens out as it merges wi th the valley of the Wabash. The Embarrass flows through a variety of soils, the north half being chiefly dark soil with a non-calcareous subsoil, the central portion composed of brownish-yellow clay with non-calcareous subsoil, including flat areas of moisture-resisting subsoils, and the southern part mainly of gray soil with a moisture-resisting non-calcareous subsoil. The Big Vermilion River rises in Ford County and flows southeast through the ex¬ treme northern portion of the basin, crossing the state line at Danville on its way to join the Wabash. Seventy-two miles of its course are in Illinois. Principal tributaries are Salt Fork, with a length of 48 miles, and Middle Fork, which is 54 miles long. There are 1,378 square miles in the portion of the Big Vermilion watershed which lies within this basin. Its topography is characterized by high and comparatively level tablelands, the river flowing through a narrow, well defined valley. The soils are nearly all dark and highly productive. The following discharge tables show stream flow records as observed at gaging stations on the main streams: 1 Stream Flow Records, for Years Indicated Percent of time Big Vermilion at Danville 1914-21 1928-34 Embarrass River Little Wabash at Wilcox 1914-34 Skillet Fork at Wayne City 1909-13 Oakland 1910-15 Ste. Marie 1910-33 Lawrenceville 1930-33 95 17 Flow 4 n cubic feet 30 per second 40 8 1 90 27 7 52 50 13 3 80 45 25 115 100 28 6 70 75 53 210 170 49 10 60 140 99 325 285 91 19 50 233 175 485 450 163 34 40 405 290 740 670 270 62 30 650 385 1,130 1,300 458 150 20 1,000 590 1,825 2,750 1,100 330 10 1,920 1,200 3,775 6,250 2,980 1,425 5 3,125 1,925 5,600 8,750 4,320 3.100 Maximum 20,200 4,680 39,000 18,400 14,000 15,800 Minimum .08 0 1 30 0.1 0 Wabash River at Mt. Carmel 1907-13; 1927-34 Flow in cubic feet per second Maximum for 1932 . 157,000 Minimum for 1932 . 3,560 1 U. S. Geological Survey, “Surface Water Supply of the United States,” for years indicated. EXTENT EXISTING I V AND ADEQUACY OF WATER DEVELOPMENT Discharges of the streams, in terms of flow duration, are shown in Chapter III. Ap¬ pended hydrographs show the discharges of the Wabash and. Embarrass rivers over a period of years. The number of stream gaging stations in operation is insufficient. These stations are as follows (see map No. 6. Appendix): 1 2 Location and Duration of Stream Gaging Stations Location River Available Records Danville. Mt. Carmeh. Ste. Marie. Wayne City. Wilcox. Lawrenceville.... Oalcland. Big Vermilion... Wabash. Embarrass. Skillet Fork. Little Wabash... Embarrass. Embarrass. Nov. 1914 to Aug. 1921 June 1928 to date Jan. 1908 to Sept. 1913 Oct. 1927 to date Oct. 1909 to Dec. 1912 Aug. 1914 to date June 1928 to Sept. 1933 June 1914 to Sept. 1921» Aug. 1914 to Sept. 1933 March 1930 to November 1933 Oct. 1909 to Dec. 1912; Aug. 1914 to Sept. 1915 a A river gage is on the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel. b At the Southern Railway bridge, two miles downstream. There are seven operating precipitation stations scattered throughout the basin (see map No. 6. Appendix). For economic reasons, a number of stream gaging and precipi¬ tation stations which formerly were in operation have been discontinued during recent years. Recommendations are made in Chapter IX for construction of new stations and for reopening those which have been discontinued. There is no commercial navigation. As noted in Chapter II, the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, reported to Congress that “a development for navigation on the Wabash River is not justified.” Electric power supply is adequate in the basin. 13 stations developing 7.088 H.P. No hydro-turbines are used.- The following table lists existing dams: 3 Dams in Basin Streams Location Spillway Elevation Ft. Pool Area Acres Storage Mil. Gal. Watershed Area Acres Connors Branch. Xenia. 93 75 4 800 Dismal Creek. Edgewood. 30 50 960 Wabash Creek. Mattoon. 688.5 240 1,000 11,500 Little Wabash. Effingham. 552 19.7 92 540 Little Wabash. Effingham. 570.1 6.5 11.35 250 Br. Skillet Fk. Iuka. 1 2 19 1 370 Fox River. Olney.... 250 300 Pond Creek. Fairfield. 4 5 15 1 500 Pond Creek. Fairfield 4 8 5 300 Pond Creek. Fairfield 3 3 54 100 Br. Embarrass R... Camargo. 20 60 1 600 Br. Sugar Cr. Paris.... 180 375 11 330 Bonpas Cr. Albion 375 84 25 18 728 10000 No. Fk. Vermilion Danville. 567 900 2^600 170^880 TOTAL. 1.596 23,294.95 214,660 Use Railroad Railroad City Water Supply City Water Supply Railroad Railroad City Water Supply Recreation Recreation Recreation Recreation Recr. & City Water Sup. City Water Supply City Water Supply Note: 'there is also a channel dam on the Embarrass River, at Charleston, for city water supply. 1 U. S. Geological Survey, “Surface Water Supply of the United States,” 1933. 2 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc., “Central Station Directory,” 1935. 3 State Water Survey Division, llulletin 31 ; 1937 . 15 16 There are 292 organized drainage districts, comprising an area of 1.077,445 acres. However, within the Skillet Fork watershed, about 20.000 acres, although included in the organized districts, have not been drained to any considerable extent and may be con¬ sidered unreclaimed, and in unorganized areas there are approximately 50.120 acres of overflowed land. Estimates made in 1929 indicate that after the construction of a new river channel, then about two-thirds completed, about 10,000 acres would still be too wet for cultivation; therefore, there would remain some 60.000 acres of unreclaimed land, repre¬ senting 41 percent of the total area originally subject to overflow. 1 Drainage work in the watershed of the Big Vermilion has been very successful. A majority of the districts have had no serious difficulties to overcome, since, due to the simplicity of the drainage system, operating costs are low. Eighty-six percent of the watershed of the Embarrass River, which originally needed drainage, is now included in organized drainage districts. In the watershed of the Wabash, 73,920 acres of overflow land remain. These are part of the bottomlands of the Wabash River and Bonpas Creek. In addition, there are 23,420 acres of wet upland areas. Drainage districts are tabulated as follows: Existing and Proposed Drainage Districts Number Watershed Area in acres Organized Districts 35 Little Wabash . 91,030 80 Big Vermilion . 358,745 66 Wabash . 213,120 102 Embarrass . 326,920 9 Skillet Fork . 87,630 292 Districts considered for organization 1,077,445 1 Little Wabash . 2,200 5 Big Vermilion . 22,635 2 Wabash . 3,240 8 Upland areas needing drainage 28,075 11 Little Wabash . 29,470 4 Big Vermilion . 20,650 7 Wabash . 23,420 22 Overflow areas 73,540 12 Wabash . 73,920 3 Embarrass . 52,000 9 Little Wabash . 96,320 7 Skillet Fork . 50,120 31 272,360 1 Illinois Geological Survey Division, “Engineering and Legal Aspects of Land Drainage in Illinois,” 1929. 17 Present conditions in some of the organized drainage districts in the basin, selected because they are subject to floods except where protective measures are taken, are shown in the following table: 1 2 Relative Merits of Seleetetl Drainage Distriets District County Assessed area acres Estimated value of land 1930 census per acre Total expendi¬ tures in district to date per acre Soil pro¬ ductiveness rating when district has adequate protection 8 Wabash River Watershed Granny Tweedle D&L . White. 1,476.62 43.00 37.03 4.4 Wabash Levee District No. 1 White. 2,756.51 43.00 13.30 5.3 Rochester and McCleary Bluff D&L .... Wabash. 4,857.17 86.00 34.92 4.2 England Pond D&L Lawrence. 6,262.86 33.00 20.13 5.2 Russell and Allison D&L Lawrence. 35,093.00 70.00 11.49 5.7 Ambraw Levee. Lawrence. 13,491.41 70.00 6.80 6.4 Otter Pond DD Lawrence. 5,042.00 70.00 8.79 6.4 Beaver Pond DD. Lawrence. 9,271.00 70.00 4.55 6.4 Little Wabash R ver Watersht ;cl Union Drainage District of Wayne and Edwards. Way ne-Ed wards 9,041.31 25.00 46.44 6.7 Embarrass Rive r Watershed Ambraw River DD Lawrence. 8,831.00 70.00 12.50 6.0 Green Briar DD. Crawford-Jasper 5,600.00 25.00 8.91 Green Briar Subdistrict No. 1 Crawford-Jasper 5,600.00 25.00 50.90 6.0 a Rating developed by College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, in which 1.0 represents the most productive and 10.0 represents the least productive grain crop land in the state. In Champaign, Coles, Douglas. Edgar, and Vermilion counties, about 1.802.240 acres are of the prairie type of game range in which timber is scarce except along the river courses. Quail, pheasants, Hungarian partridge, and cottontail rabbits are the principal game species of this area. In the remaining counties there are about 3,846,400 acres of the riverbreak type of game range which originally had some growth of hardwood scattered among the prairies. The original stock of turkey and deer has virtually disappeared, but squirrels, cottontail rabbits, and quail are still found in sufficient numbers to attract hunters. Prairie chickens have also persisted to a considerable extent in Cumberland County.- There is a state fish hatchery of 36 acres at Mattoon, in Coles County. Coles County has two state parks, the Lincoln Log Cabin and the Lox Ridge, the former covering 86 acres and the latter 510 acres. 3 There are no forest preserves in the basin, but several areas have been indicated as suitable for purchase for state forests by the College of Agriculture of the University of Illinois and by the U. S. Lorest Service. Details of these recommendations are given in Chapter IX. as are also the particulars of suggestions for further study of reservoirs for recreational purposes which would bring much needed playgrounds within the reach of smaller, scattered communities. 3 1 Illinois Division of Waterways, “Report on Drainage and Levee Districts in Illinois . . . Valleys,’’ 1936. 2 Leopold, Aldo, “Report on a Game Survey of the North Central States,” 1931. ' 3 Illinois Division of State Parks, "Illinois State Parks and Memorials,” 1937. 18 There is an adequate supply of surface water in the basin. Ground water is discussed in detail in Chapter V. There are 137 incorporated communities. Fifty of them, with a total population of 198,457, have public water supply systems, and 24 of the 50 have treatment works. The following communities purchase their water supply from other communities in the same basin: Bridgeport. Oblong, Robinson, Tilton, Urbatia, and Westville. 1 A number of communities either do not have water supply systems at present, or are in need of treatment works for existing facilities. These towns are listed in Chapter IX, where recommendations are made to meet their needs. Occasional levees have been constructed by the various drainage districts, but these do not in any sense constitute an organized attempt at flood control in the basin. Records of flood damage are fragmentary and cannot be obtained in sufficiently com¬ prehensive form to constitute an accurate picture of conditions. The following brief accounts consist mainly of excerpts from “Climatological Data,” a monthly publication of the U. S. Weather Bureau, in which occasional references are made to specific damage, in connection with the usual sectional reports. 2 Wabash River 1906 Crest of 23.6 feet reached at Mt. Carmel; wheat damaged. 1907 River in lower reaches flooded lands and caused great damage. Crest of 24.5 feet reached at Mt. Carmel. 1908 River at Mt. Carmel reached crest of 24.9 feet. 1910 Ice gorges and floods in Mt. Carmel vicinity caused damage estimated at $130,000. Entire Wabash valley damaged. 1911 River in flood at Mt. Carmel; loss placed at $50,000. 1913 Crest of 31 feet reached at Mt. Carmel, the highest recorded, 12 feet above flood stage. Width in vicinity of Mt. Carmel seven to 15 miles. River reported 40 miles wide through White County. 1914 River bottom inundated. 1916 Crest of 26.5 feet at Mt. Carmel. 1921 River in flood during December. 1922 Crest of 26 feet reached at Mt. Carmel; flood at Paris destroyed thousands of acres of wheat; 100,000 acres of wheat destroyed in Wabash County. 1923 River in flood for seven days. 1925 River out of banks. 1926 River flooded over wide range of territory. General property loss in Clark. Lawrence, Crawford. Edwards, White, and Gallatin counties placed at $257,300. 1927 Parts of Gallatin County flooded; damage estimated at $100,000. 1930 Crest of 27.1 feet reached at Mt. Carmel. 1933 River at 26 feet at Mt. Carmel. Damage to tangible property, loss to matured and growing crops, livestock, and business set at $615,000. 1937 Crest of 27 feet reached at Mt. Carmel. 1 Illinois Division of Sanitary Engineering, “Data on Illinois Public Water Supplies,” January, 1938. 2 U. S. Weather Bureau records for years given. 19 SERVED 20 LEGEND Ownership: M—Municipal. P —Private. Rater: M —Monthly. 2M—Two Months. Q —Quarterly. 6M—Semi-Annually Source: Y —Yearly. I —Impounding Reservoir C—Channel Dam. SANITARY ENGINEERING. JAN, 1938 Municipality County Po Total Mineral Content P. P. M. Hardness- -P. P. M. Iron— P. P. M. Range Dollars Ter 1000 Gallons Total Carbonate Raw Treat. Raw Treat. Raw Treat. Raw Treat Edwards. . 15 to .60 363 207 88 . 50 to 1.00 161 75 75 1 0 50 426 228 228 2 0 16 to 50 229 197 172 0 05 White. 10 to .20 209 96 15 Clark. 40 482 251 261 1 8 .30 to 60 664 392 325 0 4 c ,09 to .37 355 263 263 2 4 0 15 iy 2 to .50 281 228 191 .50 710 384 384 2 4 Vermilion. *3 13 to 38 246 206 178 Effingham. Effingham. .25 to 67 244 146 120 Wayne. 10 to 60 161 94 35 Clay. 40 to 60 242 135 45 Vermilion. .30 to 50 395 286 225 0 25 Edwards—White. .10 to .36 312 300 262 0 2 .25 to . 50 346 291 250 1 5 Vermilion. 15 to .44 358 278 278 0 9 Crawford.. 376 318 235 0 05 Edgar..._. .35 429 362 362 3 0 I-awrence... .20 to .60 229 197 172 0 05 ('lav. 293 lit) 42 Clark. 20 to .27‘A 304 231 231 0 3 Martinsville. Clark. .50 459 286 286 0.6 J6 y 2 to .35 500 361 361 2 0 Ford. .25 422 295 295 2.8 Wabash. 10 to .30 269 175 118 Neoga. Cumberland. 15 to 35 516 329 310 3 0 1 .173 304 65 304 3 0 0 05 Newton. Jasper. .35 to .60 362 218 209 Oakland.-. Coles. .50 694 416 416 1 2 5 Oblong._. Crawford.-. 15 to 60 304 252 197 0 2 Olnev. Richland . .15 to .50 92 54 30 Palestine . Crawford.-. 11 to 40 304 252 197 o 2 Paris. Edgar.... .10 to 40 222 175 144 Paxton.. Ford. .15 to .25 423 208 208 Rnntoul. ('hampaign. 10 to .35 319 260 260 Ridge Farm. Vermilion. .08 to 60 323 313 265 0 9 Robinson. ( rawford._. 11 to .40 304 252 l'*7 Rossville . Vermilion. .50 377 302 302 St. Francisville. Lawrence. .12 to .60 270 206 206 Sidell. Vermilion. .40 to .50 854 502 25.6 0.1 Tilton. Vermilion. 246 206 Toledo. Cumberland. .25 to .30 365 219 219 •» F> Tolono. Champaign. ate 679 380 380 3 7 Tuscola. Douglas.-. .20 to . 60 392 219 219 1.0 Urbana. C'hampaign. 00 to 37 Villa Grove. Douglas. 15 to .30 206 93 93 .05 Westfield. Clark . .35 334 187 1 s7 2.0 Westville. Vermilion. 246 206 178 Total Towns.... 60 Total Population. - SOURCES AN1) NATURE OF COMMUNITY WAFER SUPPLIES AND POPULATION SERVED IQ 20 LEGEND OwNKBSBir: M—Municipal. P —Private. Some*: I —Impounding Reservoir. C—Channel Dam. Treatment: P —Purification. S —Softening. I —Iron Removal. C —Chlorination. Cem.—Emergency Chlorin. Rec. —Rechlorination. Power Used: C —Coal. G —Gasoline. O —Oil. Em.—Elect. Gen. by Mun. Owner. Ep. —Elect. Gen. by Priv. Owner. FROM DATA ON ILLINOIS PUBLIC Well Pomp Type: To —Turbine, Oil Rubric. Tw.—Turbine, Water Lubric. A —Air Lift. D —Deep Well Pump. S —Suction. TER SUPPLIES, C. W. KLASSEN, DIVISION Rates: M —Monthly. 2M—Two Months. Q —Quarterly. 6M—Semi-Annually. Y —Yearly. OF SANITARY ENGINEERING, JAN, 1938 ( Treatment Storage—1000 Gals. Municipality County Population 1930 Owner¬ ship Date Inst. Source Kind Date Cap. MGD Ground Surface Ele¬ vated Total Albion__ Edwards. 1,666 1,225 1,686 M M M 1926 1935 1890 C Bon Pas Creek. PC PC 1926 1935 0.72 0.21 70. 60. 106.56 80. 60. 34. 150. 120. 140.56 Altamont._ Effingham. Drift Wells. 2,315 2,932 M 1912 From Lawrenceville- Cem 1931 76. 75. M 1894 Little Wabash River. PC 1925 0 725 200. 200. 400. Clark 2.200 813 20,348 8,012 M 1900 Drift Wells. C 1936 80. 80. Catlin__ Vermilion. M 1935 1885 1876 Drift Well. C IC PC 1935 1899 /1936\ 15. 1,500. 35. 1,000. 50. 2,600. Champaign- Champaign. Coles. P M C Embarrass River. 1,092 36.765 4.978 M 1905 Drift Well. \1912/ 2.0 120. 4.5 200. 34.5 320. 39.0 CLx iftLkIBB--—— p 1883 T. N. Fk. Vermilion. PC 1902 7.0 900. 900. p 1895 I Little Wabash. PC 1917 0.9 286. 180. 466. Fairfield. .-. Wavne. 3.280 M M M 1913 1911 1934 Little Wabash River. PC PC PC 1926 1932 1935 0.7 1 0 80. 150. 34. 70. 100. 100. 150. 250. 134. Flora - Clay.. 3.407 C. L. Vermilion River ... 0.24 1,904 1,062 M 1895 Drift Wells. 35. 35. vjitiN » me —.—-———•- M 1897 Drift Wells. 60. 60. 5! 613 604 M 1888 415. 415. M 1936 75. 75. 900 M 1915 Drift Wells . 50. 50. 6,303 P 1898 Drift Wells . Cem 1928 330. 75. 405. CIrv 803 M 1899 Little Wabash .. PC 1937 0.13 23. 30. 63. 2,368 1,206 14,631 M 1900 Drift Wells . C 1931 80. 80. Clark M 1923 Drift Wells . 60. 00. M 1855 /Drift Wells and 1 Little\ \ Wabash . J PSIC 1937 2.2 1,251.7 155. 1,406.7 Melvii 499 M 1908 Drift WelL . 50. 50. Mount Carmel . 7,132 995 M 1893 Wabash River .. PC /1893\ M 1915 11934/ 1.5 162. 250. 50. 412. 50. 1,054 2,076 1,036 1,427 6,140 1,670 8,781 M 1935 Drift Well . SI 1936 0.14 100. 100. M 1895 Embarrass River.—- PC 1927 .57 65. 80. 145. M 1910 40. 40. M 1926 From Palestine—. 80. 80. 160. M 1892 I Fox River . . - PC 1927 1.5 96. 150. 246. P 1916 Drift WelL . M 1892 I Sugar Creek.— . PC 1922 2.0 260. 106. 366. Pm Lon 2,892 1.555 M 1887 Drift Wells . 130. 34. 166. M 1885 Drift Wells . 70. 70. 140. 888 M 1935 Drift Well . 60. 60. 3,668 1,453 1,202 655 P 1896 From Palestine. .. SO. 80. M 1904 Drift Wells . 50. 50. M M p 1928 Drift Wells. 60. 60. KrleU 1928 Drift Well. 60. 60. 1,394 1909 From Danville. 50. 50. 733 M M p 1800 Drift Wells. 40. 40. 790 1895 Drift Wells. 75. 75. DougJa*. 2,569 13,060 1898 Rock Wells. c 1910 149. 75. 224. U rr/ttn*. Champaign. P 1885 (Same supply as \ Champaign. 2,001 646 M M 1915 1913 Rock Wells. SI 1936 0.4 85. 85. 60. Westfield. . Clark . Drift and Rock Well. 60. West villa... 3,901 M 1932 From Danville. 198,723 Rates Total Mineral Content Hardness- -P. P. M Iron— P. P M Power Used Pumpage 1000 G. P. D. Well Pump Type Min. Charge Range P. P. M. Total Carbonate How Paid S Amount 1000 Gallons Dollars Ter 1000 Gallons Raw Treat. Raw Treat, j Raw Treat. Raw Treat Ep G Em 35 M 1.25 2 . 15 to .60 353 207 88 25 SD M .75 .75 .50 to 1 00 161 75 75 1 0 Ep 25 D Q 2.00 4 50 426 228 228 2 0 M .75 1 .15 to .50 229 197 172 0 05 Em O 150 M 1.25 2 10 to .20 209 96 15 .. | 175 S M .75 1 .40 482 251 251 1.8 Ep Ep G Ep O ip c 10 D M 1.50 2.5 .30 to .60 664 392 325 0 4 3.300 1,250 20 To D Q M 1.67 4.5 .09 to .37 355 263 263 2.4 1 0 15 1.50 3 .06^ to .50 .50 281 228 191 A M 1.00 2 710 384 384 . 2.4 4,200 600 225 M .50 1 .13 to .38 246 206 178 Ep M 1.00 1 5 .25 to .67 244 146 120 M 1.50 2.5 . 10 to .60 161 94 35 . Ep G 150 M 1.00 2 40 to . 60 242 1.35 45 Ep Ep G Em Ep C E M 2.00 4 .30 to .60 395 286 225 6.25 j . 900 40 500 D M .90 2.6 .10 to .36 312 300 262 0.2 I .... s Tw D M Y 50 1 .25 to .50 346 291 250 1 5 8.76 20 .15 to .44 358 278 278 0 9 376 .318 235 0 05 I Ep Ep CE Em Ep G Ep 25 800 18 450 25 1,400 D To D s Q M M M Q Q .75 1.00 2.00 .55 1.80 2.10 2 35 429 362 362 3 0 1.5 .20 to .60 229 197 172 0 05 293 110 42 . 0 35 . . .. . s 2 .20 to .27i/£ .50 06J^ to .35 304 231 231 0 3 ... D Tw To D 3 7 5 459 500 286 286 0.6 1 . 361 361 2,0 1 Ep G 20 D Q 1.75 3 .25 422 295 295 2 8 Ep G Ep Ep Em C Ep Ep G Ep G Ep 900 60 M M .75 1.00 3 .10 to .30 .15 to .35 269 175 118 S 2.S6 516 1.173 329 310 3 0 .304 65 304 30 1 006 200 10 16 260 40 Q M M M M Q Q Q M M M M Q 1.50 .50 1.50 1.00 1.00 2.50 1.00 1.75 1.50 1 00 .75 1.25 3.00 2 5 .35 to .60 .50 ,15 to .60 .15 to . 50 .11 to .40 .10 to .40 .15 to .25 .10 to .35 . 08 to . 60 .11 to .40 .50 .12 to .60 .40 to .50 362 2 IS 209 D Booster 1 2 5 694 304 92 416 416 12 5 !. 252 197 0 2 . 0 54 .30 S 2.5 6 304 252 175 208 197 144 208 6.2_ Ep Ep 500 150 480 25 360 40 10 8 D T D T 423 319 323 —— 0 6 260 260 >1 o Ep Ep Ep Ep Ep Ep 2.5 313 265 0.9 1 _ S D D S 2.5 1.5 A 304 377 270 854 246 >5i? 197 0.2 302 302 1 9 _ 206 206 0 5 1__ 5 502 255 0.1 206 >19 380 ITS 219 380 Ep Ep Ep 50 SO D To D A Q M 3.00 1.00 Fla 1.5 Rate .20 to .60 365 679 392 219 219 1.9 _ o 1 67 4.5 .09 to .37 Ep Ep 65 14 D M M .75 1.00 9 9 .15 to .30 .35 476 334 206 187 93 206 93 ISC 2 0 246 . 206 178 1 21 Embarrass River Flood records of 1910. 1926, and 1929 show serious damage. In July, 1910. crops were damaged and destroyed with an estimated loss placed at $350,000. During the early fall of 1926, a dam at Charleston was swept out, flooding the city. Several bridges were washed away. Damage in Lawrence County was placed at $77,000. During May, 1929. the main and tributary streams were in flood most of the month, causing destruction of crops. Little Wabash River Floods of varying intensity have been matters of record ever since the land was settled. High water marks are still visible on many old buildings, recalling the floods of 1875. 1876, 1887, and 1893. During 1898, water covered the lowlands to a depth of from five to nine feet. During the present century. 10 floods have been recorded — in 1904. 1905, 1906, 1913, 1915. 1919, 1922. 1926, 1929, and 1930. The results have been great losses to residential, public, and industrial property; losses of crops, both matured and growing; business suspension losses, etc. Skillet Fork Flood conditions throughout this watershed have been similar to those in the Little Wabash watershed. Records indicate one of the highest known floods on the lower portion of the stream in 1907. For the upper portion of the stream, a high record was established during 1904. V G R O U N I) WATER Data are meager on ground water variation throughout the basin. If, however, the locations of communities using ground water are indications of its availability, it may be assumed that the northern part of the basin has an adequate available supply. The south¬ ern part now utilizes surface water for its principal supplies. There are 34 communities, distributed throughout the basin, except in its southwesterly portion, which now get their supply from drift and rock wells. A list of these towns is given in Chapter IV. In general, drift well supplies, sufficient for municipal and indus¬ trial purposes, may be obtained in the area lying north of the south line of Park and Cum¬ berland counties. The drift is thin in the southern section, and abundant supplies are available only in the Wabash River bottoms. Only two towns in this basin use rock wells exclusively. There is one town using a combination of rock and drift wells. In many parts of the basin, attempts to sink wells below the drift have resulted either in failure to obtain any water, or in failure to obtain water satisfactory for ordinary domestic and industrial uses. The elevation of the drift water table fluctuates in accordance with the amount of precipitation, the rate of withdrawal, and variations in the temperature and humidity. The reservoirs suggested in Chapter IX, if built, should help to maintain a higher water level within the drift in their surrounding areas. The mineral content of the ground water supply, both rock wells and drift wells, varies considerably throughout the basin. 1 ’ 2 1 Illinois Division of Sanitary Engineering, “Data on Illinois Public Water Supplies,’’ January, 1938. 2 Gerber, W. D., Engineer, State Water Survey Division, Urbana, Illinois, letter dated July 21, 1936. 22 V I POLLUTION OF STREAMS AND GROUND SOURCES Of the 137 incorporated towns in the basin, only 26 have sewer systems. Of these, 15 have sewage treatment. Sanitary Facilities, by Population Groups Classifi- POPULATION GROUPS cation of towns Below 500 500-1,500 1,500-2,500 Over 2,500 Total No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of towns Pop. towns Pop. towns Pop. towns Pop. towns Pop. Total towns. 69 21,389 39 32,553 10 19,441 19 158,805 137 232,188 With sewers. 0 4 4,937 2,422 2,515 6 12,123 16 149,443 110,433 39,010 26 166,503 T reated . 0 2 2 3,336 8,787 11 15 116,191 Untreated 0 2 4 5 11 50,312 Without sewers . 69 21,389 35 27,616 4 7,318 3 9,362 111 65,685 Inasmuch as lack of such facilities may be regarded as a potential menace to public health, municipalities discharging untreated sewage into the streams are considered sources of pollution. The Department of Public Health has made recommendations for sewer systems and treatment works wherever conditions warrant them (see Chapter IX). The Division of Sanitary Engineering is cooperating with mine owners in an attempt to eliminate pollution from mine waste. Serious pollution of all sources of water supply from oil field wastes is found in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, and Crawford counties. Drain¬ age ditches carry eroded soil into the main streams, but pollution from this source is not serious. Pollution from sewage and industrial waste was present in the river above four of 26 communities studied. Results of observations are summarized in the following table. 1 ’ 2 1 Illinois Division of Sanitary Engineering, “Illinois Public Sewer Systems and Sewage Treatment Works,” June, 1934, (corrected to August, 1936). s Illinois Sanitary Water Board, "Annual report . . . 1935.” 23 24 Study of Sources and Nature of Stream Pollution Above and Below 26 Communities in Wabash Basin County City Popula¬ tion Outlet stream Type of treatment 3 - Condition Indus¬ trial waste b Com¬ plaints Above Below Champaign. Champaign... f 20,348 Joined with Champaig r n-Urbana Sar litary E fistrict Urbana. 1 1 3 060 Salt Fork. IPFtSB OK OK. None No Clark Casey. 2,200 Trib. North Fork.... None OK. Poll. None Yes Embarrass Marshall. 2,368 Trib. Big Creek. None Poll. Poll. None Yes Clay .. Flora. 4 393 Seminary Creek. GT OK Poll. N one Yes Coles.. Charleston. 8,012 Trib. Riley Creek.. None OK. Poll. Md Yes Mattoon. 14,631 Trib. Riley Creek.. None OK. Poll. None Yes Crawford Oblong. 1 427 Trib. Big Creek. . T OK. Poll. None Yes Palestine. 1 670 IFs OK OK. None Yes Robinson. 3 668 Sugar Creek. IB OK. Poll. R No Cumberland.... Greenup. 1 062 Trib. Embarrass.... None OK Poll. None Yes Neoga. 995 Trib. Little Wabash T OK. Poll. Md No Edgar Paris. 8 781 Trib. Sugar Creek T Poll Poll. PkPoMd No Albion. 1 666 Trib. Butter Creek IB OK Poll. None No Effingham. 4 978 GIB OK Poll. MrCt Yes Lawrence. Bridgeport. 2,315 Indian Creek. None OK. Poll. None No Lawrenceville... 6,303 Embarrass River.... None OK. Poll. R No Richland Olney. 6 140 Trib. Br. Fox River IFsB Poll Poll. Vi Yes Vermilion. Danville. 36765 Big Vermilion River UC OK. Poll. PkBMd Yes Georgetown. 3,407 Br. Ellis Creek. T OK. Poll. None Yes Hoopeston. 5,613 Trib. Big Vermilion T Poll. Poll. Cc Yes North Fork Rossville. 1,453 North Fork Big.... None OK. Poll. CtCaCc Yes Vermilion W abash Mt. Carmel. 7,132 Trib Wabash River None OK. Poll. Pa Yes Wayne Fairfield. 3',280 Johnson Creek T OK. Poll. MdL Yes White.... Carmi. 2,932 Little Wabash River None OK. Poll. Md No Grayville. 1,904 Wabash River. None OK. Poll. None No Total pop jlation:. 166,503 a Type of Treatment: 1) Type of Industrial Wastes: Pa Paper mill B Sludge beds Br Brewery Pk Packing plant Fs Sand filter C Cannery Po Poultry Ft Trickling filter Ca Asparagus R Refinery G Grit chamber Cc Corn Vi Vinegar works I Imhoff tanks Ct Tomato P Pumps L Laundry S Secondary settling tank Mr Milk receiving station T Septic tank Md Dairy products and evaporating UC Under construction V I I SUMMARY OF DEFICIENCIES AND FUTURE NEEDS The Wabash basin has no commercially navigable streams. Large areas of bottomland are subject to periodic overflow, but no attempts have been made to protect them by regulating flood discharges of the streams. Further study of the streams is necessary to determine whether or not any organized program of flood control would be economically sound. The demand for water and the available supplies are covered specifically in Chapters IV and V, and a number of towns having no water supply systems are listed in Chapter IX. The northern half of the basin, depending primarily on drift wells, suffers from seasonal fluctuations of the water table. The southern half, which depends chiefly on sur¬ face water, is seriously affected by shrinkage of streams during periods of low precipitation. Power requirements are fully met by existing public utilities, and there is no economic justification for developing hydro-electric power. Organized drainage districts include most of the productive land that can be drained and cultivated. Conditions in these districts are detailed in Chapter IV. With possible exception of scattered areas in Vermilion and Champaign counties, no further drainage appears practical. Judged by standard requirements, the basin is deficient in recreational facilities. Re¬ servoirs for recreational purposes and additional areas to be developed as parks and forest preserves are proposed in Chapter IX. Some of these projects can be utilized as game preserves and wild-life refuges to augment present facilities. Pollution of streams from industrial sources, oil fields, and mine waste is being re¬ duced through activities of the Division of Sanitary Engineering. In Chapter VI, pollution from all sources is discussed, and in Chapter IX recommendations are made for construc¬ tion of sewer systems and treatment plants to supply basic sanitary requirements. More stream gaging stations and precipitation stations are needed to study hydrologic characteristics. These are recommended in Chapter IX, as are recording wells, to observe fluctuations of the ground water table. 25 VIII COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT The following factors should be considered in a comprehensive plan for develop¬ ment of water resources: Urban population is concentrated chiefly in the portions of Vermilion, Champaign, and Coles counties which form part of this basin. The remainder of the population is rather evenly distributed. Except in the extreme north, most of the land available for crops is poor and unproductive. The average value of land and buildings combined is highest in the five northern counties, where it is about $150 an acre, reaching a maxi¬ mum of $240 an acre in Champaign County. Excluding these five counties, the average varies from $30 to $60 an acre. In general, the basin is rural and agricultural, although there are some small manu¬ facturing plants in the larger towns. Production of oil and gas in the east central portion is considerable, a development that has raised the annual per capita wealth created by all forms of endeavor to $500 in Crawford County and $350 in Lawrence and Wabash counties. Mainly because of farm production, annual per capita wealth of the five north¬ ern counties averages about $400. There is severe damage from floods, a large proportion of the bottomlands being regularly overflowed. Slight loss from sheet erosion occurs in the rich agricultural lands of the north portion. The central and southern parts, having thin soil and a water-resistant subsoil, are seriously damaged by the rapid run-off. As in other areas of southern Illinois, the death rates from tuberculosis and typhoid are high in the southern portion, decreasing toward the north. The Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, reported unfavorably on canalization of the Wabash River, since probable traffic would not be sufficient to justify construction of a waterway. High tablelands in the north and relatively impervious subsoil in the central and southern sections cause a disproportionately rapid run-off of precipitation, and the dis¬ charge capacities of the streams are normally insufficient to accommodate it. All the rivers periodically overflow large areas of bottomland. It would be impracticable to con¬ fine them within levees. The run-off, however, would be controlled to a considerable extent by damming the headwaters to create detention reservoirs. Since the streams emptying into the Wabash from Edgar and Clark counties, and from adjacent Indiana areas, often assume torrential proportions after a few hours’ rain, their cumulative effect aggravates flood conditions on the Wabash in its Indiana-Illinois course. The combined discharges of the Little Wabash and Embarrass rivers and the Skillet Fork contribute to the disastrous floods near the confluence of the Wabash and 26 27 Ohio rivers. Controlling the discharges from these three streams would have an appre¬ ciable effect upon the Ohio. Information presented in Chapters IV and V indicates that water supply is a serious problem. The greater portion of the northern section is dependent on drift wells. In the southern section, surface water is the main source of supply. In the drift well zone, strata tapped are too thin to permit storage adequate to accommodate withdrawal during periods of slight precipitation, which generally occur in summer. Also, the tight subsoil prevents infiltration at a rate sufficient to replenish the drift strata. Supply decreases dur¬ ing drought periods in the surface water zone, and the quality is so affected that treat¬ ment becomes necessary. Strategically located reservoirs would be of great benefit in providing a continuous and dependable water supply. They would bring the source near to the communities need¬ ing it and would tend to raise the level of the water table within tbe drift that overlies this area. They should also partially control excessive run-off. Certain reservoirs to accom¬ plish these purposes are proposed in Chapter IX. However, only a limited number of sites can be selected without a survey because topographical maps are lacking. Recreational facilities are insufficient. There are no natural lakes, and the areas reserved for forests and parks are inadequate for the needs of the population. Certain additional areas have been proposed for purchase and conversion into parks and forest preserves I see map No. 5, Appendix). Suggestions are made in Chapter IX for tbe fur¬ ther study of reservoirs to be used for recreational purposes. Portions of the reservoir areas indicated for water supply may also be used for such purposes. Game and fish stocks have seriously decreased in this area, and facilities for their conservation and propagation should be established. Cumberland County has the largest existing concentration of prairie chickens, and measures are being considered to increase the number of that game bird and to effect distribution from that county to the sur¬ rounding area. Chapter IV contains information concerning the extent and relative merits of drain¬ age districts. In the northern section, they include good, productive soil and should be maintained, but throughout the central and southern sections the soil is not, as a rule, sufficiently productive to warrant additional reclamation. Construction of levees along the rivers draining the central and southern sections probably would tend to aggravate flood conditions above the levees. There is no need for irrigation, as precipitation is adequate and well distributed. Pollution of streams from all sources should be eliminated as quickly as possible, especially in the southern part, where a high mortality rate from typhoid is an indication of urgent need. Conditions are aggravated by oil fields in the east central counties which pollute the water supplies of Crawford, Clark, Cumberland, and Coles counties. State and federal authorities have sponsored projects for the construction of sanitary outdoor toilets, and wherever economically justifiable, the Division of Sanitary Engineering, De¬ partment of Public Health, has recommended construction of sewage treatment works (see Chapter IX) and is giving its attention to the abatement of pollution from industrial waste, oil fields, and similar sources. Additional stream gaging and precipitation stations are needed in order to facilitate a complete study of the hydrologic characteristics of the basin. Such studies are essential 23 in long-range plans to conserve the water resources and to eliminate deficiencies. Pro¬ posals for such additional stations are contained in Chapter IX. Specifically they are as follows: Precipitation Stations Recommended for Reopening: Location Cost of reopening Annual cost of operation City County Rantoul Champaign.. $soo $100 Melrose. Clark......... 500 100 Sumner. Lawrence. 500 100 Gravville. White. 500 100 Stream Gaging Stations Recommended for Construction: Instal- Annual Location lation cost of cost operation Permanent Stations: North Fork of Big Vermilion River. $ 2,000 $ 400 near West Newell Middle Fork of Big Vermilion River. 2,000 400 near Pilot Salt Fork of Big Vermilion River. 2,000 400 near Tilton Embarrass River at Westport. 2,000 400 15-Year Temporary Stations: Little Vermillion River at Georgeton. 1,200 400 Ivickapoo Creek near Charleston. 1,200 400 Salt Fork at Urbana. 1,200 400 Cottonwood Creek at Toledo. 1,200 400 Fifteen observation wells are recommended for construction, equipped with auto¬ matic devices to record fluctuations of the wrnter in the deep rock strata within the basin. The cost for each well is estimated at $5,000. Recommendations for such wells are made in Chapter IX. I X CLASSIFICATION AND SCHEDULE OF CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The projects discussed in this chapter have been divided into three groups to cor¬ respond with the classification of the projects for construction as follows: Group I —Projects for immediate construction. Group II —Projects for deferred construction. Group III—Projects for indeterminate construction. Group I The following projects are recommended for survey and design with a view toward immediate construction, in accordance with considerations set up in previous chapters. The estimated cost of construction shown for each municipal project is computed by means of formulae derived by comparing the ratios between the actual costs of similar improvements and the population in a large number of cities having populations up to 50,000. The estimated costs shown for gaging and precipitation stations, and observation wells are suggested by the United States Geological Survey. Projects for Immediate Construction Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Albion. Water treatment extension. 10,000 a b Albion. Sewage treatment extension.- 75,000 « a Altamont. Sewer system... 77,000 a it Altamont. Sewage treatment.... 29,000 u a Areola. Water treatment.... 18,000 a a Areola. Sewer system. 106,000 it u Areola. Sewage treatment. 30,000 ti a Bluford. Water system. 24,000 ii a Bridgeport. Water treatment. 21,000 if a Bridgeport. Sewage treatment. 35,000 it a Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation; field survey not made. 29 30 Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Carmi. Sewage treatment. 40 000 a b Casey. Water treatment extension. 30,000 “ “ Casey. Sewage treatment. 3^ 000 « Catlin. Water treatment extension.. 10,000 “ Catlin. Sewer system. 51,000 i » Catlin. Sewage treatment. 21 000 a ii Champaign. Water treatment extension.... 100,000 “ ii Chrisman. Water treatment. 14 000 “ i 4 Chrisman. Sewer system. 6 ( > 000 a a Chrisman. Sewage treatment. 24 000 « a Clay City. Water system. 33 000 a Crossville. Water system. 23 000 « a Dahlgren. Water system. 29 000 a a Danville. Water treatment extension.... 25,000 “ a Effingham. Water treatment extension. .. 25,000 “ a Enfield. Water svstem. 34 000 ii a Fairfield. Water treatment extension ... 25,000 a a Fairfield. Sewage treatment extension.. 75,000 a e Fairmount. Water system. 34 000 n b Flat Rock. Water system. 27 000 a ii Georgetown. Water treatment extension. 25,000 a a Georgetown. Sewage treatment extension.. 75,000 “ e Grayville. Water treatment. 10,000 it b Grayville. Sewage treatment. 33 000 u a Greenup. Water system extension. .. 40 000 a a Greenup. Water treatment. 20,000 « a Greenup. Sewage treatment. 23,000 a Homer. Water system. 42,000 a a Homer. Sewer system. 58 000 a a Homer. Sewage treatment. 22 000 a a Hoopeston.. Water treatment... 32 000 a Hoopeston. Sewage treatment extension. 60,000 “ a Hume. Water system. 27 000 a a Kansas. Water treatment. 13,000 a a Kansas. Sewer system. 57 000 a a Kansas. Sewage treatment. 22 000 a a Lawrenceville. Water treatment. 34,000 a Lawrenceville ... Sewage treatment... 58 000 a e Macon . Water treatment. 12,000 a b Macon. Sewer svstem. 51,000 “ a Macon . Sewage treatment. 21 000 a a Marshall . Water treatment. 21 000 a a Martinsville. Water treatment. 16 000 a a Martinsville. Sewer system ... 76 000 a a Martinsville. Sewage treatment. 28 000 tt a Melvin. Water system. 23,000 a a Melvin. Sewer system. 31,000 a a Melvin . Sewage treatment 17,000 a it Mt. Carmel.- Sewage treatment. 64,000 a a Neos^a. Water treatment. . 13,000 a a r. Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation ; field survey not made. e Project under negotiation. 31 Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Neoga. Sewer extension. 50,000 a b Neoga. Sewage treatment. 23,000 a a Newman. Sewer system. 66,000 “ a Newman. Sewage treatment. 23,000 it a Newton. Sewer system 131 000 it Newton. Sewage treatment 33 000 it a Oakland. Water treatment . 13 000 it a Oakland. Sewer system. . 65 000 it Oakland. Sewage treatment.... 23 000 it a Oakwood. Water system 24 000 a a Oblong. Water treatment 16 000 it a Oblong. Sewage treatment extension.. 3o!ooo it a Olney. Water treatment extension. .. 25,000 it a Palestine. Water treatment 35 000 it a Palestine. Sewage treatment extension 15,000 a a Paris. Water treatment extension. .. 25,000 u a Paris. Sewage treatment extension.. 150,000 tt a Paxton. Water treatment.... 23 000 a a Paxton. 40 000 a a Philo. 24 000 a a Potomac. 30 000 a Rantoul. 17 000 a a Rantoul. 98 000 tt a Rantoul. 29 000 it a Ridgefarm. 12 000 tt it Ridgefarm. 56 000 tt a Ridgefarm. 21 000 n a Robinson. 26 000 tt a Robinson. Sewage treatment extension.. 35,000 11 e Rossville. 16 000 a b Rossville.. Sewage treatment 28 000 t* a St. Francisville. Water treatment. 15 000 a a St. Francisville. 76 000 tt a St. Francisville. ?6000 n tt St. Joseph. 36 000 ft a Sidell. Water treatment 11 000 it a Sided. 3 5 000 it a Sided. Sewage treatment 19 000 it a Sidney. 25 000 i* a Sumner. Water system 44 000 it u Teutopolis. Water system 33 000 it a Teutopolis. Sewer system 45 000 it a Teutopolis. Sewage treatment. 20^000 it a Tilton. Sewer system 88 000 it u Tilton. 27 000 it a T oledo. Water treatment 12 000 a a Toledo. Sewer system 46 000 it u Toledo. Sewage treatment 20 000 a a Tolono. Water treatment 12 000 it a Tolono. Sewer system 50,000 it a a Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation ; field survey not made. • Project under negotiation. 32 Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Tolono. Sewage treatment. 21,000 a b Tuscola. Water treatment extension. .. 25,000 << ii Tuscola. Sewer system. 162 000 <• e Tuscola. Sewage treatment. 38,000 << e Villa Grove. Sewer system. 126 000 << b Villa Grove . Sewage treatment 133 000 a a Wayne City. Water system. 27 000 i* a Westfield Water treatment. 11 000 it a Westfield. Sewer system. 41 000 a a W estfield. Sewage treatment. 19,000 a a West Salem. Water system. 38 000 it a West Salem Sewer system. 52 000 it a West Salem. Sewage treatment. 21 000 a u Westville. Sewer system. 246,000 it e Westville. Sewage treatment. 47 000 tt e Xenia. Water system. 26 000 it b Wabash River Basin. 4 Temporary gaging stations... 5,000 C d Wabash River Basin. 4 Permanent gaging stations (5) $2,000 . 8,000 it ii Wabash River Basin. 5 Precipitation stations @ $'00 . 2,500 a ii Wabash River Basin. 15 Observation wells @ $5,000 . 75,000 a ii Total. $5,156,500 a Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation; field survey not made, c United States Geological Survey, d Project required for adequate records. e Project under negotiation. Group II The projects included in this group are for consideration in a 10-year construction program. Those listed below are needed, but not to an extent requiring recommendation for immediate construction. Estimated costs were computed on the same basis as the costs of those shown under Group I. Purchase of certain areas for conversion into state forests has been recommended in this group. It is estimated that the cost of acquiring these lands will be approximately $20 per acre. State forests listed in the table of projects are further described as follows: Proposed Middle Fork State Forest: An area in Vermilion County, occupying the southwest portion of Blount Township, the southeast portion of Pilot Township, the northeast portion of Oakwood Township, and the north portion of Catlin Township. Total area . 8,640 acres Approximate cost to acquire. $173,000 33 Proposed Little Wabash State Forest: An area in Wayne County, occupying the east half and part of the northwest portion of Mt. Erie Township, most of Massilon Township, the east part of Jasper Township, and the western part of Shelby Township. Total area . 36,480 acres Approximate cost to acquire. $730,000 Proposed Mt. Vernon State Forest: An area in Jefferson County, occupying all of Farrington Township and the east half of Fields Township. Total area . 34,560 acres Approximate cost to acquire . $691,000 Proposed Skillet Fork State Forest: An area in Wayne County, occupying most of Berry Township, part of the northeast quarter of Arrington Township, the north portion of Big Mound Township, part of the southwest quarter of Grover Township, and most of Lombard Township. Total area . 43.040 acres Approximate cost to acquire . $861,000 Proposed McLeansboro State Forest: An area in Hamilton County, occupying most of Crook Township and part of the northeast quarter of Mayberry Township. The total area of this proposed state forest is 23.040 acres, but only approximately 11,000 acres are in the Wabasb River basin. Total area . 11.000 acres Approximate cost to acquire . $220,000 Proposed Martinsville State Forest: An area in Clark County, occupying the southern part of Dolson Township, the north¬ ern part of Martinsville Township, and the western part of Auburn Township. Total area . 23,000 acres Approximate cost to acquire . $460,000 Projects for Deferred Construction Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Allerton. Sewer system. 21,000 13,000 10,000 a b Allerton. Sewage treatment. u a Altamont. Water treatment extension a u Bluford. Sewer system. 23,000 17,000 10,000 (< Bluford. Sewage treatment. it a Carmi. Water treatment extension ... u a Charleston. Water treatment extension.... 50,000 45,000 21,000 32,000 it u Clay City. Sewer system. u f Clay City. Sewage treatment (( f Crossville. Sewer system. « b a Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation ; field survey not made, f Project under negotiation. 34 Name of project location Purpose Esti¬ mated cost ($) Report¬ ing agency Status and Remarks Crossville. Sewage treatment 17 000 a b Dahlgren. Sewer system 39 000 a it Dahlgren. Sewage treatment 18 boo a it Enfield. Sewer system 47 000 a a Enfield. Sewage treatment. 20 000 a a Fairmount. Sewer system. 47 000 a a Fairmount. Sewage treatment 20 000 a a Flat Rock.. Sewer svstem.. 37 000 a a Flat Rock. Sewage treatment.... 19,000 a a Flora. Water treatment extension.... 10,000 a a Hume. Sewer system. 37 000 « a Hume. Sewage treatment 18 000 a a Hutsonville. Sewer system... 38 000 a a Hutsonville. Sewage treatment 19 000 a a Mt. Carmel.... Water treatment extension.... 10,000 “ a Newton. Water treatment extension.. 10,000 a a Oakwood. Sewer system.... 23 000 u a Oakwood.. Sewage treatment 17,000 a a Philo. Sewer system . ... 23 000 u a Philo. Sewage treatment 17,000 a a Potomac. Sewer system . 41 000 a a Potomac. Sewage treatment 19 000 a St. Joseph.. Sewer system. 49.000 a a St. Joseph. Sewage treatment... 20,000 a a Sidney. Sewer system. 24,000 a a Sidney. Sewage treatment. 17.000 a a Sumner. Sewer system. 61,000 a a Sumner. Sewage treatment. . 23,000 a a Wayne City. Sewer system. 36,000 a a Wayne City. Sewage treatment. 18.000 a a Xenia. Sewer svstem. 35,000 a a Xenia. Sewage treatment 17,000 a a Middle Fork. State forest. 173.000 c, d e Little Wabash... State forest. 730.000 a a Mt. Vernon. State forest. 691,000 tt a Skillet Fork...... State forest. 861.000 a a McLeansboro. State forest. 320.000 c a Martinsville. State forest. 460,000 a a Total. $4,223,000 a Illinois Department of Public Health, Chief Sanitary Engineer. b Project required by sanitary situation ; field survey not made, c U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, d College of Agriculture of the University of Illinois. e Purchase recommended to delay run-off, prevent erosion, and retire submarginal lands. Group III The reservoir projects listed and described in the following pages are recommended for investigation and analysis of their individual problems and merits. The sites pro¬ posed were selected by inspection of the United States Geological Survey sheets showing the areas in which they lie. All areas were computed by planimeter and are be¬ lieved to be reasonably correct. In the description accompanying each of these proposed 35 reservoirs, the obvious primary purposes for their construction have been indicated. Detailed examination may disclose additional, or more desirable, uses which may change the dimensions estimated for height of dam and reservoir capacity. Because of these pos¬ sibilities. no attempt was made to correlate run-off of drainage area with capacity of reservoir. Before a final decision can he made as to the sites and designs of these dams, an exam'nation on the ground will be necessary to determine the feasibility of their con¬ struction. the needs of the population, and the economic status of the areas which will he served. The estimated costs of such further study should not exceed an average of $3,000 each. Estimated construction costs of these proposed dams are based on current unit costs for similar projects. The value of the land to be acquired for llowage rights is assumed to be $50 per acre within the northern portion of the basin and $20 per acre over the southern portion. Projects for Indeterminate Construction No. 1: Location of dam. Drainage area: Apparently ample: Surface area at elevation 480. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam.. Estimated total cost of project. .SE 14 Sec. 20; T 3 N; R 14 W. U.S.G.S. sheets missing. . 429 ac. . 4.290 ac. ft. . 30 ft. . 425 ft. .$ 61,705. This dam is located across Bonpas Creek, about three miles south of Claremont. The northern end of the reservoir which it will create approaches Claremont within a few hundred feet. Several county roads cross the site of the proposed reservoir, which will be used as a recreational center for Claremont and surrounding communities. No. 2: Location of dam. Drainage area: Apparently ample: Surface area at elevation 500. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam.. Estimated total cost of project. .NE 14 Sec. 17; T 3 N; R 12 W. U.S.G.S. sheets missing. . 96 ac. . 544 ac. ft. . 17 ft. . 330 ft. .$ 32,940. This dam is located across Honey Creek. Illinois Highway No. 33 passes about 1 ]/ 2 miles north of the reservoir site, and improved roads lead directly to it, making it easily ac¬ cessible as a recreational center. No. 3: Location of dam. Drainage area . Surface area at elevation 500 Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project. SW Sec. 6; T 5 N; R 11 W. . 2.19 sq. mi. . 128 ac. . 853 ac. ft. . 20 ft. . 600 ft. .$ 62,560. This dam is across a small creek tributary to Brushy Creek and very close to the town of Flat Rock. Illinois Highwa y No. 1 runs through Flat Hock. This reservoir can be used as a source of water supply for Flat Hock and as a recreational center for that town and surrounding communities. 36 No. 4: Location of dam.. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 500.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project Center Sec. 14; T 5 N, R 12 W. . 4.2 sq. mi. 142 ac. . 947 ac. ft. . 20 ft. . 425 ft. .$ 45.340. I his dam lies across Sugar Creek, about three miles southwest of Flat Rock. Illinois Highway No. 1 passes two miles to the west of the reservoir site, and good roads lead directly to it, making it adaptable as a recreational center for surrounding communities. No. 5: Location of dam... Drainage area: Apparently ample; Surface area at elevation 600. Capacity ... Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project. .SE l/ 4 Sec. 27; T 10 N; R 10 E. U.S.G.S. sheets missing. 499 ac. 5,822 ac. ft. 35 ft. 700 ft. $111,480. This dam lies across Long Point Creek, about 300 feet north of U. S. Highway No. 40 and the Pennsylvania railroad tracks which are adjacent to the highway at this point. The reservoir is ideally located to serve as a recreational center. No. 6: (See end of list.) No. 7: Location of dam. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 590.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project SW % Sec. 32; T 11 N; R 10 E. . 4.5 sq. mi. . 160 ac. . 1,333 ac. ft. .. 25 ft. . 600 ft. .$ 70,400. This dam lies across Opossum Creek, about 21/2 miles northwest of Union Center. Illi¬ nois Highway No. 130 passes about a mile west of the reservoir site. No. 8: Location of dam... Drainage area: Apparently ample; Surface area at elevation 650. Capacity .. Height of dam... Length of dam..... Estimated total cost of project—. .SW 1/4 Sec. 4; T 11 N; R 9 E. U.S.G.S. sheets missing. . 192 ac. . 2.880 ac. ft. . 45 ft. . 850 ft. .$158,350. This dam is located across Indian Creek, about 2^/2 miles north of Lincoln Memorial State Park. An improved county road passes about 500 feet east of the dam. and the city of Charleston lies about 4l/£ miles north of the reservoir. The reservoir is well located to serve as a recreational center for Charleston and surrounding communities. 37 No. 9: Location of dam. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 500.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project SW l/ 4 Sec. 10; T 10 N; R 11 W. . 6.6 sq. mi. . 192 ac. . 1.920 ac. ft. 30 ft. 700 ft. $ 91.340. This dam is located across Sugar Creek, about six miles southeast of Marshall and about five miles southwest of Charleston. The reservoir is situated so as to serve both centers and surrounding communities as a recreational center. No. 10: Location of dam.. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 550.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project N 1/2 Sec. 10; T 10 N; R 12 W. . 3.4 sq. mi. . 198 ac. . 2.970 ac. ft. . 45 ft. . 1.000 ft. .$178,960. This dam is located across Sandy Branch of Mill Creek, about four miles south of Marshall. No. 11: Location of dam.. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 550.. Capacity ... Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project NW14 Sec. 20; T 11 N; R 11 W. . 3.5 sq. mi. . 112 ac. . 933 ac. ft. . 25 ft. . 400 ft. ...$ 47,040. This dam is located across Middle Creek, about 11/2 miles east of Marshall. The west end of the reservoir approaches within a half mile of the city of Marshall. The reservoir will he used as a source of water supply for that city and as a recreational center. No. 12: Location of dam. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 500.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project SE 14 Sec. 30; T 11 N; R 10 W. . 6.7 sq. mi. . 288 ac. . 4,320 ac. ft. . 45 ft. . 600 ft. .$110,760. This dam is located across Ashmore Creek, about eight miles southeast of Marshall. 38 No. 13: Location of dam... Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 500.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam.. Estimated total cost of project N l/ 2 Sec. 20; T 11 N; R 10 W. . 13.2 sq. mi. . 352 ac. . 5.280 ac. ft. . 45 ft. . 800 ft. .$147,040. This dam is located across Crooked Creek, about nine miles east of Marshall. No. 14: Location of dam. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 550.. Capacity .. Height of dam. Length of dam.. Estimated total cost of project. NW 14 Sec. 9; T 11 N; R 11 W. . 6.5 sq. mi. . 128 ac. . 2,133 ac. ft. . 50 ft. . 800 ft. ....$154,560. This dam is located about three miles northeast of Marshall and about a half mile north of U. S. Highway No. 42. The reservoir is well located to serve as a recreational center for Marshall and surrounding communities. No. 15: Location of dam.. Drainage area.... Surface area at elevation 720.. Capacity . Height of dam..... Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project NW % Sec. 8; T 19 N; R 9 E. 61.75 sq. mi. .. 320 ac. . 2,133 ac. ft. . 20 ft. .. 400 ft. ..$ 56,000. This dam is located across the West Branch River immediately north of the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. The reservoir is well situated to serve as a source of water sup¬ ply for those cities and as a recreational center. No. 16: Location of dam. Drainage area... Surface area at elevation 650.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project SW 1/4 Sec. 11; T 19 N; R 11 W. . 9.0 sq. mi. . 160 ac. . 1.333 ac. ft. . 25 ft. . 700 ft. .$ 86,400. This dam is located across Lick Creek, about two miles west of Danville. The reservoir created will serve as a supplementary source of water supply for that city and as a recre¬ ational center. 39 No. 17: (See end of list.) No. 18: Location of dam. Drainage area . Surface area at elevation 650.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project N l/ 2 Sec. 34; T 22 N; R 13 W. .. 25.4 sq. mi. . 128 ac. . 640 ac. ft. . 15 ft. . 800 ft. .$ 78,400. This dam is located across Blue Grass Creek, about l )/2 miles north of Potomac. The reservoir will serve as a recreational center. Illinois Highway No. 119 passes through Potomac. No. 19: Location of dam.. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 730.. Capacity . Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project SW 14 Sec. 36; T 23 N; R 10 E. . 10.7 sq. mi. .. 128 ac. .. 768 ac. ft. . 18 ft. .. 800 ft. .$ 83,200. This dam is located across Prairie Creek, about five miles southeast of Paxton. Illinois Highway No. 9 passes through Paxton, running east and west. This reservoir will be used as a recreational center. No. 20 : Location of dam. Drainage area. Surface area at elevation 750 Capacity .. Height of dam. Length of dam. Estimated total cost of project NW 14 Sec. 25; T 22 N; R 9 E. . 7.0 sq. mi. . 293 ac. .. 1,465 ac. ft. . 13 ft. . 1,150 ft. .$113,550. This dam is located across the Salt Fork of the Big Vermilion River, about two miles northeast of Rantoul and about 1/2 mile east of U. S. Highway No. 45. The reservoir will serve as a source of water supply for Rantoul. Total estimated cost of the 20 projects, not including No. 6 and No. 17 $1,690,025 40 The following two reservoirs are among flood control projects proposed by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, in the “Comprehensive Flood-Control Plan for Ohio and Lower Mississippi Rivers.’" No. 6: Wolf Creek Flood Control Reservoir Location: Embarrass River, Illinois, dam 3.0 miles west of Rose Hill, Illinois, in Jasper County. Drainage area at dam site. 1,350 sq. mi. Features of project: Reservoir: Capacity. Maximum pool elevation Area submerged. Dam: type, Ambursen spillway section 1,880 feet long and 60 feet above foundation; earth fill nonspillway section 1,820 feet long and 55 feet above foundation, and Am¬ bursen nonspillway section 102 feet long and 25 feet above foundation. Cost (excluding interest during construction) : Construction cost. $1,270,000 Land and buildings.. 960,000 Railroad relocations. 160,000 Highway relocations. 245,000 Public utilities. 20,000 177.000 ac. ft. 530 ft. (m.s.l.) 11,700 ac. Total $2,655,000 Two other possible locations for this dam are being investigated by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army. No. 17: Danville Flood Control Reservoir Location: Vermilion River, Illinois, dam at Danville, Illinois, one mile below mouth of North Fork, in Vermilion County. Drainage area at dam site.—__ 1,210 sq. mi. Features of project: Reservoir: Capacity.100,000 ac. ft. Maxmium pool elevation... 570 ft. (m.s.l.) Area submerged... 4,900 ac. Dam: type, Mass concrete spillway section 836 feet long and 72 feet above foundation; mass concrete nonspillway section 384 feet long and 52 feet above foundation. Cost (excluding interest during construction) : Construction cost..$ 944,000 Land and buildings..-. 2,050,000 Railroad relocations. 990,000 Highway relocations.... 426.000 Public utilities. 90,000 Total $4,500,000 BIBLIOGRAPHY ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Illinois. Urbana. Illinois, “Climate of Illinois,” by J. G. Mosier, Bulletin No. 208. April. 1918. “Provisional Soil Map of Illinois,” June, 1929. “Types of Farming in Illinois,” by H. C. M. Case and K. H. Myers, Bulletin No. ' 403, June, 1934. College of Agriculture. Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service in Agri¬ culture and Home Economics, University of Illinois; “Information Pertaining to Farm. Home, and Community, with Special Reference to Type-of-Farming Area 9.” Commerce Commission, Springfield. Illinois, “Railroad Map of Illinois,” 1928. Department of Mines and Minerals, Springfield, Illinois, “Fifty-third Coal Report of Illinois,” 1934. “Fifty-sixth Coal Report of Illinois,” 1937. Division of Highways, Department of Public Works and Buildings, Springfield, Illinois, “Illinois Official Highway Map,” 1938. Division of Sanitary Engineering, Department of Public Health. Springfield. Illinois, “Data on Illinois Public Water Supplies,” compiled by C. W. Klassen. Chief Sani¬ tary Engineer, January, 1938. “Ill inois Public Sewer Systems and Sewage Treatment Works,” June, 1934 (cor¬ rected to August, 1936). Division of State Parks, Department of Public Works and Buildings, Springfield, Illi¬ nois, “Illinois State Parks and Memorials,” 1937. Division of Waterways, Department of Public Works and Buildings. Springfield, Illinois, "Report on Drainage and Levee Districts in the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash River Valleys,” by Thomas B. Casey. May 12, 1936. “Permit files, 1936.” Emergency Relief Commission, 222 West North Bank Drive, Chicago, Illinois, “Biennial Report of the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission, covering the period July 1, 1934, through June 30, 1936,” 1936. Geological Survey Division, Department of Registration and Education, Urbana, Illinois, "Drainage Reclamation Map of Illinois,” 1928. “Engineering and Legal Aspects of Land Drainage in Illinois,” by G. W. Pickels and F. B. Leonard, Bulletin No. 42. 1929. "Geological Map of Illinois,” 1917. "Illinois Petroleum, 31,” July 1, 1938. “Mineral Industries of Illinois,” map. by Alma R. Eich, July 1, 1930. Nat ural History Survey Division, Department of Registration and Education, Urbana, Illinois, “Third Report on a Forest Survey of Illinois,” by Clarence J. Telford, Volume XVI, Article 1, March, 1926. 41 42 Sanitary Water Board, Springfield, Illinois, “Annual Report of the State Sanitary Water Board for Year of 1935,” by C. W. Klassen, Acting Technical Secretary, 1936. State W ater Survey Division, Department of Registration and Education, “Preliminary Data on Surface Water Resources”; Bulletin No. 31, A. M. Buswell, Chief; 1938. University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Urbana, Illi¬ nois, “Illinois Soil Type Acreages and Ratings by Counties,” 1936. UNITED STATES Bureau of Air Commerce, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C., “Airway Bulletin No. 2,” January 1, 1936. Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C., “Census of Agriculture,” 1935. “Population,” 1930. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., “Surface Water Supply of the United States,” Part 3, Ohio River Basin, Water Sup¬ ply Paper No. 743, 1933; and for years indicated. National Resources Committee, Washington, D. C., Schlots, F. E., Land Planning Consultant to the Illinois State Planning Commission, Chicago, Illinois. “A Report on Land Use in IIlinois,” May, 1935. Seventy-third Congress, 1st Session, “Wabash River, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois,” House Document No. 100, 1933. U. S. Department of Agriculture. Miscellaneous Publications No. 266. October, 1937. “A graphic summary of the number, size, and type of farm, and value of products.” 0. E. Baker. MISCELLANEOUS Ayer. N. W. & Son, Inc., New York, New York. “Directory of Newspapers and Periodicals," 1936. Leopold, Aldo, Madison, Wisconsin, for the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufac¬ turers" Institute, “Report on a Game Survey of the North Central States,"’ 1931. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc., New York, New York, “Central Station Directory,” 1935. rfggb.370 70188-12-21-38—1500 APPENDIX MAPS AND CHARTS x i a x 3 *i n a 8THAH3 (IXA 8*1 AM 1 MOieeiMHIMAJS 3 TATS 2I0WJJ! >eer Yjut, - * I —-^T* * i^ieAa fIBVIfl H8A8AW A3HA OMI^iOtaA QUA ACPI Y3Vf?Ue 230F.15023R R3TAW t U. s. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 LIVINGSTON^ BOUNDARY OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE EMBARRASS RIVER BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE UTTLE WABASH BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE WABASH RIVER BASIN PROPER PROPOSED RESERVOIRS LEGEND RESERVOIR SITE AND DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY OF THE SKILLET FORK RIVER BASIN TOPOGRAPHIC QUADRANGLES 'NOT AVAILABLE RESERVOIRS NUMBERED FOR IDENTIFICATION WABASH RIVER BASIN FOR WATER RESOURCES SURVEY sockets U. s. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 . in?? a j U (/) _i u — o ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 LIVINGST Ols^T BOUNDARY OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE EMBARRASS RIVER BASIN LITTLE WABASH- UL RIVER BASIN IMPORTED WATER SUPPLY URBANA FROM CHAMPAIGN rIbSsSn) r " 0u PALESTINE BRIDGEPORT FROM LAWRENCEVILLE T, E LT T ON LLE } ™M DANVILLE N l BOUNDARY OF THE WABASH RIVER BASIN 10 S CALE 20 MILES 30 40 FAYETTE MILT BOUNDARY OF VhE SKILLET FORK RIVER BASIN WATER SUPPLY STREAM POLLUTION FLOOD AREAS LEGEND WATER SUPPLY NO TREATMENT □-SURFACE /\-DRIFT OR SHALLOW WELL O-rock OR DEEP WELL TREATMENT OF SUPPLY □A ©-CHLORINATION FB/k (^-PARTIAL TREATMENT STREAM POLLUTION <0>-SEWER SYSTEM NOT TREATED <^-SEWER SYSTEM, PARTIALLY TREATED ^-SEWER SYSTEM,COMPLETELY TREATED FLOOD AREAS □-BOTTOM LANDS SUBJECT TO OVERFLOW □ AREAS CONSIDERED FOR ORGANIZATION INTO DRAINAGE DISTRICTS. SOURCES: DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING ILLINOIS DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WABASH RIVER BASIN FOR WATER RESOURCES SURVEY ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 WATER RESOURCES SURVEY vxwce: u.s. department of agriculture SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE-1934 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 LIVINGSTOI* I T BOUNDARY OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE EMBARRASS RIVER BASIN N l 10 SCALE 20 MILES 30 LINCOLN LOG CABIN 80 ACRES SHEL© BOUNDARY OF THE \ LITTLE WABASH RIVER BASIN ALTAMON FOX RIDGE 372 ACRES BOUNDARY OF THE WABASH RIVER BASIN PROPER FOREST AREAS LEGEND 40 -PROPOSED PARK SITES. -EXISTING STATE PARKS - PROPOSED SYSTEM OF STATE PARKS. -PROPOSED STATE PURCHASE UNITS. PROPOSED STATE GAME REFUGE HAMILTO BOUNDARY OF THE SKILLET FORK RIVER BASIN o- — FISH HATCHERIES G ALL AT I ty WABASH RIVER BASIN FOR SOURCES. U S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WATER RESOURCES SURVEY JOINT CONFERENCE ON FOREST AREAS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. • -CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE. ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 livingston/T't*^ IROQUOIS ^c BOUNDARY OF THE EMBARRASS RIVER - BASIN BOUNDARY OF SHE. THE LITTLE WABASH RIVER BASIN BOUNDARY OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER BASIN N X fa LJ o £ X D tO D DC < I 1 X o X K DC O Q. ac x . _ O-J £H • LJ O LJI- scr 2p U - h- U LU O O < a. z< >x lj; LJ a. a. oS ^2 a£ Z2 LJ > =>o ujiz 25 20 Q£ LJ X oo-c I— X o CL DC < > > < z X o > 2 X < *x LJ -J o 111 Ld LJ > o u fa a ui 2 L. 5C $ i O X £ o O <0 - L. X <0 m < h- §5? if) Hi U o O z Z D 3 (O a. _! _l o *: to (O 2 o If) 6 . DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & BUILDINGS. ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 1936 LIVING STOffp BOUNDARY OF THE EMBARRASS RIVER BASIN MOULTRIE BOUNDARY OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER BASIN SHELB BOUNDARY OF THE LITTLE WABASH BASIN FAYETTE MARI JEFFE BOUNDARY OF THE HAMILTO SKILLET FORK RIVER BASIN X SCALE 10 20 MILES BOUNDARY OF THE WABASH RIVER BASIN PROPER 30 40 TRANSPORTATION LEGEND . RAILROADS -HIGHWAYS HARD SURFACE ... OIL PIPE LINE O MUNICIPAL OR COMMERCIAL AIRPORT DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE- O INTER MEDIATE - AIRPORT EMERGENCY OR PRIVATE AIRPORT ARMY OR NAVY AIRPORT WABASH RIVER BASIN sources: FOR ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. WATER RESOURCES SURVEY ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION. Of PART ME NT OF PUBLIC WORKS & BUILDINGS. 1329 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 1936 JANUARY 1930 DECEMBER 1931 DAILY DISCHARGE AT MOUNT CARMEL FOR FLOOD PERIODS MEAN MONTHLY DISCHARGE WABASH RIVER AT MOUNT CARMEL H a o a 9 Z < i S s l •OUOCf U 1 dcpaktucnt or intcaioa NOTE ORAINAGE AREA AT MOUNT CARMEL, WABASH COUNTY,IS 28,600 SQUARE MILES 9 T331 CM003e COOfit HI j0ffA*O«Kj TJ»AO JS STATE SSOtfIJJI ;gua 30AAH03IQ YJiAG OJ1 80S JHOYH r^OM MA3M H3V1S HE AS AW ".•nia •» rr.iwriumM ,t j r*/» j ‘u.i " • A3RA .’.-.A. •••-••• 2 3 JIM 3HAD02 009,8s 2I,VTVJ03 H2ABA> ftvcmns ?? m ioVao sfcoK- lc i .. • ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 1936 DAILY DISCHARGE AT STE.MARIE FOR FLOOD PERIODS o z o u Ui o o o I o w o 9 S a HYDROGRAPH MEAN MONTHLY DISCHARGE WABASH RIVER BASIN AT STE.MARIE •OU*C( It* Dl»A*TMtNT or INTI.I0« NOTE: DRAINAGE AREA AT STE MARIE, JASPER COUNTY, IS 1540 SQUARE MILE! AGO OMiUHAjq 3 TATS SIGMIJJI 6 £Gi TSUOUA lJ. r PpPH ferar ME ;TTf jmpV j j r ft ; ; tl t i ' TT Tv* - 1 rr J ry milimr 'lijiffef' YAM JM^A CS$.i .3T8 TA 30f$AHD£!G YJIAG JQOIFI3S QOOJ3 fiOl ^ MA MOAAM V£«l 'flAHDSJCI YJHTMOM MA3M 3T£ TA MJ8A3 A3VIH H8A8AW •; - •= . - novtxwrA D«CMVHC£ »- 800 scccfco ..v: • ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 1936 LEGEND A-HEAV1EST PRECIPITATION, REGARDLESS OF THE STATION B-the average heaviest of all stations C-THE AVERAGE OF ALL STATIONS D-THE AVERAGE LOWEST OF ALL STATIONS E-LOWEST, REGARDLESS OF THE STATION PRECIPITATION COMPOSITE OF SEVEN STATIONS* WABASH RIVER BASIN FOR YEARS 1902 TO 1936 INCLUSIVE ★ STATIONS included: FLORA, HOOPESTON,MOUNT CARMEL,OLNEY,PALESTINE ,TUSCOLA tURBANA SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE _ __ HOiMOO OMiHHAJS 3TAT3 8IOMUJI c3£G? T8UOUA 0 M 3 O 3 J i 3MT TO 233J0SAO3« f M0(TArmO3K<» T£3«VA3H-A eHOHATS JJA TO T63IVA3H 3. >.T3VA 3HT-3 3MCiTATE JJA TO 3 ,-r’JVA 3HT-C SMOlTATc JJA TO Te3WOJ 30AH3VA 3HT-C1 HOST*.7a 3HT TO 223J0BA03H ^ T83WOJ - 3 MOlTATJ^iOaflS '^S MO I TATS M3V3S 1C 3TI8CRM00 Mi SAS 93V ifl HSA8AW jvteujOM! aee? ct soer e«A3V «oi A>1AB*Ui AJOO«J:AH ? r3mO, J3MAAO WOOM f MOT23jt.kpwoia t o cJj ;3Q«ooa 55 50 45 40 51 50 25 20 15 to 5 O 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1933 X-ESTIMATED FRCVDING STATIONS ANNUAL TOTAL (IN INCHES) ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 1936 PRECIPITATION AT MOUNT CARMEL TOTALS BY MONTHS & YEARS FOR WATER RESOURCES SURVEY Vsj*ci u a DCPAATMorr or agriculture X-ESTIMATED FROM SuRftOuNfXNG STATONS 13 ILLINOIS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 1936 PRECIPITATION AT CASEY TOTALS BY MONTHS & YEARS BARS INDICATE MONTHLY TOTAL WABASH RIVER BASIN FOR WATER RESOURCES SURVEY SOURCE :U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. _ X-ESTIMATED FROM SURROUNDING STATIONS 13 ANNUAL TOTAL (IN INCHES)