Southeast Fox Illinois River Basin

The Southeast Fox River basin is located in portions of seven counties, contains (entirely or portions of) 10 cities, 22 villages, 42 towns and is home to about 500,000 people. The basin is divided into seven watersheds. Three of the watersheds (Upper, Middle and Lower Fox River) contain the Fox River from start to finish and collectively occupy nearly half the basin area (513 square miles). The other watersheds are named after the major rivers they contain.

Collectively the seven watersheds contain about 750 miles of perennial streams, over 600 miles of intermittent streams, 78 named lakes and impoundments and many unnamed lakes and ponds. wetlands encompass nearly 78,000 acres or 11% of the basin land area.

The Fox River basin contains nearly 700 miles of streams draining over 1000 square miles of land. Most of the stream miles in the basin are considered full fish and aquatic life streams, meaning they are capable of meeting water quality standards and have the ability to support a full range of fish and aquatic life as habitat and water quality allow. Portions of four streams (9.2 total stream miles) and two lakes within the Southeast Fox River basin are designated as outstanding or exceptional resource waters.

Water Resource Information for Specific Watersheds

Walworth County Wildlife Area Projects

• Belulah Station wildlife area
• Bloomfield wildlife area
• Clover Valley wildlife area
• Lyons wildlife area
• Troy wildlife area
• Turtle Creek wildlife area
• Turtle Valley wildlife area
• Southeast Glacial Plains landscape