Honey and Richland creeks watershed (SP01)

The information on this site is from the 1995 Sugar Pecatonica basin plan.

The Honey and Richland Creeks watershed in south-central Green County is primarily agricultural. Basin assessment monitoring of some of the streams in the watershed indicates that agricultural nonpoint source pollution is a problem.

The only municipal wastewater discharger to surface water is the city of Monroe, which discharges to Honey Creek. Four industrial facilities discharge to surface water in the watershed.

East branch Richland Creek

This stream rises in Green County near the state line and flows to Richland Creek in Illinois. The Ozark minnow, a threatened fish species, has been found in the creek. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) monitoring from 1988 indicates the stream has good water quality (DNR, 1993¹).

Honey Creek

Honey Creek rises on the west side of the city of Monroe. The Monroe wastewater treatment plant discharges to the stream. Monitoring done by Monroe indicates no significant problems (DNR, 1993²⁶), although biotic index monitoring and habitat assessment monitoring needs to be done. Urban nonpoint sources of pollution, including increased runoff from urban impervious surfaces such as pavement, are also believed to cause bank erosion and sedimentation problems in the creek.

Richland Creek

Richland Creek supports a warmwater sport fishery and is considered the best smallmouth bass stream in Green County. It is also classified as an Exceptional Resource Water for its entire reach in Green County. The upper reach of the creek has poor in-stream habitat due to agricultural nonpoint source pollution and urban stormwater runoff, although 1988 Hilsenhoff biotic index monitoring indicated fair to good water quality (DNR, 1993¹).