Abstract |
Five stations on Elkhorn Creek and tributaries were sampled for water, sediments, fish, and habitat from spring 1984 through winter 1985. From these data, environmental quality was evaluated utilizing various indices including water quality (WQI), fish (AIBI) and habitat (PIBI). Individual stations were rated for degree of support of aquatic life and classified according to the Biological Stream Classification system used for Illinois streams. Mean index values indicated fair to good environmental conditions providing partial/minor aquatic life use support at four of five stations (80%) and partial/moderate support at one of five stations (20%). Mean index values were 49.0 (poor) for water, 38 (fair to good) for fish and 44 (good to very good) for habitat. According to the Biological Stream Classification system, four of the stations were classified as C (moderate aquatic resource) and one as B (highly valued aquatic resource). |