Streams

What is a Stream?

A stream is a body of running water flowing along the surface of the land.

Other terms for streams include rivers, brooks, or creeks.

Illinois has between 80,000 and 90,000 miles of streams! Unfortunately many of our streams have been degraded

A healthy stream will have distinct areas that provide a variety of habitats to support high species diversity.

Three habitats found in a healthy stream are riffle, run, and pool.

Cross section of a healthy stream

Riffle
very shallow, fast moving, high in oxygen, silt free

Run
shallow water, fast moving, low in silt, high in oxygen

Pool
deeper water, slow moving to still, fine sediment