| Middle Fork Vermilion River | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Confluence of a drainage ditch and Prairie Creek in Ford County southeast of Paxton, Illinois |
| • coordinates | 40°24′15″N 88°01′05″W / 40.4042016°N 88.0180938°W |
| Mouth | |
• location | Confluence with the Salt Fork forming the Vermilion River west of Danville, Illinois |
• coordinates | 40°06′13″N 87°43′02″W / 40.1036474°N 87.7172458°W |
• elevation | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Length | 77 mi (124 km) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Oakwood, Illinois |
| • average | 416 cu/ft. per sec.[1] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Middle Fork → Vermilion → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 413502 |
National Wild and Scenic River | |
| Type | Scenic |
| Designated | May 11, 1989 |
)
Baby softshell surveys a bar on the Middle Fork
)
Bald eagle on nest, spring 2011
The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is a tributary of the Vermilion River (Wabash River) in Illinois. The Middle Fork rises in Ford County and flows southeast to join the Vermilion near Danville.[2]
In its natural state, the Middle Fork drained a large upland marsh in what is now Ford County. The Middle Fork has been extended into the marsh by drainage ditches. Including the ditches, the Middle Fork is about 77 miles (124 km) long.[3]
Parks and access points
The Middle Fork is Illinois' only designated National Wild and Scenic River. Parks and access points include:
- Kickapoo State Recreation Area
- Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Middle Fork River, Champaign County Forest Preserve District
Cities, towns and counties
The following cities, towns and villages are among those in the watershed of the Middle Fork:
Parts of the following counties are drained by the Middle Fork:
See also
- List of Illinois rivers
References
- ^ https://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/uv/?site_no=03336645&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Fork Vermilion River
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-04-05 at WebCite, accessed May 19, 2011
External links
- American Whitewater
- Illinois Dept. Natural Resources
- Kickapoo Landing canoe outfitters
- Canoe Access Points Map
- Prairie Rivers Network
- USGS Stream Gage, Middle Fork