Illinois

Lower Kaskaskia Watershed

December 2004

Description of Watershed

The total estimated area in the watershed is 1,060,900 acres. This watershed is located in portions of Bond, Clinton, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties in southwestern Illinois.

Major land use in the watershed consist of cropland, grassland and forest. The watershed is a complex of interconnected floodplain forests and wetlands. The entire watershed lies within the Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain Major Land Resource Area. The topography ranges from nearly level, broad upland flats to steeply sloping bluff areas along the major stream valleys, including the Kaskaskia River. Floodplains occur along all the streams and are subject to frequent or common overflow events. The upland soils consist of silty, loess material over loamy and clayey glacial till. On steeper slopes, clayey glacial till may occur at the surface. Natural drainage classes throughout the watershed range from very poorly drained soils in depressions and potholes to moderately well drained soils on the steeper side slopes and ridgetops. In the western portion of the watershed, there are few, but significant Karst areas.

In the cropland areas of the watershed, there are about 2,244 farms covering about 710,200 acres. The average farm size is 316 acres. Primary crops include corn, soybeans and wheat. Other crops include sorghum, orchards and vegetables. The Watershed includes one of the largest dairy producing areas in the state. There are major poultry and hog operations also in this area.

In the grassland areas of the watershed, there are about 77,100 acres, including dairy, cattle and goat operations.

Lower Kaskaskia Watershed Map


Click on map for larger JPG image (243kb)
Printable PDF of Map (488kb)

Land Cover/Use

Data Source: 1997 NRI

List of Counties

• Bond  
• Clinton
• Macoupin
• Madison
• Montgomery
• Monroe
• Perry
• Randolph
• St. Clair
• Washington

Program Information

The following documents have been archived. You can request a copy by e-mailing paula.hingson@il.usda.gov.

Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Basic Requirements (PDF, 243KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Applying Step by Step (PDF, 249KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Requirements for Tiers (PDF, 199KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Plant Resource Concern (PDF, 5KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Soil Resource Concern (PDF, 3.1MB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Wildlife Resource Concern (PDF, 2.5MB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Pasture Basic Requirements (PDF, 358KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Cost Limits (PDF, 221KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Enhancement Practice List (PDF, 243KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - New Practice List (PDF, 166KB)
Lower Kaskaskia Watershed - Riparian Corridor (PDF, 175KB)