Illinois

Upper Sangamon River

December 12, 2005

Description of Watershed

The Upper Sangamon River watershed contains approximately 914,400 acres of land and approximately 1,606 farms. Fertile soils, adequate rainfall, and a long growing season give this watershed enormous agricultural productivity. Within the watershed is a drinking water supply lake for the City of Decatur and several surrounding towns, servicing approximately 100,000 people.

The watershed is home to 38 species of plants or animals whose survival in Illinois is considered threatened or endangered, which is a modest percentage of local species. The “Endangered and Threatened Species” list includes the bald eagle and the red-shouldered hawk, a pair of which regularly breeds in Piatt County. The deep soils of this area formed in loess and the topography is level to steep. Corn and soybeans are the most dominant crops. The area contains the smallest amount of upland forest in the state and is the fourth most urbanized region. There is no state or federal managed land in the watershed.

The primary resource concerns are water quality and soil erosion as well as quality fish and wildlife habitat, flooding and grazing lands. Relatively high amounts of runoff during normal rain events are common. Also common are surface water quality concerns due to seasonal spikes in nitrates and phosphorus levels and insufficient habitat for pheasants, quail, and other non-game grassland bird species.

Watershed Map

Land Cover/Use

List of Counties

• Champaign
• Christian
• DeWitt
• Ford
• Logan
• McLean
• Macon
• Piatt
• Sangamon
• Shelby

Program Information

The following documents have been archived.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

Step 1: Illinois Introductory CSP Information (PDF, 9,194kb)
CSP Self-Assessment Workbook and Illinois Supplements
Illinois Supplement fillable files from the CSP Self-Assessment Workbook:
Contract Limits and Payments Upper Sangamon  (PDF, 190kb)
Step 4: Preparing for the Field Office Interview
CSP Soil Activity Sheet (PDF, 74kb)
CSP Energy Job Sheet (PDF, 537kb)
Native, Culturally Significant Plants (83kb)
CSP Grazing Activity Sheet (DOC, 442kb)
CSP Habitat Activity Sheet (DOC, 556KB)
CSP Nutrient Activity Sheet (DOC, 615KB)
CSP Pest Activity Sheet (DOC, 568KB)
IRAC Mode of Action Classification (DOC, 203KB)
 

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