LOCATION.-- Lat 40°18'38", long 88°19'20" (NAD of 1927), in NE1/4NW1/4 sec.5, T.21 N., R.8 E., Champaign County, Hydrologic Unit 07130006, on left downstream side of bridge on U.S. Highway 136, 1.2 mi east of Fisher, 8.8 mi west of Rantoul, and at mile 201.1.

DRAINAGE AREA.-- 240 mi².

PERIOD OF RECORD.--

SURFACE-WATER DISCHARGE AND STAGE

DISCHARGE: October 1978 to current year.

STAGE: Water years 1994 to current year.

SURFACE-WATER QUALITY

CHEMICAL: Water years 1979-91.

BIOLOGICAL: Benthic macroinvertebrates, Water year 1997.

GAGE.-- Water-stage recorder, phone telemeter, and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 683.23 ft above NGVD of 1929.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--

SURFACE-WATER DISCHARGE AND STAGE: Maximum discharge, 13,000 ft³/s, Apr. 12, 1994, gage height, 21.58 ft; no flow several days in 1988, 1994, 1999 and 2000.

REMARKS FOR CURRENT YEAR.--Benthic macroinvertebrate community samples were collected as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment program (NAWQA) in the lower Illinois River Basin. One quantitative (Richest-Targeted Habitat) sample was collected in accordance with the NAWQA protocols (Cuffney and others, 1993). The quantitative sample was a composite of macroinvertebrates from about 10 submerged tree branches. Branches were cut underwater, gathered in a 425µm mesh net, and invertebrates were washed or picked from the branches. The average length and average diameter of each branch were measured and used to calculate an approximate surface area. All samples were processed by the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory. Phylum, Class, Order, Suborder, Family, Subfamily, and Tribe are listed and arranged according to the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory taxonomic hierarchy. The reach begins 47 meters downstream from the bridge at US Route 136, east of Fisher. The surface area sampled at reach A was 0.18 m².