Subwatersheds of the Fox River
Subwatersheds of the Fox River in Illinois
The subwatersheds listed on this page are most, but not all of the subwatersheds of the Fox River in Illinois. There are many smaller streams that are not officially named, and some streams may go by more than one name.
Many of the larger Fox subwatersheds have undergone the development of a management plan, which has involved the participation of stakeholders in the watershed, working over a year or more, to create their plan. Once a plan is in place, a group is needed to continue to see that elements of the plan are instituted. The most active groups have formed watershed coalitions to continue this work.
Recognition of Watershed Plans
FREP has passed a Resolution of Support for those subwatersheds where a plan has been completed.
Many of the larger Fox subwatersheds have undergone the development of a management plan, which has involved the participation of stakeholders in the watershed, working over a year or more, to create their plan. Once a plan is in place, a group is needed to continue to see that elements of the plan are instituted. The most active groups have formed watershed coalitions to continue this work.
Recognition of Watershed Plans
FREP has passed a Resolution of Support for those subwatersheds where a plan has been completed.
These resolutions have been included below.
Big Rock Creek Watershed
Location: Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, LaSalle Counties
194 square miles. Brochure (2002): Page 1 Page 2
Blackberry Creek Watershed
Location: Kane, Kendall Counties
73 square miles.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Boone Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
20 square miles
Contact: Boone-Dutch Creek Watershed Alliance
Watershed Plan: Yes 2016
Buck Creek Watershed
Chain O'Lakes Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Link to Fox Waterway Agency
NEW: Upper Fox River/Chain O' Lakes Watershed TMDL Report
Cotton-Mutton Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County Includes: Island Lake, Woodland Lake, Lake Napa Suwe, Ozaukee Lake
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
Dutch Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2016
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Ferson Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011
Combined with Otter Creek
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Fish Lake Drain Watershed
Location: Lake County
8.5 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2009
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Flint Creek Watershed
Location: Cook & Lake Counties
37 square miles
Contact: Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership
Watershed Plan: Yes 2007
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: flintcreekspringcreekwatersheds.org
NOTE: Flint Creek has joined with Spring Creek as a partnership to coordinate activities and have one website.
NEW: Upper Fox River/Flint Creek Watershed TMDL Report
See Spring Creek listing for additional information
Four Lakes Watershed
Location: Lake & McHenry Counties
The 4 Lakes Watershed Initiative has organized to do planning for the following lakes: Island, Griswold, Slocum, Napa Suwe, Bangs; and their associated tributaries: Bangs Lake Drain, Mutton Creek and Cotton Creek. Included in the Initiative is Port Barrington, bordered by the Fox River and the Fox River Preserve.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Jelkes Creek - Fox River Watershed
Location: Kane, McHenry & Cook Counties
40 square miles
This subwatershed bears the name of the largest creek, Jelke Creek, in its boundaries but it also includes the Fox River from Rte 62 to Hwy 20, and these tributaries: Carpenter Creek, Dixie Creek, Fourwinds Way (Selmartin) Creek, Lake Marion (Delta) Creek, Cougar (MacIntosh or No Name) Creek, Ratt Creek, Shaw Creek, and Sleepy Creek. Includes: Algonquin, Barrington Hills, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, Sleepy Hollow, West Dundee and unincorporated areas of Dundee Township.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2012
Little Indian Creek Watershed
Location: DeKalb & LaSalle Counties
Little Rock Creek Watershed
Plan currently in development LINK
Mill Creek Watershed
Location: Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, LaSalle Counties
194 square miles. Brochure (2002): Page 1 Page 2
Big Rock Creek Voluntary Land Conservation Planning Project 2015
Location: Kane, Kendall Counties
73 square miles.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: McHenry County
20 square miles
Contact: Boone-Dutch Creek Watershed Alliance
Watershed Plan: Yes 2016
Buck Creek Watershed
Chain O'Lakes Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Link to Fox Waterway Agency
NEW: Upper Fox River/Chain O' Lakes Watershed TMDL Report
Cotton-Mutton Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County Includes: Island Lake, Woodland Lake, Lake Napa Suwe, Ozaukee Lake
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
Crystal Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2022
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2022
Dutch Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2016
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: Kane County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011
Combined with Otter Creek
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: Lake County
8.5 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2009
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Flint Creek Watershed
Location: Cook & Lake Counties
37 square miles
Contact: Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership
Watershed Plan: Yes 2007
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: flintcreekspringcreekwatersheds.org
NOTE: Flint Creek has joined with Spring Creek as a partnership to coordinate activities and have one website.
NEW: Upper Fox River/Flint Creek Watershed TMDL Report
See Spring Creek listing for additional information
Four Lakes Watershed
Location: Lake & McHenry Counties
The 4 Lakes Watershed Initiative has organized to do planning for the following lakes: Island, Griswold, Slocum, Napa Suwe, Bangs; and their associated tributaries: Bangs Lake Drain, Mutton Creek and Cotton Creek. Included in the Initiative is Port Barrington, bordered by the Fox River and the Fox River Preserve.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: Kane, McHenry & Cook Counties
40 square miles
This subwatershed bears the name of the largest creek, Jelke Creek, in its boundaries but it also includes the Fox River from Rte 62 to Hwy 20, and these tributaries: Carpenter Creek, Dixie Creek, Fourwinds Way (Selmartin) Creek, Lake Marion (Delta) Creek, Cougar (MacIntosh or No Name) Creek, Ratt Creek, Shaw Creek, and Sleepy Creek. Includes: Algonquin, Barrington Hills, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, Sleepy Hollow, West Dundee and unincorporated areas of Dundee Township.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2012
Indian Creek Watershed
Location: Kane and DuPage Counties
Located on the east side of the Fox River, straddles southeastern Kane and southwestern DuPage Counties and includes portions of two municipalities (Aurora and Batavia) and four townships (Aurora, Batavia, Naperville, and Winfield).
14 square miles
Plan currently in development through CMAP
Indian Creek Webpage
Location: Kane and DuPage Counties
Located on the east side of the Fox River, straddles southeastern Kane and southwestern DuPage Counties and includes portions of two municipalities (Aurora and Batavia) and four townships (Aurora, Batavia, Naperville, and Winfield).
14 square miles
Plan currently in development through CMAP
Indian Creek Webpage
Little Indian Creek Watershed
Location: DeKalb & LaSalle Counties
Little Rock Creek Watershed
Plan currently in development LINK
Mill Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2019
Nine Lakes Watershed
Location: Lake & McHenry Counties
Planning area for a CMAP TMDL Implementation Plan project included:
A. Cotton-Mutton Creek Watershed: Island Lake, Woodland Lake, Lake Napa Suwe, Ozaukee Lake
B. Slocum Lake Drain - Fiddle Creek Watershed: Slocum Lake
C. Tower Lake Drain: Tower Lake, Lake Fairview, Timber Lake, Lake Barrington
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Nippersink Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
137 square miles.
Contact: Nippersink Creek Watershed Association
Watershed Plan: Yes 2008
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: nippersink.org
Otter Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County
Watershed Plan (with Ferson Creek): Yes 2011
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Poplar Creek Watershed
Location: Cook County
39 square miles.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2007
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Watershed Plan
Sequoit Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County
15 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2006
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Management Plan
Silver Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011 (combined with Sleepy Hollow Creek)
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Contact: Silver-Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed Coalition
Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Location: Lake & McHenry Counties
Planning area for a CMAP TMDL Implementation Plan project included:
A. Cotton-Mutton Creek Watershed: Island Lake, Woodland Lake, Lake Napa Suwe, Ozaukee Lake
B. Slocum Lake Drain - Fiddle Creek Watershed: Slocum Lake
C. Tower Lake Drain: Tower Lake, Lake Fairview, Timber Lake, Lake Barrington
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: McHenry County
137 square miles.
Contact: Nippersink Creek Watershed Association
Watershed Plan: Yes 2008
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: nippersink.org
Otter Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County
Watershed Plan (with Ferson Creek): Yes 2011
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Location: Cook County
39 square miles.
Watershed Plan: Yes 2007
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Watershed Plan
Sequoit Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County
15 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2006
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Management Plan
Silver Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011 (combined with Sleepy Hollow Creek)
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Contact: Silver-Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed Coalition
Link: HERE
Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2011 (combined with Silver Creek)
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Contact: Silver-Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed Coalition
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Contact: Silver-Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed Coalition
Silver-Sleepy Webpage
Slocum Lake Drain Watershed
Location: Lake County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014
Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
9 Lakes Webpage
Spring Creek Watershed
Location: 15,000 acres running through Hoffman Estates, north through Barrington Township, Barrington Hills, Dundee Township and four counties up to Fox River Grove and the Fox River
Map
Watershed Plan: Yes 2012
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: flintcreekspringcreekwatersheds.org
NOTE: Spring Creek has joined with Flint Creek as a partnership to coordinate activities and have one website. See Flint Creek listing for additional information
Squaw Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County
38 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2004
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Management Plan
Tyler Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County.
40 square miles
Watershed Plan: Yes 2008
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Tyler Creek Webpage
Tower Lake Drain Watershed
Location: Lake County Includes: Tower Lake, Lake Fairview, Timber Lake, Lake Barrington
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
9 Lakes Watershed Webpage
Waubonsee Creek Watershed
Location: Kane, Kendall, Will and DuPage Counties
30 square miles.
Woods Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
subwatershed to Crystal Creek
Watershed Plan: Yes 2013
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: HERE
Slocum Lake Drain Watershed
Location: Lake County
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014
Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
9 Lakes Webpage
Spring Creek Watershed
Location: 15,000 acres running through Hoffman Estates, north through Barrington Township, Barrington Hills, Dundee Township and four counties up to Fox River Grove and the Fox River
Map
Watershed Plan: Yes 2012
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: flintcreekspringcreekwatersheds.org
NOTE: Spring Creek has joined with Flint Creek as a partnership to coordinate activities and have one website. See Flint Creek listing for additional information
Squaw Creek Watershed
Location: Lake County
38 square miles
Contact: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Plan: Yes 2004
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: Management Plan
Tyler Creek Watershed
Location: Kane County.
40 square miles
Watershed Plan: Yes 2008
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Tyler Creek Webpage
Tower Lake Drain Watershed
Location: Lake County Includes: Tower Lake, Lake Fairview, Timber Lake, Lake Barrington
Watershed Plan: Yes 2014 Part of the 9 Lakes Watershed
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
9 Lakes Watershed Webpage
Waubonsee Creek Watershed
Location: Kane, Kendall, Will and DuPage Counties
30 square miles.
Woods Creek Watershed
Location: McHenry County
subwatershed to Crystal Creek
Watershed Plan: Yes 2013
FREP Resolution in support of the Plan
Link: HERE