. Critical trends in Illinois ecosystems. Ecological assessment (Biology); Environmental impact analysis; Nature; Pollution; Conservation of natural resources; Environmental quality. Rock River Watershed 41 Local economy and outdoor recreation The tliree main counties in the Upper Rock River basin â Winnebago, Lee and Ogle â account for 3% of Illinois' population and of its personal income. Winnebago County accounts tor 80% of the area's economic activity'. Following national and state trends, the area economy has sliifted towards the service sector â between 1969 and 1993, employment in
. Critical trends in Illinois ecosystems. Ecological assessment (Biology); Environmental impact analysis; Nature; Pollution; Conservation of natural resources; Environmental quality. Rock River Watershed 41 Local economy and outdoor recreation The tliree main counties in the Upper Rock River basin â Winnebago, Lee and Ogle â account for 3% of Illinois' population and of its personal income. Winnebago County accounts tor 80% of the area's economic activity'. Following national and state trends, the area economy has sliifted towards the service sector â between 1969 and 1993, employment in the services sector grew from 14% to 29% of total employment, while employment fell from 39% to 24% in the manufac- turing sector. Tlianks to higher wages, however, manufacturing remains the largest sector in terms of earnings. Outdoor recreation opportunities in the area are driven largely by the Rock River itself. The Rock is among Illinois' finest fishing streams â especial- ly tor walleye and catfish â and boat access is offered at 39 points. Nearly 9,200 acres are publicly owned, accounting for about of the total area. Lowden-Miller State Forest is the largest state site, closely followed by the adjoining Castle Rock State Park. The area's five major state sites attracted nearly 1 million visitors in 1994 and created 250-300 jobs. Threats â While the Upper Rock River area's ecology is impressively diverse, it nonetheless faces threats common to Illinois including habitat fragmentation and degradation, stream alteration, and erosion. Habitat degradation and fragmentation - Before settlement, more than one-third of the land was prairie and the remainder was forest. Today, 48 acres () of presettlement prairie remains, and 9% of the area remains forested, with 114 acres considered high qualit)'. Remaining habitats are often carved up into habitat 'islands', which may not be able to sustain healthy ecosystems over the long run. Large nianimais aiul other far-ran
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