. Critical trends in Illinois ecosystems. Ecological assessment (Biology); Environmental impact analysis; Nature; Pollution; Conservation of natural resources; Environmental quality. The basin supports nearly 800 native plant species, or 38% of the species native to REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS Five regional assessments have been completed for the Rock River Watershed â for the Upper Rock River Basin, Lower Rock River Basin, Kishwaukee River Basin, Sugar-Pecatonica Rivers Basin, and the Driftless Area. Upper Rock River Basin The Upper Rock River covers nearly 640,000 acres (999 square miles
. Critical trends in Illinois ecosystems. Ecological assessment (Biology); Environmental impact analysis; Nature; Pollution; Conservation of natural resources; Environmental quality. The basin supports nearly 800 native plant species, or 38% of the species native to REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS Five regional assessments have been completed for the Rock River Watershed â for the Upper Rock River Basin, Lower Rock River Basin, Kishwaukee River Basin, Sugar-Pecatonica Rivers Basin, and the Driftless Area. Upper Rock River Basin The Upper Rock River covers nearly 640,000 acres (999 square miles) in north central Illinois. It consists of eighteen sub-basins between Rockford and Sterling that drain into the Rock River. It is typical of agricultural Illinois â rolling, rural, prosperous â except for the rocks. Bedrock has been pushed to the surface here. Exposed rock forms canyons, bluffs, and ravines. Where it has been crumbled by weather it creates unusual soils, which foster the develop- ment of equally unusual natural communities. Agriculture is the dominant land use in the area, as it is across most of the state. Sixty-one per- cent of the area's acreage is devoted to croplands, slightly above the state average. Grasslands (mostly pasture, but also prairie, rights-of-way, and such) account for 23%, compared to 18% for Illinois. Forests and woodlands are the next-largest category with 8%, which is below the state average of 11%. Forests are concentrated on the uplands along the Rock River and its major tributaries. Urban and built-up coverage matches the state share of 6%. Wetlands and open water combine for less than 3%> of the area, compared to about ;{. for the state. The distinctive landscape provides an array of natural habitats: ⢠several of the 33 Illinois Natural Area Inventory sites contain ecosystems of statewide signifi- cance â cliffs, bluffs, soils, and plant life associated with St. Peter's sandstone bedrock that are unique to this pa
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Keywords: ., bookauthorillinoisnaturalhistorysurveydivisi, booksubjectnature
