| Yellow Creek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Stephenson County, northwest ofLena, Illinois |
| • coordinates | 42°25′10″N89°53′52″W / 42.4194444°N 89.8977778°W /42.4194444; -89.8977778 (Yellow Creek origin) |
| • elevation | 977 ft (298 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Pecatonica River, east ofFreeport, Illinois |
• coordinates | 42°17′24″N89°34′10″W / 42.2900°N 89.5695°W /42.2900; -89.5695 (Yellow Creek mouth) |
• elevation | 748 ft (228 m) |
| Length | 50 mi (80 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Yellow Creek → Pecatonica → Rock → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 421568 |
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Yellow Creek is a tributary of thePecatonica River inStephenson County, in the US state ofIllinois. The 50-mile (80 km) stream also flows through a small part ofJo Daviess County. The waters of Yellow Creek were assessed for water quality in 1996, with 28 miles (45 km) being listed as "fair" and 22 miles (35 km) being listed as "good". During the 1832Black Hawk War, theBattle of Waddams Grove was fought along Yellow Creek.
Yellow Creek is a 50-mile (80 km)tributary within thePecatonica Riverwatershed and is considered a major stream within that system.[1][2] Most of its course is throughStephenson County, Illinois, but a small part of the stream flows intoJo Daviess County, in extreme northwestern Illinois.[3][4] The stream's source is at 42°25′10″N 89°53′52″W and its mouth is at 42°17′23″N 89°34′10″W.[3]
During the 1832Black Hawk War, a conflict betweenSauk ChiefBlack Hawk'sBritish Band and settlers inMichigan Territory and the state of Illinois, the Battle of Waddams Grove occurred near Yellow Creek. After a number of Native American raids in the area,James W. Stephenson raised a group of volunteers and set out in search of the raiders.[5] Stephenson caught up with the band of Native Americans on June 18, 1832, in an open area near Yellow Creek, about 12 miles (19 km) east ofKellogg's Grove, Illinois.[5][6] The battlefield itself is believed to be located along the Yellow Creek northwest of William Waddams' original land claims north of the present day unincorporated town ofWaddams Grove, Illinois.[6]
A total of 22 miles (35 km) of the stream's waters were identified as "good" and 28 miles (45 km) were designated as "fair" by theIllinois Environmental Protection Agency in 1996.[1] Water quality problems in Yellow Creek stem from nutrient run off as a byproduct of agriculture.[1] InFreeport, Illinois the Yellow Creek Watershed Partnership was established "to improve the health and diversity of Yellow Creek and its watershed".[7]