ACKERMAN CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT: FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF 
THREE ILLINOIS RIVER TRIBUTARIES

Nerissa N. Michaels, Thad R. Cook and Michael A. McClelland
Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station, 704 N. Schrader Ave., 
Havana, IL 62644

The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Illinois River Biological Station conducted a 
baseline assessment of riparian and aquatic biota of three tributaries located in the 
Ackerman Creek Watershed.  This study was conducted in conjunction with the Army 
Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as part of Illinois 
River Basin Restoration efforts.  Ackerman, Farm and Ten Mile Creeks, located in Peoria 
and Woodford Counties in central Illinois, were sampled at two 150 meter sites for fish 
and invertebrate abundance and composition, ancillary water quality and habitat data.  
Fish sampling gears included a 1500-watt AC electric seine with block nets and a 1600-
watt AC backpack shocker.  The total number of fish species collected in the three 
tributaries was 17 and 1 hybrid with a total catch of 2,902 fishes.  Although each site 
exhibited varying degrees of human impact and habitat features, mean catch per site was 
483.7 fish and an analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in catch among 
all six sites (P=0.279).  In addition, conflicting results where seen between sites with 
varying levels of disturbance.  Some sites that rendered high levels of disturbance 
displayed greater species diversity and abundance than other less disturbed sites. 
Assessment of fish assemblages and composition demonstrated 96.4% of the total catch 
to be Cyprinids which included sand shiners Notropis stramineus (26.3%), central 
stonerollers Campostoma anomalum pullum (24.1%), blacknose daces Rhinichthys 
atratulus (20.5%), river shiners Notropis blennius (14.6%), bluntnose minnows 
Pimephales notatus (3.4%), creek chubs Semotilus atromaculatus atromaculatus (2.9%) 
and suckermouth minnows Phenacobius mirabilis (2.8%).  These Cyprinids, with the 
exception to river shiners, also dominated each site individually as they were common to 
all or most sites.  Although there were no statistically significant results, such 
assessments are of importance because of their allowance of an applicable baseline 
interpretation of small-scale systems, to guide and identify restoration potentiality and 
priority, as well as track restoration responses.  

Keywords: fish assemblage, Illinois River, tributary streams, disturbance