Study Area

Creation of large impervious surfaces that cause increases in runoff

The Wildcat Creek Watershed is over 2000 sq. km. In area and is located in north central Indiana and includes the cities of Kokomo, Frankfort and part of Lafayette. A United States Geologic Survey (USGS) defined 14-digit subwatershed (Figure 13) was used for this analysis. This watershed is of particular interest as it adjoins a rapidly urbanizing part of a city and is experiencing significant land use change. Proximity to major roads has encouraged growth in this area. Indiana Highway 26 runs east and west through the middle of the watershed. Running northwest to southeast through the watershed is Interstate 65 connecting Indianapolis to Chicago. Partially due to proximity to the interstate and a new super store at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Highway 26, many new subdivisions have been built in the last 10 years near the middle of the watershed. Commercial growth has also occurred along Highway 26 in the far eastern portion of the watershed. Farther to the north, upscale houses have been built in the wooded areas around Wildcat Creek. Although the southeastern portion of the watershed has little development now, the area directly to the east of the watershed experienced a large amount of commercial growth in the recent past. The city is expecting more growth as can be seen in the recent widening of a road running north and south slightly outside the watershed (Photo 1). Several areas in the watershed have been rezoned in the recent past by the local planning authority to accommodate increasing demands of housing and commercial space (Journal and Courier, 1999). At several locations in the watershed, the total maximum daily load of e-coli, dissolved oxygen, PCB's, ammonia, lead and cyanide has been exceeded for the water body (Indiana Department of Health, 1997). Over 20 stream segments are unfit for recreational uses or do not support any aquatic life due to pollution. For a significant stretch of the creek, since 1997 there has been an official advisory in place recommending that fish caught in the Wildcat Creek not be eaten.
 

Figure 1: Study Area within the Wildcat Creek Watershed, Northcentral Indiana

 
 
 

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