Stillman Creek, also known during different eras as Mud Creek, Old Man's Creek, Sycamore Creek, and Stillman's Run, is part of the Rock River watershed, and located in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The stream was named for Isaiah Stillman, who also lent his name to the village of Stillman Valley, Illinois, which lies along the creek.
Course Stillman Creek originates near Kings, Illinois and continues its course through Ogle County until it reaches the Rock River at its mouth. The creek is long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed May 13, 2011
Natural history Before the Rock River country was settled, which includes the area surrounding Stillman Creek, 35% of the land was covered with prairie; there were of pre-settlement prairie remaining within the Rock River basin."The Rock River Country," At a glance." Retrieved 14 August 2007. The land surrounding the Rock River and its tributaries is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Found throughout the Rock River country 122 species of native birds, 33 species of reptiles, 78 species of mammals, 33 species of native mussel and 10 species of native crustaceans. Of the 950 plant taxa found in the river country, 27 are ferns species. In total, 56 species of Illinois endangered or threatened species make their habitat within Rock River country."The Rock River Country," p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2007
History The creek was the site of the 1832 Battle of Stillman's Run during the Black Hawk War. The battle and the creek became humorously known as "Stillman's Run" after Stillman and his men fled the battlefield in defeat, believing they were being chased by thousands of Chief Black Hawk's warriors.Matile, Roger. "Maj. Stillman’s run: advancing to the rear," Ledger-Sentinel (Oswego, Illinois), 24 May 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007. The use of the word "run" was a double entendre describing both the creek and Stillman's "tactics" during the battle. It has been known by other names as well, those include, Mud Creek, Old Man's Creek, and Sycamore Creek."Battle of Sycamore Creek , Abraham Lincoln Digitization Project, Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 14 August 2007. The stream's current name, Stillman Creek, descended from Isaiah Stillman, who also lent his name to the village of Stillman Valley (via the creek), along the creek, in Ogle County."History of Stillman Valley," Village of Stillman Valley, official site. Retrieved 14 August 2007. A 1999 water quality assessment by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency rated Stillman's Creek as "good," along with about 78% of the rest of the water ways found in the Rock River watershed."Rock River Watershed," (PDF), The Condition of Illinois Water Resources 1999, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 14 August 2007. In modern times, the village of Stillman Valley has been authorized to discharge treated wastewater into the creek."NPDES Permit No. IL0031275, (PDF), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Water Pollution Control, 19 May 2006. During the 2007 Midwest flooding the creek poured over its banks.
Geography Stillman Creek's elevation is above sea level and it is part of the Rock River watershed.Sinclair, Robert A. "Rock River Basin: Historical Background, IEPA Targeted Watersheds, and Resource Rich Areas," (PDF), Illinois State Water Survey, April 2006, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, p. 8. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
Notes
References "The Rock River Country: An Inventory of the Region's Resources," Regional Watershed Assessments, 2000, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 14 August 2007.