Water

PORTAGE DES SIOUX WATERSHED

Madison and Jersey Counties | 35,237 Acres

Drains to: Mississippi River

Communities: Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Elsah, Godfrey, Grafton, Hartford, Rosewood Heights, Roxana, South Roxana, Wood River

Townships and Districts: Alton, Chouteau, Elsah, Godfrey, Quarry East, Wood River

Impairments: Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), fecal coliform

Watershed Plan Completed: Underway

About This Watershed

The Portage des Sioux watershed is the narrow area from the top of the bluff line to the banks of the Mississippi River in Jersey and Madison counties, below the confluence of the Illinois River and the Mississippi. In this watershed, the water flows through many small unnamed tributaries directly to the Mississippi River, though some parts of Godfrey and Alton drain into Piasa Creek and Shields Branch before discharging into the Mississippi River.

Funding Opportunities

None available at this time.