Big Sandy Creek (Illinois)

Big Sandy Creek
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Morgan County southeast of Jacksonville, Illinois
• coordinates	39°37′54″N 90°10′16″W / 39.6317141°N 90.1712282°W / 39.6317141; -90.1712282 (Big Sandy Creek origin)
Mouth
• location	Confluence with the Illinois River, Scott County, Illinois
• coordinates	39°33′04″N 90°34′23″W / 39.5511587°N 90.5731814°W / 39.5511587; -90.5731814 (Big Sandy Creek mouth)Coordinates: 39°33′04″N 90°34′23″W / 39.5511587°N 90.5731814°W / 39.5511587; -90.5731814 (Big Sandy Creek mouth)
• elevation	423 ft (129 m)
Basin features
GNIS ID	417992

Little Sandy Creek
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Scott County west of Manchester, Illinois
• coordinates	39°32′04″N 90°20′32″W / 39.5344914°N 90.3423437°W / 39.5344914; -90.3423437 (Little Sandy Creek origin)
Mouth
• location	Confluence with Big Sandy Creek approx. 1/3 mile above the Illinois River
• coordinates	39°33′07��N 90°34′01″W / 39.5519919°N 90.5670701°W / 39.5519919; -90.5670701 (Little Sandy Creek mouth)
• elevation	423 ft (129 m)
Basin features
GNIS ID	412409

Big Sandy Creek, often called the Big Branch, is a tributary of the Illinois River in central Illinois. It drains a large portion of southwestern Morgan County and southern Scott County. The drainage of Big Sandy Creek includes Lake Jacksonville and the county seat of Scott County, Winchester, Illinois.^[1]

Most of the Big Sandy Creek drainage is intensely farmed arable land. Because the land is sandy, nitrogen runoff due to fertilizer application is significant. In addition, Jacksonville and Winchester drain their sewage into the creek.^[1]

Little Sandy Creek is a tributary of Big Sandy Creek. The two streams combine shortly before discharging into the Illinois River opposite the hamlet of Montezuma, Illinois. Sand discharged by the alluvial creeks may have helped form McEvers Island, a silt island in the Illinois River just below the mouth of the creek.

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