Big Muddy River The Big Muddy was not covered by the Wisconsin Glacier, about 70,000 to 10,000 years before present. However, during the melting of that glacier, the level of the Mississippi River was much higher. Water backed up into the Big Muddy Basin, forming a lake much like the artificial Rend Lake but covering a larger area. The ancient lake silted in, forming a flat bottom. After the melting of the Wisconsinan glacier, the level of the Mississippi dropped, allowing the lake to drain. A new channel formed within the old lake bed. This channel meandered in the flat bottom of the
Fox River (Little Wabash tributary) Fox River: Fox River (Little Wabash tributary) The Fox River is a tributary of the Little Wabash River in southern Illinois. It rises in Jasper County to the southeast of Newton and flows south past Olney, then joins the Little Wabash at the northeast corner of Edwards County, near Mt. Erie. The river is in length. There is a smaller "Fox River" that is a tributary of the Wabash River in southern Illinois, entering the Wabash near New Harmony, Indiana. The following cities, towns and villages are in the Fox River watershed: The following counties are at least partially drained