Illinois Drought Update
 
Illinois State Water Survey
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Illinois EPA, Division of Public Water Supplies

Drought Update‑Summary Report

August 25, 2005



Rockford Region‑ Water use restrictions at several groundwater supplies remain in place. The Quad Cities surface water supplies, Mississippi River sources, continue to have an adequate capacity and have not issued water use restrictions. Illinois American Water Company- Streater, Vermillion River source, continues to have adequate capacity.

 

Elgin Region‑ Elgin and Aurora, Fox River sources, are augmenting their surface water withdrawals with groundwater supplies. Surface water flows are adequate at these supplies and groundwater withdrawal is normal at this time of year. Elgin does not have any water use restrictions in place and has requested voluntary conservation measures. Aurora is operating under odd-even watering restriction. Aqua Illinois‑Kankakee, Kankakee River, continues to have an adequate supply. Joliet, groundwater source, remains on a watering ban.

 

Champaign Region‑ All surface water supplies have reservoir levels at or above normal for this time of year. No water use restrictions have been reported.

 

Springfield Region‑ Recent precipitation has increased flows in area creeks. Reservoirs in this region continue to have adequate capacity. Ashland and LaHarpe continue to be of greatest concern, however precipitation has provided some relief.

 

Collinsville Region‑ Voluntary watering restrictions remain in effect for Edwardsville and the connected facilities of Glen Carbon, SIU‑Edwardsville and Northeast Central Public Water District. Other supplies have lifted their water use restriction due to adequate precipitation.

 

Marion Region‑ All surface water supplies have reservoir levels at or above normal for this time of year. No water use restrictions have been reported and precipitation levels within the region have been adequate.



COLLINSVILLE (08/25/05)                    
SURFACE WATER RESERVOIRS                      
SYSTEM NAME SYSTEM ID WATER SOURCE(s) FULL POOL CAPACITY (days) LEVEL OF CONCERN CURRENT LEVEL DATE OF CL SYSTEM NAME DROUGHT PLAN PLAN IMPLEMENTED COMMENTS
Breese IL0270250 Shoal Creek, Side-Channel reservoir     4' down in side-channel reservoir Shoal Creek is at normal pool.  8/1/2005 Breese Conserve water order no Current water levels are not a concern
Carlyle IL0270300 Kaskaskia River       Kaskaskia River is at 412.089' 8/1/2005 Carlyle no no Current water levels are not a concern
Centralia IL1214220 Raccoon Lake Water level is 6" below the spill way   60" below spill way 37" from top of spill way 8/1/2005 Centralia Conserve water order no Current water levels are not a concern
Chester IL1570100 Mississippi River Normal   2 4.8 above 0 (0 is in relation to barge traffic) 8/1/2005 Chester no no Water could be as low as 20 below 0 and the plant would still have enough water.
Coulterville IL1570150 Coulterville Lake       2' down 8/2/2005 Coulterville yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Evansville IL1570250 Kaskaskia River  Normal     368.8' 8/16/2005 Evansville no no  
Farina IL0510150 Impoundment reservoir (2 pits); Can pump water from East Fork River when it rains       Pit #1 is 8' down; Pit #2 is 5' down 8/2/2005 Farina no no Current water levels are not a concern
Greenfield IL0610150 Impoundment reservoir        2' down   Greenfield no no Current water levels are not a concern
Highland IL1190550 Silver Lake 500'     18" down 8/1/2005 Highland no mo Current water levels are not a concern
Holiday Shores IL1195110 Holiday Lake 505msl   3' below full pool 8" down 8/1/2005 Holiday Shores no no Current water levels are not a concern
Ill. Am.-Alton IL1195150 Mississippi River Normal       8/1/2005 Ill. Am. -Alton yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Ill. Am. - E. St. Louis IL1635040 Mississippi River Normal       8/1/2005 Ill. Am. -E. St. Louis yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Ill. Am. - Granite City IL1195030 Mississippi River Normal       08/01/05 Ill. Am. -Granite City yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Kaskaskia WD IL1635110 Kaskaskia River Normal       8/1/2005 Kaskaskia WD yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Nashville IL1890300 Nashville Lake; Washington Co. State Lake; Kaskaskia River       6" down 8/1/2005 Nashville yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Patoka IL1210400 North Fork of the Kaskaskia Creek; East Impoundment Reservoir; West Impoundement Reservoir       West- 2' down;  East- full 8/1/2005 Patoka yes no Creek is nearly dry.  Can purchase water from FMC
Salem IL1210450 Salem reservoir; Carlyle Lake        Reservoir is down 20" 8/1/2005 Salem yes no Reservoir is down for riprapping.  Can fill from Carlyle Lake
Sparta IL1570600 Sparta reservoir; Kaskaskia River, Northwest Strip Pit     down 5' Reservoir is down 3' 8/2/2005 Sparta yes no Current water levels are not a concern
Vandalia IL0510350 Kaskaskia River; Vandalia Lake Normal     Lake down 2' 8/1/2005 Vandalia yes no Currently drawing from river
                       
                       


SPRINGFIELD (08/25/05)                    
SURFACE WATER RESERVOIRS                      
SYSTEM NAME SYSTEM ID WATER SOURCE(s) FULL POOL CAPACITY (days) LEVEL OF CONCERN CURRENT LEVEL DATE OF CL SYSTEM NAME DROUGHT PLAN PLAN IMPLEMENTED COMMENTS
La Harpe IL0670450 side channel reservoir, south branch of La Moine River, well #1 0 105 + GW not set down 8" 8/11/2005 La Harpe shut off farmers first no Creek is dry - are considering shutting off farmers from bulk sales next week if no rain this weekend.  60% water from reservoir and WTP #1, 40 % from well and WTP #2
Blandinsville IL1090100 side channel reservoir, LaHarpe Creek, new reservoir 0     0 7/26/2005 Blandinsville     Creek is low, but are still able to keep reservoir full - for now.
Macomb IL1090350 Spring Lake, east fork of La Moine River, 3 wells 0     down 6" 8/12/2005 Macomb yes no haven't pumped out of river since 1989; new RO plant for well #3 helping
Canton IL0570250 impoundment reservoir, 2 wells   263 + Wells 564.2 down 36" 8/15/2005 Canton yes no wells can pump into reservoir
Carthage IL0670250 impoundment reservoir, City of Hamilton   370 + Hamilton   down 3.5' 8/11/2005 Carthage   no Contract operator considering recommending voluntary conservation order to City Council.  Current water level is not a major concern.
Vermont IL0570950 impoundment reservoir   627 down 3-4' down 15" 8/15/2005 Vermont yes yes Vol. Water cons. has been requested.
Ashland IL0170100 two side channel reservoirs, Little Indian Creek 0 335   down 4' (new)   down 3.5' (old) 8/25/2005 Ashland no no Asked if can pump from old wells into reservoirs? (refer to Jerry Kuhn)
New Berlin IL1670800 side channel reservoir, Spring Creek 0     down 20" 8/15/2005 New Berlin yes yes Creek is low, but are able to pump intermittently.Vol. wtr consv. has been impl.
Springfield IL1671200 impoundment reservoir, south fork of Sangamon River 560     558.37' 8/15/2005 Springfield yes no can, but aren't currently, recycle ash pond decant back into the lake
Jacksonville IL1370200 wells, two impoundment reservoirs       Full (Lake Mauvaise Terre),  down 22" (Lake Jacksonville)  8/11/2005 Jacksonville     wells near Illinois River can meet demand.  Using about 10-15% lake water currently.
Pittsfield IL1490750 impoundment reservoir 596   591 down 1' 8/15/2005 Pittsfield no no Current water level not a concern.
Waverly IL1370450 impoundment reservoir 0 1158   down 1' 8/10/2005 Waverly   no Current water level not a concern.
Taylorville IL0210600 wells, impoundment reservoir 590     589.5 8/11/2005 Taylorville     Current water level not a concern.
Palmyra - Modesto IL1175150 impoundment reservoir 0   down 3' down 16" 8/12/2005 Palmyra - Modesto no no Current water level not a concern.  
Otter Lake WC IL1175200 impoundment reservoir 620?   down 4' down 18" 8/12/2005 Otter Lake WC no no  
Pana IL0210500 two impoundment reservoirs 0   down 3.5' down 1.53' 8/11/2005 Pana yes no Current water level not a concern.
Carlinville IL1170150 two impoundment reservoirs       down 1.5' 8/12/2005 Carlinville yes no Lake level not of concenn since dam was raised in early '80's
Litchfield IL1350400 two impoundment reservoirs       down 8" 08/12/05 Litchfield yes no  
Hillsboro IL1350300 two impoundment reservoirs     down 4.0' - 4.5' down 1.5' 8/12/2005 Hillsboro yes no Current water level not a concern.
Gillespie IL1170400 two impoundment reservoirs       down 18" 8/12/2005 Gillespie no no Have capacity to pump from old lake to new lake
Mt. Olive IL1170700 two impoundment reservoirs       down 15" (new) 8/12/2005 Mt. Olive no no Old lake is down apprx. 2'. Lake levels not of concern yet.
Staunton IL1171050 impoundment reservoir     down 4.5' down 2' 8/12/2005 Staunton yes no Lake levels in 2000 got as low as 4.0' below overflow


ELGIN (08/25/05)                    
SURFACE WATER                       
SYSTEM NAME SYSTEM ID WATER SOURCE(s) FULL POOL CAPACITY (days) LEVEL OF CONCERN CURRENT LEVEL DATE OF CL SYSTEM NAME DROUGHT PLAN PLAN IMPLEMENTED COMMENTS
Wilmington IL1971100 Kankakee River & Groundwater     Critical low flow rate has not been determined.   Current flow is 721 FT3/second, Approx 340 FT3/second recorded week of July 24 (lowest of seasnon) 8/25/2005 Wilmington   NO Water Use Restrictions. Groundwater source can yield between 600 and 800 gpm.  Well Capacities can meet normal demand.  Water use restriction would be required if surface source is unavailable, however Intake is located in a pit below the bottom of the river.  “Water available as long as the river is flowing.”
Aurora IL0894070 Fox River & Groundwater     Critical low flow rate on the Fox River has not been determined.   Aurora’s average daily demand can be met from well production alone. 8/25/2005 Aurora   Odd-even day lawn watering Minimum flow in the Fox River occurred in Late June/ Early July.   River withdraw is limited by 20 MGD intake pumps.  
Elgin IL0894380  Fox River & Groundwater     Critical low flow rate on the Fox River has not been determined.     8/25/2005 Elgin   No Water Restrictions. Has requested voluntary conservation measures  
Aqua Illinois - Kankakee  IL0915030 Kankakee River      Aqua Illinois has not established a “critical low flow” rate for the Kankakee River. Lowest flow this summer was 492 CFS.    8/25/2005 Kankakee   No Water Restrictions. Draws approx. 12 MGD from the Kankakee River (Watershed in Northern Indiana). Lowest Recorded flow of the Kankakee River= 453 CFS in 1988, measured at the Wilmington dam (downstream of Kankakee & Braidwood Nuclear, also withdraws from Kankakee River).   
                       
Note: Surface water flows are adequate at these supplies and increased groundwater withdrawal  is normal at this time of year.