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Rivers & Streams - Projects
See projects below for contact information |
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| Construct
Stream Stabilization Structures on Targeted Site |
| Principal
Investigator: Bill White |
| Field
and Data Processing: L. Duong, J. Rodsater and J. Beardsley |
| Funded
by Illinois Department of Natural Resources until
6/30/2003 |
| ABSTRACT:
The goal of this project is to design and construct stream channel stabilization projects for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Stream channel instability has been a major source of sediment and loss of property value around the state. Loss of IDNR state property value from erosion and sedimentation results in large-scale capital projects to mitigate damages. A major component of such efforts is the construction phase of stream stabilization projects based on watershed scale analysis of stream instability. The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), in cooperation with IDNR, will identify locations of stream instability, design appropriate channel stabilization projects, and construct the projects. The ISWS also will collect data for postconstruction evaluation of channel stabilization projects such as vanes and Newbury weirs. |
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| Effective
Discharges of Illinois Streams |
| Principal
Investigator: V. Knapp |
| Funded
by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency until
11/30/2002 |
| ABSTRACT:
The hydrologic regime of a natural river is usually highly complex and encompasses a wide range of discharges. Magnitudes and frequencies at which various discharges occur play a key role in creating channel morphology. The concept of effective discharge proposes that there exists a single discharge that encompasses all morphological impacts that a stream's hydrologic regime has on forming and maintaining stable channel morphology. Stream restoration efforts potentially can use this discharge to help design morphologically stable channels. Suspended sediment data collected at 88 gaging stations within Illinois are being analyzed to determine which stations currently have sufficient suspended sediment data to estimate effective discharges. A procedure is being developed and implemented to compute effective discharge values for the qualifying stream locations. For each gaging location, an estimate is made of the flow frequency at which the effective discharge is equaled or exceeded at each gaging station. Linear regression analyses, based on the effective discharge, channel slope, watershed area, and physiographic unit associated with each gaging station, are then used to examine potential geographic variations in effective discharge within Illinois' streams. |
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| Flood
Protection and Management for the Lower IL River System: Phase III |
| Principal
Investigators: M. Demissie Y. Lian, and V. Knapp |
| Funded
by Illinois Department
of Natural Resources, 7/1/2000 - 6/30/2002 |
| ABSTRACT:
This project is improving the Windows-based interface developed for the Office of Water Resources Management, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The required input and output files for the UNET model are organized in the project file. The user can create project files to run the UNET model for historic, design, real-time, and forecasted flood events using UNET geometry and boundary condition files. The post-processing of the model outputs—namely, the Data Storage System (DSS) database—uses data grid tables for easy selection of path strings. The graphing function allows users to plot single and multiple hydrographs and single reach and multiple reach stage profiles. For the Lower Illinois River, the location and magnitude of any levee overtopping are displayed. Utility tools include screen captures, document editing, and DSS file editing. The program also allows direct access to Web sites for current weather, real-time stage and discharge hydrographs, and forecasted stages. |
| Recent
Publication: Lian, Y., M. Demissie, and K. Andrew. 2001. Management Strategies for Flood Protection in the Lower Illinois River, Phase II: Real-time Simulation of Flooding with UNET Model. Illinois State Water Survey Contract Report 2001-16. |
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| Floodplain Map Modernization Program |
| Principal
Investigator: Sally A. McConkey |
| GIS & Engineering Support: K. Allan, P. Parmar, M. Barrett, P. Graff, L. Verhelst, and T. Yilmaz |
| Funded
by Illinois Department
of Natural Resources - Office of Water Resources from 2004 (ongoing) |
| ABSTRACT:
Today, Illinois' flood hazards are primarily depicted only on paper maps. These paper floodplain maps, used for regulatory and flood insurance purposes as well as identifying sensitive riparian corridors, are called Flood Insurance Rate maps, or FIRMs. Many of Illinois’ FIRMs are outdated, some as much as 20 years, the statewide average age of Illinois FIRM maps is nine years. Congress has allocated significant funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to “modernize” floodplain maps nation wide. The new floodplain maps will be fully digital, using the latest geographic information system (GIS) technology. Local involvement is stressed to assure that data incorporated in the maps is up to date and accurate. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources and the State Water Survey prepared a State Business plan outlining the state’s desire to participate in FEMA’s Map Modernization Program. The State Water Survey has contracted to prepare digital maps for five counties in Illinois this funding cycle and over the next 5 years will prepare the floodplain maps for the majority of counties in Illinois. The newly created Map Modernization Program is headed by Sally McConkey, Senior Professional Scientist, Kingsley Allan, GIS Specialist, and Parminder Parmar, Senior Engineer. GIS expertise has been enhanced at the Survey with four new staff members who joined the team December 1, 2004. Melony Barrett, Phil Graff, Lisa Verhelst and Tolga Yilmaz hold degrees specializing in GIS and bring a wealth expertise to the program. The Map Modernization GIS team is expected to double its staff in the upcoming years as more map projects are added. Illinois has taken an aggressive step to fully participate in Map Modernization, recognizing that participation benefits the people of Illinois by providing state expertise for the best mapping product. |
| Website: http://www.illinoisfloodmaps.org/ |
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| Fox River
Watershed Investigation, Stratton Dam to the Illinois River |
| Principal
Investigators: S.
McConkey, M. Machesky, and V. Knapp |
| Funded
by Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency,
4/1/2002 - 6/30/2003 |
| ABSTRACT:
In consultation with the Fox River Study Group, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has proposed a multi-phase water quality study of the Fox River watershed from Stratton Dam to the Illinois River confluence. The ultimate objective of the full study is to identify significant watershed issues and implement a watershed plan that includes data collection, model development, and monitoring. Research findings will provide guidance for public and private planners and decision-makers. At the request of the Fox River Study Group, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has provided funding for ISWS to conduct phase one of the study, which entails compilation and review of relevant information to identify significant water quality concerns, available data, and data gaps. A database of water quality and attendant data will be compiled to serve as a foundation for modeling, analysis, and comparative study. Throughout the project, ISWS staff will meet with the Fox River Study Group and provide project updates for review and comment. |
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| Fox River Watershed Investigation, Stratton Dam to the Illinois River - Phase II |
| Principal
Investigators: S.
McConkey, L. Lin, A. Bartosova, J. Singh |
| Funded
by Fox River Study Group,
11/1/2003 – 4/30/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
In consultation with the Fox River Study Group, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has proposed a multi-phase water quality study of the Fox River watershed from Stratton Dam to the Illinois River confluence. The ultimate objective of the full study is to identify significant watershed issues and implement a watershed plan that includes data collection, model development, and monitoring. At the request of the Fox River Study Group, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency provided funding for ISWS to conduct phase one of the study which is now complete. The full report Fox River Watershed Investigation – Stratton Dam to the Illinois River: Water Quality Issues and Data Report to the Fox River Study Group, Inc., is posted at the web site http://ilrdss.sws.uiuc.edu/fox. The Fox River Study Group has continued supporting the project through local funds and the current work includes development of data sets for the water quality models and customizing the model framework to meet study needs. |
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| Illinois River Basin Restoration Project; Watershed & Pool Assessments |
| Principal
Investigator: B. White |
| Field
and Data Processing: J. Beardsley, L. Duong, and J. Rodsater |
| Funded
by Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
10/1/2003 – 6/30/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Illinois River Basin Restoration Project; Watershed & Pool Assessments was funded to conduct assessment of selected pools and tributary watersheds within the Illinois River Basin in support of the Illinois River Ecosystem Restoration Study. Central to these restoration efforts will be a pool and watershed assessment which will help identify the most problematic sites and areas in immediate need for construction/restoration within the basin based upon watershed scale analysis of stream instability. The Illinois State Water Survey has the experience in the State of Illinois at evaluating and restoring stream segments using contemporary restoration analysis and construction/restoration techniques. The scope of the project will be to perform the assessments for selected pools along the Illinois River and for several specific watersheds over the next 5 years to identify project locations for restoration related projects to meet overall goals of the Illinois River Ecosystem Restoration objectives. |
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| Illinois
River Sediment Budget Update |
| Principal
Investigator: N. Bhowmik |
| Funded
by US Army Corps of Engineers until
11/30/2002 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Illinois State Water Survey prepared Erosion and Sedimentation in the Illinois River Basin: Final Report (Contract Report 519) in 1992. An approximate sediment budget was developed based on data collected up to 1990 for that report. This project will include all sediment data collected since 1990 and update the sediment budget for the Illinois River basin. Determination of a sediment budget includes calculating and estimating sediment yields from all tributary streams that drain into the Illinois River and then comparing yields with sediment outflow from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River. |
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| Illinois
River Watershed Hydrologic Model Development |
| Principal
Investigator: M. Demissie |
| Funded
by US Army Corps of Engineers
until 9/30/2002 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Illinois State Water Survey has initiated the development of hydrologic model for the Illinois River basin as a component of the Illinois Rivers Decision Support System developed for organizing and disseminating information in support of the Illinois River Ecosystem Restoration project and the Illinois Rivers 2020 program. The model will be developed within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's BASINS framework. The initial phase involves delineating the Illinois River watershed into sub-basins and developing a basinwide HSPF model. The model will be calibrated for two sub-basins to guide parameter selection for entire basins. A preliminary hydrologic model for the entire basin will be improved continuously by calibrating for more sub-basins. |
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| Illinois
Streamflow Assessment Model |
| Principal
Investigator: V. Knapp |
| Funded
by the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources, 6/30/1995 - 6/30/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Illinois Streamflow Assessment Model (ILSAM) produces
statistical estimates of flow quantity in Illinois streams, which are
basic for various water resource uses, including: water quality analyses
and regulations; assessing drought, instream flows, and availability for
water supply; and stream ecosystem and restoration assessment. The ILSAM
flow estimates are representative of long-term climatic conditions, with
base periods covering the past 50 years or more, but also account for
recent man-made modifications to the flow amount such as have been
caused by reservoirs, water-supply withdrawals, diversions, and
discharges from wastewater treatment plants. The hydrologic analysis for
ILSAM has been completed for over half of Illinois, including the Fox,
Kankakee, Kaskaskia, Little Wabash, Mackinaw, Rock, Sangamon, and
Vermilion-Illinois River watersheds. Additional ILSAM applications for
the Spoon and LaMoine River watersheds in western Illinois are currently
being developed. A new online version of the ILSAM model is available
for easy access to ILSAM streamflow estimates, and a more comprehensive
version of ILSAM for use on Windows-based personal computers is also
available on CD. |
Recent
Publications:
Mills, Evan P., and H. Vernon Knapp. 1991. The
Illinois Streamflow Assessment Model: Version 3.2, User's Guide. Miscellaneous Publications
132. Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL, 46p.
Mills, Evan P., and H. Vernon Knapp. 1989. The
Illinois Streamflow Assessment Model: Version 3.0, User's Guide. Miscellaneous Publications
116. Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL.
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| Web
Site: Illinois Streamflow Assessment Model
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| Initial Stream Stability Assessment of a Segment of Hickory Creek |
| Principal
Investigator: B. White |
| Field
and Data Processing: J. Beardsley, L. Duong, and J. Rodsater |
| Funded
by Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
7/1/2003 – 2/29/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
The IDNR-Office of Water Resources is interested in having the ISWS describe the nature of a segment of the pre-modern and modern Hickory Creek fluvial system between Pilcher Park Dam and Washington Street in Joliet. The contract also called for the identification of likely causes of channel instability in the study area and to offer potential alternatives to potentially mitigate impacts associated with instability and severe erosion of the streambank. The geological conditions and severity of erosion at the stream segment in question warrants traditional engineering practices rather than costly bioengineering techniques that, in this case, may be questionable with such a diverse and erosive geologic setting. The Office of Water Resources was also interested in any future study needs (i.e., sediment transport studies). |
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| Installation of Newbury Riffles in the Cache River to Stabilize the Streambed and Enhance Habitat |
| Principal
Investigator: B. White |
| Field
and Data Processing: J. Beardsley, and J. Rodsater |
| Funded
by Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
10/1/2003 – 12/30/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Cache River Natural Area is comprised of 11,760 acres of timber and swamps which surround the Cache River. Special interest in the area includes three nature preserves, Section 8 Woods, Heron Pond-Wildcat Bluff, and Little Black Slough. The creation of the Post Creek “cut-off” in 1915 shortened the Cache River by 52 miles and channel incision has since then been draining several wetland areas and degrading habitat in this biologically important area. This contract effort is established for the ISWS to review existing surveys to determine streambed profile, channel geometry, and the extent of channel erosion in order to determine the locations, depths and widths of riffles to be constructed in the Cache River. The ISWS will develop plans and work with local IDNR personnel to determine accessibility and work with local contractors to oversee installation of the restoration measures. Costs of materials and heavy equipment will be calculated after negotiations with local contractors and local suppliers such as rock quarries. Design plans, oversight of actual restoration activities and photo documentation will be provided by the ISWS. |
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| Investigation
of Metal and Organic Contaminant Distributions and Sedimentation
Rates in Backwater Lakes along the Illinois River |
| Principal
Investigator: J. Slowikowski |
| Funded
by the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources, 1/1/2002 - 3/31/2003 |
| ABSTRACT:
Illinois River sediments contain an unknown distribution of metals and organic contaminants. Dredging is being proposed as a means to restore habitats and recreational opportunities to areas of the Illinois River. Sediments of areas to be dredged will require better characterization. This project intends to characterize these sediments, information that can be used to help make decisions regarding disposal of dredged materials. Using a Rossfelder vibrocoring system, at least ten cores will be collected from selected areas of Peoria Pool above Chillicothe, LaGrange Pool, and Alton Pool. Collected cores will be extruded and split, with one half used for 10 centimeter sub-samples for organic carbon, metal analysis and cesium-137 dating, and the other half for organic analytes and various agronomic and physical parameters. Work proposed will be a joint effort between the Illinois State Water Survey and the Illinois State Geological Survey. |
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| Low Frequency
Estimation for Sugar Creek |
| Principal
Investigators: V. Knapp and J. Slowikowski |
| Field
and Data Processing: T. Snider |
| Funded
by the City of Springfield, Illinois, 8/1/2001 - 11/30/2003 |
| ABSTRACT:
This study will estimate 7-day, 10-year low flows for Sugar Creek in Sangamon County in a reach located between Lake Springfield (Spaulding Dam) and the Springfield Metro Sanitary District treatment facility. Low flow discharge will be measured during dry periods over the next three years. A frequency analysis of these low flows will use a nearby long-term gaging as an index of low flow frequency. |
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| National
Monitoring of Instream Habitat and Urban Fisheries
in the Waukegan River |
| Principal
Investigator: Bill White |
| Field
and Data Processing: L. Duong, J. Rodsater and J. Beardsley |
| Funded
by the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency, 6/1/2000 - 5/31/2004 |
| ABSTRACT:
The Waukegan River, located in Waukegan, Illinois, is about 35 miles north of Chicago and has a watershed area of 7,640 acres in a mostly urban setting. This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 National Monitoring Program project is an urban stream restoration project. High-volume runoff from impervious surfaces and a lack of stormwater controls are creating channel instability in urban streams. Habitat quality is being degraded, as evidenced by low oxygen levels, shallow pool depths, and limited cobble substrate. This project uses biotechnical stream restoration practices (a combined vegetative and structural approach) to stabilize eroded streambanks and low stone weirs to restore pool and riffle sequences. Upstream/downstream habitat monitoring is being used to evaluate the success of the installed stream restoration efforts by documenting water quality changes in the Waukegan River at South Branch stations. Biological parameters, which include fish, macroinvertebrate, and habitat samples, are measured three times per year from May through September. Flows are monitored continuously. |
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| Update
of the 7-Day 10-Year Low Flow Maps for Illinois |
| Principal
Investigator: V. Knapp |
| Funded
by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency until
2/28/2003 |
| ABSTRACT:
The 7-day, 10-year low flow in streams (Q7,10) is the lowest average flow for a consecutive seven-day period with an average recurrence interval of ten years. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) often uses Q7,10 estimates as the base flow condition in Illinois streams at which certain water quality standards apply. Allocation of waste loads also is dependent on the Q7,10 stream flow, which is the sum of natural base flows, water withdrawals, and effluent flows. The Illinois State Water Survey, with cooperative funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, has produced Q7,10 maps for Illinois since 1973. The Q7,10 estimates have been revised periodically, and this is appropriate whenever there is a shift
in the statistical characteristics of low flows at gaging stations as a result of climatic variability or land use factors,
or if water use conditions along the streams in the region change considerably. Low flow estimates contained in these maps
are based on a combination of statistical analyses of low flows measured at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages throughout
Illinois, regional regression equations that estimate low flows at ungaged sites based on information transferred from gaged
sites, and water use conditions at the time of the evaluation. Low flow maps for the Sangamon, Rock, Kaskaskia, Little Wabash,
and northeastern Illinois regions are being revised. |
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