Geology topics

Research about Illinois River

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Illinois River.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS2016

Water pressure and ground vibrations induced by water guns at a backwater pond on the Illinois River near Morris, Illinois

Three different geophysical sensor types were used to characterize the underwater pressure waves and ground velocities generated by the underwater firing of seismic water guns. These studies evaluated the use of water guns as a tool to alter the movement of Asian carp. Asian carp are aquatic invasive species that threaten to move into the Great Lakes Basin from the Mississippi River Basin. Previous studies have identified a threshold of approximately 5 pounds per square inch (lb/in 2 ) for behavioral modification and for structural limitation of a water gun barrier. Two studies were completed during August 2014 and May 2015 in a backwater pond connected to the Illinois River at a sand and gravel quarry near Morris, Illinois. The August 2014 study evaluated the performance of two 80-cubic-inch (in 3 ) water guns. Data from the 80-in 3 water guns showed that the pressure field had the highest pressures and greatest extent of the 5-lb/in 2 target value at a depth of 5 feet (ft). The maximum recorded pressure was 13.7 lb/in 2 , approximately 25 ft from the guns. The produced pressure field took the shape of a north-south-oriented elongated sphere with the 5-lb/in 2 target value extending across the entire study area at a depth of 5 ft. Ground velocities were consistent over time, at 0.0067 inches per second (in/s) in the transverse direction, 0.031 in/s in the longitudinal direction, and 0.013 in/s in the vertical direction. The May 2015 study evaluated the performance of one and two 100-in 3 water guns. Data from the 100-in 3 water guns, fired both individually and simultaneously, showed that the pressure field had the highest pressures and greatest extent of the 5-lb/in 2 target value at a depth of 5 ft. The maximum pressure was 57.4 lb/in 2 , recorded at the underwater blast sensor closest to the water guns (at a horizontal distance of approximately 3 ft), as two guns fired simultaneously. Pressures and extent of the 5-lb/in 2 target value decrease above and below this 5-ft depth, producing a relatively north-south-oriented pressure field shaped like an elongated sphere.

Illinois↗

USGS2015

Estimation of river and stream temperature trends under haphazard sampling

Long-term temporal trends in water temperature in rivers and streams are typically estimated under the assumption of evenly-spaced space-time measurements. However, sampling times and dates associated with historical water temperature datasets and some sampling designs may be haphazard. As a result, trends in temperature may be confounded with trends in time or space of sampling which, in turn, may yield biased trend estimators and thus unreliable conclusions. We address this concern using multilevel (hierarchical) linear models, where time effects are allowed to vary randomly by day and date effects by year. We evaluate the proposed approach by Monte Carlo simulations with imbalance, sparse data and confounding by trend in time and date of sampling. Simulation results indicate unbiased trend estimators while results from a case study of temperature data from the Illinois River, USA conform to river thermal assumptions. We also propose a new nonparametric bootstrap inference on multilevel models that allows for a relatively flexible and distribution-free quantification of uncertainties. The proposed multilevel modeling approach may be elaborated to accommodate nonlinearities within days and years when sampling times or dates typically span temperature extremes.

Illinois River↗

USGS2015

Continuous monitoring of sediment and nutrients in the Illinois River at Florence, Illinois, 2012-13

The Illinois River is the largest river in Illinois and is the primary contributing watershed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loading to the upper Mississippi River from Illinois. In addition to streamflow, the following water-quality constituents were monitored at the Illinois River at Florence, Illinois (U.S. Geological Survey station number 05586300), during May 2012–October 2013: phosphate, nitrate, turbidity, temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The objectives of this monitoring were to (1) determine performance capabilities of the in-situ instruments; (2) collect continuous data that would provide an improved understanding of constituent characteristics during normal, low-, and high-flow periods and during different climatic and land-use seasons; (3) evaluate the ability to use continuous turbidity as a surrogate constituent to determine suspended-sediment concentrations; and (4) evaluate the ability to develop a regression model for total phosphorus using phosphate, turbidity, and other measured parameters. Reliable data collection was achieved, following some initial periods of instrument and data-communication difficulties. The resulting regression models for suspended sediment had coefficient of determination (R 2 ) values of about 0.9. Nitrate plus nitrite loads computed using continuous data were found to be approximately 8 percent larger than loads computed using traditional discrete-sampling based models. A regression model for total phosphorus was developed by using historic orthophosphate data (important during periods of low flow and low concentrations) and historic suspended-sediment data (important during periods of high flow and higher concentrations). The R 2 of the total phosphorus regression model using orthophosphorus and suspended sediment was 0.8. Data collection and refinement of the regression models is ongoing.

Illinois↗

USGS2009

Summary of surface-water quality data from the Illinois River Basin in Northeast Oklahoma, 1970-2007

The quality of streams in the Illinois River Basin of northeastern Oklahoma is potentially threatened by increased quantities of wastes discharged from increasing human populations, grazing of about 160,000 cattle, and confined animal feeding operations raising about 20 million chickens. Increasing numbers of humans and livestock in the basin contribute nutrients and bacteria to surface water and groundwater, causing greater than the typical concentrations of those constituents for this region. Consequences of increasing contributions of these substances can include increased algal growth (eutrophication) in streams and lakes; impairment of habitat for native aquatic animals, including desirable game fish species; impairment of drinking-water quality by sediments, turbidity, taste-and-odor causing chemicals, toxic algal compounds, and bacteria; and reduction in the aesthetic quality of the streams. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, prepared this report to summarize the surface-water-quality data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey at five long-term surface-water-quality monitoring sites. The data summarized include major ions, nutrients, sediment, and fecal-indicator bacteria from the Illinois River Basin in Oklahoma for 1970 through 2007. General water chemistry, concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, chlorophyll-a (an indicator of algal biomass), fecal-indicator bacteria counts, and sediment concentrations were similar among the five long-term monitoring sites in the Illinois River Basin in northeast Oklahoma. Most water samples were phosphorus-limited, meaning that they contained a smaller proportion of phosphorus, relative to nitrogen, than typically occurs in algal tissues. Greater degrees of nitrogen limitation occurred at three of the five sites which were sampled back to the 1970s, probably due to use of detergents containing greater concentrations of phosphorus than in subsequent periods. Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, and counts of bacteria generally increased with streamflow at the five sites, probably due to runoff from the land surface and re-suspension of streambed sediments. Phosphorus concentrations typically exceeded the Oklahoma standard of 0.037 milligrams per liter for Scenic Rivers. Concentrations of chlorophyll-a in phytoplankton in water samples collected at the five sites were not well correlated with streamflow, nor to concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, probably because much of the algae growing in these streams are periphyton attached to streambed cobbles and other debris, rather than phytoplankton in the water column. Sediment concentrations correlated with phosphorus concentrations in water samples collected at the sites, probably due to sorption of phosphorus to soil particles and streambed sediments and runoff of soils and animal wastes at the land surface and resuspension of streambed sediments and phosphorus during wet, high-flow periods. Fecal coliform bacteria counts at the five sites sometimes exceeded the Oklahoma Primary Body Contact Standard of 400 colonies per 100 milliliters when streamflows were greater than 1000 cubic feet per second. Ultimately, Lake Tenkiller, an important ecological and economic resource for the region, receives the compounds that runoff the land surface or seep to local streams from groundwater in the basin. Because of eutrophication from increased nutrient loading, Lake Tenkiller is listed for impairment by diminished dissolved oxygen concentrations, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a by the State of Oklahoma in evaluation of surface-water quality required by section 303d of the Clean Water Act. Stored phosphorus in soils and streambed and lakebed sediments may continue to provide phosphorus to local streams and lakes for decades to come. Steps are being made to reduce local sources of phosphorus, including upgrades in capacity and effective

Arkansas, Oklahoma↗

USGS2005

Sediment quality and quantity issues related to the restoration of backwater lakes along the Illinois River waterway

Sedimentation has severely impacted backwater lakes along the Illinois River. The State of Illinois and the US Army Corps of Engineers are currently involved in a joint effort to address ecosystem degradation within the Illinois River Basin, and excessive sedimentation of backwater lakes and side channels is a primary cause of that degradation. Necessary parts of the overall restoration effort are to adequately characterize both the quality and quantity of backwater lake sediments prior to implementing any restoration efforts, and to identify potential beneficial reuses of dredged sediments. This paper summarizes some of our efforts in these areas with an emphasis on Peoria Lake which has received the most attention to date. Sediment characterization has included detailed bathymetric surveys, sediment dating with 137 Cs, chemical and mineralogical characterization of sediments to three meters depth, analysis of recent sediments (to 30 cm depth) for acid-volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals, and analysis of ammonia and toxic metals in sediment pore waters. Dredged sediments have also been used in various trial projects to demonstrate potential handling and beneficial reuse strategies. Some significant findings of these studies are: 1) Long-term sedimentation rates are high, and average 1–3 cm y −1 ; 2) total concentrations of several trace metals (e.g., Pb, Cd, Ni) and PAH compounds sometimes exceed consensus-based probable effect levels for sensitive sediment-dwelling organisms; 3) pore water dissolved ammonia concentrations in Peoria Lake are potentially toxic to sensitive sediment-dwelling species; and 4) weathered sediments can make productive agricultural soils.

Illinois River↗

USGS2003

Using regression methods to estimate stream phosphorus loads at the Illinois River, Arkansas

The development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) requires evaluating existing constituent loads in streams. Accurate estimates of constituent loads are needed to calibrate watershed and reservoir models for TMDL development. The best approach to estimate constituent loads is high frequency sampling, particularly during storm events, and mass integration of constituents passing a point in a stream. Most often, resources are limited and discrete water quality samples are collected on fixed intervals and sometimes supplemented with directed sampling during storm events. When resources are limited, mass integration is not an accurate means to determine constituent loads and other load estimation techniques such as regression models are used. The objective of this work was to determine a minimum number of water-quality samples needed to provide constituent concentration data adequate to estimate constituent loads at a large stream. Twenty sets of water quality samples with and without supplemental storm samples were randomly selected at various fixed intervals from a database at the Illinois River, northwest Arkansas. The random sets were used to estimate total phosphorus (TP) loads using regression models. The regression-based annual TP loads were compared to the integrated annual TP load estimated using all the data. At a minimum, monthly sampling plus supplemental storm samples (six samples per year) was needed to produce a root mean square error of less than 15%. Water quality samples should be collected at least semi-monthly (every 15 days) in studies less than two years if seasonal time factors are to be used in the regression models. Annual TP loads estimated from independently collected discrete water quality samples further demonstrated the utility of using regression models to estimate annual TP loads in this stream system.

Arkansas↗

USGS2002

Historical patterns of river stage and fish communities as criteria for operations of dams on the Illinois river

The hydrologic regime of the Illinois River has been altered over the past 100 years. Locks and dams regulate water surface elevations and flow, enabling commercial navigation to continue year round. This study relates changes in water surface elevation to fish abundance in the river, and establishes target criteria for operating locks and dams. Using long-term records of daily river stage, we identified ecologically meaningful hydrological parameters for eight gage locations along the Illinois River. Inter-annual variability of a long-term fisheries dataset beginning in 1957 was related to variability in stage, flood and recession duration, frequency, timing, and rate of change of water levels. Reversals in water surface elevation, maximum stage levels, and length of the spring flood were the most important parameters influencing abundance of age-zero fishes in annual collections. Smallmouth buffalo ( Ictiobus bubalus ), black crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus ), freshwater drum ( Aplodinotus grunneins ), and white bass ( Morone chrysops ) were most abundant in samples during years that approximated the natural water level regime. Of the 33 hydrologic parameters evaluated for the entire water year from an Illinois River gage site on La Grange Reach, all except average stage in January and Julian date (JD) of maximum stage had moderate or high hydrologic alteration based on the historical range of variation (RVA). The highest degree of hydrologic alteration was for minimum stage levels (1-day, 3-day, and 7-day), rate-of-rise, and rate-of-fall. Other parameters that have been severely altered were 30-day minimum stage, 90-day maximum stage, and the annual number of water level reversals. Operations of the La Grange and Peoria locks and dams could be modified so water level variability would approximate that of the late 1800s, when fish and wildlife resources were abundant. The water regime could be regulated to maintain navigation and improve conditions for native plants and animals without increasing flood damages.

Illinois River↗

USGS1999

Nektonic invertebrate dynamics and prolonged summer flooding on the lower Illinois River

Prolonged extreme flooding during mid-summer 1993 provided an opportunity to investigate nektonic invertebrate dynamics in lower Illinois River floodplains and backwater lakes. We used plankton nets to sample flooded grass shorelines, flooded forests, and open water habitats during rising and falling stages of the flood. Transects oriented perpendicular to shore were sampled to investigate community composition along the floodplain gradient extending riverward. Invertebrate densities differed between samples collected on the rising stage of the flood (mean = 11,584 individuals m −3 ) and on the falling stage of the flood (mean = 78 individuals m −3 ). Density estimates from samples collected at the shoreline of the rising flood waters exceeded estimates from open water and the falling flood shoreline by two orders of magnitude. Corixids were the most abundant taxa found (78%) at flooded shorelines. Densities were highest in inundated grass habitats at the rising edge of the flood. Flooded trees had the next highest densities, followed by floating macrophytes and open water. Our findings exemplify the flood pulse hypothesis in that productivity, as measured by invertebrate density, increased dramatically on the rising flood but then fell just as dramatically on the falling flood.

Illinois River↗