The Electronic Documents of Illinois provides permanent public access to official publications of the State of Illinois which have been deposited in electronic form.
In the East St. Louis vicinity, the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Highways (IDOT) owns 56 high-capacity wells that are used to maintain the elevation of the groundwater table below the highway surface in areas in which the highways were constructed below the original land surface. The dewatering systems are located at five sites in the alluvial valley of the Mississippi River in an area known as the American Bottoms. The alluvial deposits at the dewatering sites are about 90 to 115 feet thick and consist of fine sand, silt, and clay in the upper 10 to 30 feet, underlain by about 70 to 100 feet of medium to coarse sand. The condition and efficiency of a number of the dewatering wells became suspect in 1982 on the basis of data collected and reviewed by IDOT staff. Since 1983, IDOT and the Illinois State Water Survey have conducted a cooperative investigation to more adequately assess the operation and condition of the wells, to attempt to understand the probable causes of well deterioration, and to evaluate rehabilitation procedures used on the wells. Work scheduled for FY 00 (Phase 17) included conducting 18 condition-assessment and posttreatment step tests, monitoring of the chemical treatment of 11 wells, and observing and documenting the construction of 2 new (replacement) dewatering wells. Of the 18 step tests conducted, 11 were post-chemical-treatment step tests, 5 were routine condition assessment step tests on existing wells, and 2 were condition assessments on newly constructed wells. The results of the five condition assessment step tests indicated specific capacities ranging from 25.1 to 65.2 gallons per minute per foot (gpm/ft), corresponding to very poor to fair well conditions, respectively. It was recommended that all five wells be chemically treated in FY01. Posttreatment step tests were used to help document the rehabilitation of 11 dewatering wells during FY 00 (Phase 17): I-70 Wells 2A and 8A; 25th Street Wells 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9; and Missouri Avenue Wells 2 and 3. Chemical treatments used to restore the capacity of these seven wells were moderately successful. There was a wide range of improvement in specific capacity per well, ranging from 2 percent to 503 percent improvement, and averaging 124 percent based on specific-capacity data from pre- and posttreatment step tests. A sand pumpage investigation, which was conducted during 15 of the 18 step tests during FY 00, revealed that 25th Street Wells 2, 3, and 4 were pumping sand. These conditions may pose a threat to the long-term operation of these wells, especially 25th Street Well 4. Smaller amounts of sand were found following the step test for 25th Street Wells 2 and 3.
Cambrian and Ordovician strata provide much of the groundwater supplyfor approximately 250 municipalities and 150 industries in the northern halfof Illinois. This report represents the cooperative effort of the IllinoisState Water Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, and U.S. GeologicalSurvey to provide a current hydrogeologic evaluation of this water resource.
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for purposes of Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction methodology, and an analysis of precipitation for Water Year 2000 (October 1999 through September 2000). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 2000 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 2000 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-1999, and 3) the 11-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-2000. Also included are raingage site descriptions, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction and quality control methodology, a comparison of rainfall amounts obtained via analog chart and data logger, and an analysis of precipitation for Water Year 2002 (October 2001 - September 2002). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 2002 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 2002 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-2001, and 3) the 13-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-2002. Also included are raingage site descriptions, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
The Benchmark Sediment Monitoring Program for Illinois Streams was initiated by the Illinois State Water Survey in 1981 to generate a long-term database of suspended sediment transport. The program is now part of the Water Survey's Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Network, which monitors the climate, soil moisture, surface water, groundwater, and sediment throughout Illinois. This report summarizes the suspended sediment data collected for the program during Water Years 1996 and 1997. All the techniques used in the data collection process and laboratory analyses are based on U.S. Geological Survey procedures and techniques. The report appendices present tables of instantaneous suspended sediment measurements, particle size analysis, sediment transport curves, and plots of instantaneous sediment concentrations for the period of record for the current monitoring stations.
This circular presents basic information on wells and pumping systems used for farm and domestic groundwater supplies. It describes types of wells and their construction, development, and costs. It discusses the various types of pumps and pressure tanks, how to select them, and their costs. Suggestions on locating wells to prevent pollution and procedures for disinfecting a homewater supply system are included.
Brochure describes the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), which has been a leader in the study of water resources for more than a century. Founded in 1895, its original mission was to survey the waters of Illinois to trace the spread of waterborne disease, ensure health and safety of public water supplies, improve wastewater treatment, and help develop sanitary standards for drinking water. The mission and scope have expanded to include varied scientific research and service programs relating to water and atmospheric resources of interest to Illinois.
This report documents the progress that has been made to date on the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) monitoring project. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) through the CREP provides support for this project. This monitoring program collects hydrologic, sediment, and nutrient data for selected watersheds within the Illinois River watershed to assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. The Illinois River CREP is a new initiative by the State of Illinois and the United States Department of Agriculture to implement conservation practices in the Illinois River watershed over a 15-year period that improve water quality and habitat for wildlife. Monitoring programs were established for sediment and nutrients for two pairs of watersheds within the Illinois River basin to collect hydrologic, sediment, and nutrient data during the implementation phase of the project. The two pairs of watersheds are the Court and Haw Creek watersheds (Spoon River basin) and the Panther-Cox Creek watershed (Sangamon River basin). This report details the location, equipment, and installation techniques used at the five monitoring stations and associated raingages that were installed as part of the data collection effort for this project. Samples of the data collection format and frequency are presented and described. Stage, nutrient concentration, and suspended sediment concentrations for data collected through June 2000 are also presented as appendices.
The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) conducted sedimentation surveys of Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon during 2001 in support of an Illinois Clean Lakes Program diagnostic/feasibility study to provide information on the storage and sedimentation conditions of the lakes. Both lakes are owned and operated by the City of Mattoon, which withdraws water from Lake Paradise as the raw water source for distribution of finished water and generally uses withdrawals from Lake Mattoon to maintain a more stable water level in Lake Paradise. The village of Neoga also withdraws water from Lake Mattoon for treatment and distribution. Since June 2001, Reliant Energy has operated a peaker power plant that has withdrawn water from Lake Mattoon for cooling systems. Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon are located on the main stem of the Little Wabash River, a tributary to the Wabash River. The watershed is a portion of Hydrologic Unit 05120114. The dam for Lake Paradise is about 4 miles southwest of the City of Mattoon at 39 24' 47" north latitude and 88 26' 23" west longitude in Section 8, Township 11N., Range 7E., Coles County. The dam for Lake Mattoon is about 12 miles southwest of the City of Mattoon at 39 20' 00" north latitude and 88 28' 56" west longitude in Section 1, Township 10N., Range 6E., Shelby County.Lake Paradise was surveyed in 1979 and Lake Mattoon in 1980 as part of a previous cooperative study by the ISWS, the Illinois Department of Transportation - Division of Water Resources (DoWR), the Illinois Water Resources Center, and several departments at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lake Paradise lost 835 acre-feet (ac-ft) of its capacity as a result of sedimentation between 1908 and 2001. Approximately 481 ac-ft of this loss has occurred since 1931, which gives an annual sedimentation rate of 9.9 ac-ft since 1931. If this rate of sedimentation continues, the volume of Paradise Lake will be approximately half of the potential 1908 volume in the year 2013 and will be filled completely by sediment in the year 2118. Lake Mattoon lost 1,705 ac-ft of its 1958 capacity as a result of sedimentation between 1958 and 2001, a sedimentation rate of 39.7 ac-ft per year since 1958.If this rate of sedimentation continues, the volume of Lake Mattoon will be approximately half of the 1958 capacity by 2124 and will be completely filled in the year 2291. The sedimentation rates for Lake Paradise and its watershed for the periods 1931-1979, 1979-2001, and 1931-2001 were stable and ranged from 9.5 to 10 ac-ft.The long-term average annual sediment yield from 1931-2001 was 9.85 ac-ft. These sedimentation rates correspond to a rate of loss of lake capacity of 0.51 percent per year (1931-2001). The sedimentation rates for Lake Mattoon and its watershed for the periods 1958-1980, 1980-2001, and 1958-2001 indicate a reduction in net sediment yield from 66.9 ac-ft per year for 1958-1980 to 10.7 ac-ft per year (1980-2001).The long-term average annual sediment yield was 39.5 ac-ft (1958-2001). These sedimentation rates correspond to rates of loss of lake capacity of 0.51 percent per year (1958-1980) and 0.08 percent per year (1980-2001).The long-term average sedimentation rate for the lake is 0.30 percent per year (1958-2001).
As a result of increased pollutant loading and low in-stream velocities, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the Chicago waterways historically have been low. In 1984, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) issued a feasibility report on a new concept of artificial aeration referred to as sidestream elevated pool aeration (SEPA). The SEPA station concept involves pumping a portion of water from a stream into an elevated pool. The water is then aerated by flowing over a series of cascades or waterfalls, returning to the stream. The MWRDGC proceeded with design criteria for SEPA stations as a result of experimental work performed by the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS). Five SEPA stations were constructed and placed in operation along the Calumet River, Little Calumet River, and the Cal-Sag Channel waterway. In 1995 the ISWS returned to conduct research to evaluate the reaeration efficiencies and their effects on in-stream DO. Continuous monitoring of DO, temperature, pH, and conductivity was performed at 14 locations along the Calumet and Little Calumet Rivers, Cal-Sag Channel, and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to evaluate the effectiveness of the SEPA stations on maintaining in-stream DO concentrations. Also, supplemental cross-sectional measurements were made at the 14 locations and at an additional seven locations. Comparisons of mass balance, completely mixed, in-stream mean DO concentrations at the SEPA station outfalls and those measured at cross-sectional stations immediately downstream of each SEPA station were made. Results showed that each SEPA station has an immediate positive impact on in-stream DO concentrations. At SEPA stations 1 and 2, where the impacts are small, the positive effects can best be demonstrated using completely mixed values. Two important conclusions can be made. One is that the SEPA stations, particularly stations 3, 4, and 5, are fulfilling the intended function of maintaining stream DO standards in the Calumet and Little Calumet Rivers and the Cal-Sag Channel. The second is that DO concentrations less than the DO standard are still observed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in the reach beginning above its juncture with the Cal-Sag Channel to the Lockport Lock and Dam. Over the entire study period, DO concentrations were maintained above the standard 98.6 percent of the time from the SEPA station 3 outfall to the intake of SEPA station 4 and 97.5 percent of the time from the outfall of SEPA station 4 to the intake of EPA station 5. Significant improvements in DO concentrations were also achieved for at least 4 miles downstream of SEPA station 5 in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.