Environmental Setting of the Upper Illinois River Basin and Implications for Water Quality
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- Document: Report (4.01 MB pdf)
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Abstract
The upper Illinois River Basin (UIRB) is the 10,949 square mile drainage area upstream from Ottawa, Illinois, on the Illinois River. The UIRB is one of 13 studies that began in 1996 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program. A compilation of environmental data from Federal, State, and local agencies provides a description of the environmental setting of the UIRB. Environmental data include natural factors such as bedrock geology, physiography and surficial geology, soils, vegetation, climate, and ecoregions; and human factors such as land use, urbanization trends, and population change. Characterization of the environmental setting is useful for understanding the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of surface and ground water in the UIRB and the possible implications of that environmental setting for water quality. Some of the possible implications identified include depletion of dissolved oxygen because of high concentrations of organic matter in wastewater, increased flooding because of suburbanization, elevated arsenic concentrations in ground water because of weathering of shale bedrock, and decreasing ground-water levels because of heavy pumping of water from the bedrock aquifers.
Suggested Citation
Arnold, T.L., Sullivan, D.J., Harris, Mitchell A., Fitzpatrick, F.A., Scudder, B.C., Ruhl, P.M., Hanchar, D.W., and Stewart, J.S., 1999, Environmental setting of the upper Illinois River basin and implications for water quality: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98–4268, 67 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri984268.
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Forewqard
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Environmental Setting
- Implications of Environmental Setting for Water Quality
- Summary
- References Cited
- Appendix 1. Bibliography of U.S. Geological Survey Reports from the Upper Illinois River Basin Pilot Study of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Publication type | Report |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Title | Environmental setting of the upper Illinois River basin and implications for water quality |
Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
Series number | 98-4268 |
DOI | 10.3133/wri984268 |
Year Published | 1999 |
Language | English |
Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
Publisher location | Reston, VA |
Contributing office(s) | Illinois Water Science Center |
Description | vii, 67 p. |
Country | United States |
State | Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |