Water Quality Trends for Selected Constituents in the Fox River Watershed: Stratton Dam to the Illinois River

Getahun, Elias; Zavelle, Atticus

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122280 Copy

Description

Title

Water Quality Trends for Selected Constituents in the Fox River Watershed: Stratton Dam to the Illinois River

Author(s)

• Getahun, Elias
• Zavelle, Atticus

Issue Date

2023-12

Keyword(s)

Water quality -- Illinois -- Fox River Watershed

Geographic Coverage

Fox River Watershed (Illinois)

Abstract

To support sustainable policies and development across the Fox River watershed, the Fox River Study Group (FRSG), which is a diverse coalition of stakeholders, has been involved in collaborative effort towards creating a healthier Fox River for the last two decades. In 2019, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) was commissioned by FRSG to conduct trend analysis of nutrient and nutrient-related water quality constituents collected at monitoring sites throughout the Fox River watershed and the study found that most of the water quality constituents were exhibiting a downward or no trend (Getahun et al., 2019). As part of FRSG’s continued effort to assess the water quality conditions in the Fox River, ISWS was tasked with conducting trend of analysis of selected water quality constituents identified by FRSG. A compilation of water quality and related data collected by different agencies has been stored in the Fox River environmental database (FoxDB), which was originally created for FRSG and is still being maintained by Illinois State Water Survey (McConkey, et al. 2004). The FoxDB has been restructured for more efficient use and further been updated with current data. The objective of this study is to determine the presence or absence of trends for selected water quality constituents in the FoxDB, which has time series data for monitoring sites on the Fox River mainstem and its tributaries. In cases where trends exist, rates of change were also estimated. The scope of this current study does not include establishing the cause for a trend, which requires a watershed scale investigation of hydrologic processes, aquatic biogeochemistry, land use changes, and anthropogenic activities affecting water quality in the watershed.

Publisher

Champaign, IL : Illinois State Water Survey

Has Part

1 v. + appendices

Series/Report Name or Number

CR 2023-03

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Fox River Study Group, Inc. (FRSG)

Owning Collections