1

U.S. Department of Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

November 2000

District Web Site: http://il.water.usgs.gov/ Compiled by D.M. Ayers

MESSAGE FROM ROBERT R. HOLMES, JR., ILLINOIS DISTRICT CHIEF

In March of this year, I anticipated writing about the severe drought occurring 

throughout Illinois and much of the Midwest. At that time, the flow measured at many 

of the more than 170 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in Illinois was 

well below the long-term median value of flow for the month of March and had been 

that way since October 1999. Ground-water levels also were below normal. In 

May/June 2000, above normal precipitation began to fall and streamflows began to 

return to normal, with moderate flooding on the Rock River in northern Illinois and a 

peak of record discharge on the Des Plaines River at Russell, Illinois. By July, streamflow throughout the State was above the median value of flow for the month of July 

with ground-water levels also returning to normal. 

At the onset of the drought, many water-resources agencies in the Midwest 

began to inventory the current available water supply (surface and ground water) and 

compare the supply with the projected demand under various precipitation scenarios. In 

addition, the effects of low flow on stream water quality had to be assessed and mitigated. The collection and analysis of hydrologic data is crucial for water-resources 

agencies to deal with the multifaceted problems faced during droughts. The value of 

data collected during a drought (or flood) is easily realized, but the value of data collected during normal periods is often missed. Consider the following excerpt from the 

recently released National Research Council (NRC) Report “Clean Coastal Waters: 

Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient Pollution”. “...The duration of any 

monitoring program is particularly important. Since the purpose of monitoring 

involves, among other things, the detection of trends, the length of monitoring must be 

sufficiently long to allow separation of naturally occurring trends from anthropogenically induced changes. Unfortunately, the political will to maintain long-term funding 

for monitoring programs is often lacking because such programs rarely (and were 

never intended to) produce major breakthroughs in understanding. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream monitoring program has provided excellent data on stream 

flow and nutrient content for many years. These long data sets allow monitoring of 

changes in runoff characteristics on decadal time scales and development of statistical 

models of discharge and load. But the gradual reduction of this network over recent 

years, primarily because of budget pressures, has had dramatic effects, reducing our 

capability to estimate flow. The data collected by USGS are invaluable, and continuation of this monitoring is essential.” 

Fortunately in Illinois many people realize the value of hydrologic-data collection. We, however, must remain vigilant to protect the hydrologic-data collection network when funding sources are tight. The cost of hydrologic-data collection is high, but 

the cost of not collecting the data is higher.

Water Resources Update

Illinois District Newsletter

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the District Chief . . . . .1

Conference Announcement . . . . . . . . .1

Suspended-Sediment Budget and 

Yields for the LaGrange Pool of the 

Illinois River, October 1994-

September 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Hydrogeology and Simulation of 

Ground-Water Flow in the Aquifers 

underlying Belvidere, Illinois . . . . . . .3

The Necessity for a Real-Time Streamflow Data Network: The Multitude of 

Uses and a Look at the Cost Issue . . . .5

Employee Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Cooperator Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Source Water Assessment Program for 

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

From the Mailbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Illinois District Publications . . . . . . . .8

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

Illinois Water 2000 

November 13-14, 2000 

Holiday Inn Conference Center, 

Urbana, Illinois

Conference engaging all citizens and 

groups interested in water resource 

issues in Illinois. Attention will focus 

on science, technology, and policy 

developments, while also bringing 

major water technical sessions, guest 

speakers, and a conference banquet. 

Specific issues to be addressed are 

water conservation and drought preparedness, non-point source pollution, 

water education, inland lakes, and 

urban stormwater.
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During October 1994 to September 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitored suspendedsediment loads for the main-stem 

inflow, main-stem outflow, and four 

major tributaries of the LaGrange 

Pool of the Illinois River. On the 

basis of these data, a suspended-sediment budget and yields for the 

LaGrange Pool were calculated.

The main-stem inflow site, 

Illinois River at Pekin, drained 

14,585 square miles (mi2

), which is 

55 percent of the 26,743 mi2 total 

drainage area of the main-stem outflow site, Illinois River at Valley 

City. During the study period, the 

Illinois River at Pekin transported an 

annual average suspended-sediment 

load of 1,510,000 tons, which computes to an annual average yield of 

103 tons/mi2 (figure 1). The Illinois 

River at Valley City transported an 

annual average suspended-sediment 

load of 5,010,000 tons, which computes to an annual average yield of 

188 tons/mi2

. The increase in average yield between the two mainstem sites was attributed to the four 

major tributaries: the Mackinaw 

River near Green Valley (1,073 mi2

drainage area, annual average 

suspended-sediment load of 

355,000 tons, and annual average 

yield of 332 tons/mi2

), the Spoon 

River at Seville (1,636 mi2

 drainage 

area, annual average suspended-sediment load of 1,040,000 tons, and 

annual average yield of 638 

tons/mi2

), Sangamon River at Oakford (5,093 mi2

 drainage area, 

annual average suspended-sediment 

load of 932,000 tons, and annual 

average yield of 183 tons/mi2

), and 

the LaMoine River at Ripley (1,293 

mi2

 drainage area, annual average 

suspended-sediment load of 623,000 

tons, and annual average yield of 

482 tons/mi2).

The main-stem inflow and four 

tributaries collectively drained 

23,680 mi2 (89 percent of the drainage area at the main-stem outflow), 

with an annual average suspendedsediment load of 4,460,000 tons, 

and annual average yield of 

188 tons/mi2. This load is equal to 

the outflow yield of 188 tons/mi2

 at 

Valley City, indicating that during 

the study period, sediment entered 

and exited LaGrange Pool at the 

same rate.

SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT BUDGET AND YIELDS FOR THE LAGRANGE POOL OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER,

OCTOBER 1994-SEPTEMBER 1997

BY GARY P. JOHNSON

Figure 1. Annual average suspended-sediment yield of the Illinois River and major tributaries in the LaGrange Pool, Illinois River.
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Since sampling for synthetic compounds began in 1985, volatile organic 

compounds (VOC’s) have been detected 

in samples from wells open to each 

aquifer underlying Belvidere, Illinois 

(fig. 1), including samples from five 

municipal water-supply wells. Aquifers 

underlying Belvidere and throughout 

north-central Illinois are considered 

especially susceptible to ground-water 

contamination because of the density of 

industrial and waste-disposal sites and 

the shallow depth (less than 50 feet) to 

the unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers and the fractured, carbonate aquifers. During 1992-2000, the U.S. 

Geological Survey, in cooperation with 

the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency and the Illinois Environmental 

Protection Agency, investigated the 

ground-water-flow system and distribution of contaminants in the vicinity of 

Belvidere. The data and conceptual 

models developed as part of this study 

have allowed Federal and State agencies 

and the city of Belvidere to better manage, protect, and restore the ground- and 

surface-water resources of the area.

The investigation included the 

collection and compilation of hydrogeologic and water-quality data and simulation of the ground-water-flow system by 

using a numerical model. Hydrogeologic data included lithologic, stratigraphic, geophysical, hydraulicproperty, water-level, and streamflow 

data. Water-quality data included analyses of VOC’s, tritium, and other constituents. Data were collected from about 

250 wells and 21 surface-water sites. 

The data were used to describe the 

hydrogeologic framework of the 

ground-water-flow system, preferential 

pathways and directions of groundwater movement and contaminant distribution, ground-water/surface-water relations, and the water budget, as well as to 

prepare the numerical model.

Ground-water flow and contaminant distribution can be described in 

relation to the glacial drift (sand and 

gravel), the Galena-Platteville (fractured 

dolomite), and the Cambrian-Ordovician (sandstone) aquifers (fig. 2). The 

dolomite and sandstone aquifers are separated by the Glenwood Formation confining unit, which may be absent in the 

HYDROGEOLOGY AND SIMULATION OF GROUND-WATER FLOW IN THE AQUIFERS

UNDERLYING BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS

BY PATRICK C. MILLS

Figure 1. Study area in the vicinity of Belvidere, Ill., and hazardous-waste-disposal and industrial sites, municipal watersupply wells, selected private wells, and line of section A-A’; and wells in which volatile organic compounds were detected, 

July 1993.
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northeast trending Troy Bedrock Valley 

(figs. 1 and 2).

All sections of the Kishwaukee 

River and its tributaries appear to be 

gaining streamflow by way of shallow 

ground-water discharge. Potentiometric 

levels in the glacial drift and GalenaPlatteville aquifers range from about 

900 feet above sea level in the uplands 

to 740 feet along the Kishwaukee River.

Estimated horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the glacial drift aquifer 

ranges from about 0.13 to 280 feet per 

day. The Galena-Platteville aquifer is a 

dual-porosity unit, with flow primarily 

through the fractures and bedding-plan 

partings. Estimated horizontal hydraulic 

conductivity ranges from about 0.005 to 

2,500 feet per day. Estimated horizontal 

hydraulic conductivity of the St. Peter 

Sandstone aquifer ranges from about 4.7 

to 17.5 feet per day.

Trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene are the principal VOC’s present at 

levels above maximum contaminant levels, with the most detections and highest 

concentrations in the glacial drift aquifer. Horizontal distribution of the VOC’s 

in the glacial drift aquifer generally is 

less than 1,000 feet. Most source areas 

(industrial or disposal sites) are near the 

Kishwaukee River, where shallow 

ground water discharges. The sandstone 

aquifers underlying the Glenwood Formation confining unit generally are not 

vulnerable to contamination. Downward movement of contaminants 

appears to be restricted by the confining 

unit and lateral movement toward the 

municipal wells through permeable 

intervals in the Galena-Platteville aquifer. Partings at about 525 and 485 feet 

above sea level appear to intercept several of the municipal wells. Water levels 

in the lower one-third of the GalenaPlatteville aquifer can respond rapidly to 

withdrawal activity at the municipal 

wells. Locally, fractures that possibly 

penetrate the confining unit and (or) 

unused wells may allow movement of 

contaminants to the sandstone aquifers.

The ground-water-flow system 

underlying Belvidere was simulated to 

verify the conceptual model and provide 

additional hydrogeologic insight. The 

three-dimensional, steady-state model 

represents the glacial drift, GalenaPlatteville, and Cambrian-Ordovician 

(sandstone) aquifers separated by the 

Glenwood Formation confining unit. 

The model was calibrated against 

ground-water levels measured in 1993 

and ground-water discharge to selected 

streams. Within the limitations of the 

model design and available data, the 

simulation generally supported the conceptualized flow system.

The simulation results indicate (1) 

ground-water discharge typically is to 

the local streams, (2) the transmissivity 

of the glacial drift aquifer within the 

Troy Bedrock Valley may be less than 

previously conceived, and (3) the tilldominated deposits in the southern part 

of the study area may include some previously unrecognized water-yielding 

sand and gravel units.

The numerical model should be useful for further analysis of the groundwater-flow system underlying Belvidere, including preliminary delineation of the areas that contribute recharge 

to the principal water-supply wells. 

Additional hydrogeologic data, particularly near the boundaries of the study 

area, should enhance the accuracy and 

utility of the model.

Figure 2. Hydrogeologic section A-A’ through the vicinity of Belvidere, Illinois.
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The State of Illinois and the Midwest face many water issues, including 

floods, droughts, and water pollution. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

operates and maintains a real-time

network of over 170 streamflow-gaging 

stations in Illinois, in cooperation with 

other Federal, State, and local agencies. 

From this network, the data are used in 

addressing many of the water issues that 

the State is facing now. Every day the 

data are used to operate river control 

structures for barge traffic, drinkingwater intake pumps, and hydroelectric 

and nuclear power plants. For these putposes, the availability of real-time 

streamflow data is important and critical 

during times of floods and droughts. 

During floods, the data are used to make 

decisions such as operation of control 

structures, location and type of floodfighting efforts, such as sandbagging; 

evacuation or road closures; and adjustment of computer models to forecast 

flood crests. During these times, the 

decisions made by water-management 

agencies can result in saving or spending multimillions of dollars; thus, agencies need accurate and up-to-date data to 

make these decisions. During drought 

conditions, these data are used to monitor and manage drinking-water supplies, 

water-quality conditions, and hydroelectric and nuclear power plants operations. 

The effect of shutting down a nuclear 

power plant because water is unavailable 

for cooling can cost the power industry 

hundreds of thousands of dollars per day 

and result in power outages.

The data collected from the USGS 

real-time network are archived and used 

in numerous ways. For example, streamflow data are used to determine the low 

flow characteristics of streams to facilitate determining waste-load allocation 

and water-supply capacity, to determine 

the flood characteristics of streams for 

bridge design and flood inundation mapping, and to estimate trends in streamflow and (along with other data) water 

quality.

Presently, the annual operating cost 

of a streamflow-gaging station in Illinois 

by the USGS is approximately $10,000. 

Although this cost is not insignificant, 

the benefits of timely data are great. 

During a single hydrologic extreme 

event, making the correct water-management decision may well pay for the 

cost of the station for many years.

The real-time data for Illinois may be 

viewed on the Web at 

http://il.water.usgs.gov/ and for the 

Nation at http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html

THE NECESSITY FOR A REAL-TIME STREAMFLOW DATA NETWORK: THE MULTITUDE OF USES AND

A LOOK AT THE COST ISSUE

(PAPER TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ILLINOIS WATER 2000 CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2000)

BY ROBERT R. HOLMES, JR., P.E.

In July 1995, Debbie Adolphson 

joined the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) in Urbana, Illinois. Debbie’s 

first assignment was for the Lower 

Illinois River Basin (LIRB), 

National Water-Quality Assessment 

(NAWQA) program. Her duties 

involved surface-water-quality 

sampling at various monitoring sites 

throughout the LIRB. In 1996, 

Debbie began collecting aquatic 

macro-invertebrates, algae, fish, bedsediments, and following data collection; Debbie analyzed the data for 

presentation in various USGS 

reports. In 1999, Debbie transferred 

to the upper Illinois River Basin 

(UIRB) NAWQA program. She is 

presently doing similar work in the 

UIRB. Debbie also is the Illinois 

District Safety Officer. Her duties as 

Safety Officer provide many opportunities to work with all District personnel. As Safety Officer, she 

ensures that training, equipment, 

immunizations, and paperwork are 

kept up to date for the District Safety 

Program. Debbie finds job satisfaction in collecting and analyzing scientific data that can be used to 

maintain quality water resources for 

the Nation and ensuring that District 

personnel have a safe environment in 

which to work. Before joining the 

USGS, Debbie worked for the 

Bureau of Land Management in 

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, as a student 

hydrologist. While there she helped 

write Environmental Impact Statements, delineate drainage basins, 

and conduct stream surveys. In 

1995, Debbie received a B.S. in 

Forestry from the University of 

Montana.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

DEBBIE ADOLPHSON, HYDROLOGIST, ILLINOIS DISTRICT
7

The Groundwater Section in the 

Bureau of Water at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) operates a successful program to protect 

ground-water and community drinkingwater resources in the State of Illinois. 

The program is recognized nationally, 

and the IEPA staff has played key roles 

in the development of national policies 

and guidance on ground-water issues. 

Programs, such as the National Groundwater Foundations “Groundwater 

Guardian and Affiliate” and the “Retired 

Senior Volunteer” (only nine States 

received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) grant for this program) Programs have been integral in 

obtaining local government support for 

these efforts. Through IEPA’s outreach 

efforts, local stakeholders have encouraged the management of wellhead protection areas by promoting the 

Conservation Reserve Program, agricultural best-management practices, and 

pollution prevention interns placement 

in key industries.

In September 1987, legislation was 

adopted for protection of Illinois ground 

water from contamination. The Illinois 

Groundwater Protection Act (IGPA) 

responds to the pervasive need to 

manage ground-water quality by a 

prevention-oriented process. This comprehensive act relies upon a State and 

local partnership by establishing the following: a unified ground-water protection program; a ground-water protection 

policy; enhanced cooperation; waterwell protection zones; well site surveys, 

mapping and assessments; regional 

ground-water protection planning committees; comprehensive ground-water 

monitoring; authority for recharge area 

protection; the development of groundwater quality standards and technology 

control regulations.

The IGPA established two coordinating mechanisms to review groundwater policy and implementation efforts. 

The Interagency Coordinating Committee on Groundwater (ICCG), chaired by 

the IEPA Director, is composed of all 

State agencies and the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) that have the authority 

to deal with ground-water related issues. 

The ICCG reviews and coordinates the 

State’s ground-water protection policies, 

procedures, and implementation efforts 

pursuant to the IGPA. The Groundwater 

Advisory Council (GAC) is composed 

of nine public members appointed by 

the Governor. Members of the GAC 

serve 3-year terms and assist in efforts to 

protect ground-water resources by 

reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding State laws and 

regulations for ground-water protection, 

ground-water research, data collection 

and analyses, and implementation of the 

IGPA.

Through the ICCG and GAC, the 

IEPA submitted and received endorsement for its Wellhead Protection (WHP) 

and Core Comprehensive State Ground 

Water Protection (CSGWP) Programs 

from the USEPA in 1991 and 1997, 

respectively. Illinois was the first State 

in USEPA Region V to receive endorsement for both programs. Illinois was the 

seventh State in the Nation to receive 

approval for its Core CSGWP Program, 

which is intended to provide a flexible 

working relation among the USEPA, the 

State of Illinois, and local governments 

to achieve a more efficient and comprehensive approach to protecting groundwater resources.

In addition, the IEPA staff has continued to work with the Priority Groundwater Protection Planning Committees, 

established under the IGPA to implement effective local protection programs. The IEPA will propose the first 

maximum setback zone, regulated 

recharge area, and proposals dealing 

with water resources in karst areas 

(areas with sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage) to the Pollution Control Board. Concurrently, the IEPA will 

concurrently continue to work with local 

stakeholders through the regional 

ground-water protection unified watershed assessment and wellhead protection program to prevent the 

contamination of public-water supplies 

and restore the quality of public-water 

supplies.

In October 1999, Illinois received 

approval for their source-water assessment and protection program application from USEPA. As required under 

this program IEPA must delineate 

source-water-assessment area boundaries for all public-water supplies, 

inventory existing and potential sources 

of contamination within those boundaries, provide an analysis of the susceptibility of the water systems to 

contaminants, and establish a process 

for making the assessments available to 

the public.

The IEPA, Groundwater Section, 

works closely with the USGS Illinois 

District on a wide variety of course 

water assessment projects, including 

completing the recharge delineation for 

the city of Belvidere (complex fractured 

rock hydrologic setting), developing a 

dynamic Internet/Intranet Geographic 

Information System, assisting in the 

development of a community water supply Fact Sheet generator data base, 

developing county-level wellhead protection area/surface-water-based maps, 

developing a source-water assessment 

Internet interface to Consumer Confidence Report compliance data, and 

assisting with the development of chemical specific Fact Sheets to supplement 

source-water assessments.

COOPERATOR SPOTLIGHT

ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

BUREAU OF WATER, GROUNDWATER SECTION
8

The U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), Illinois District, is working 

with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to provide drinkingwater-quality data and analyses to the 

public as part of IEPA’s Source Water 

Assessment Program (SWAP). SWAP is 

designed to be a proactive approach to 

protecting the water supply by increasing public awareness of present and 

potential contaminants that may be detrimental to drinking-water quality in 

Illinois. The primary components of 

SWAP are identifying areas that supply 

drinking water, inventorying potential 

sources of contamination, determining 

the susceptibility of the drinking-water 

source to contamination, and informing 

the public of the assessment results.

SWAP assessments will be conducted for all public-water supplied in 

Illinois. The public water supplies consist of approximately 1,800 communitywater supplies and more than 4,100 noncommunity-water supplies. The source 

of water for these supplies are both surface water and ground water, or a combination.

The SWAP assessment of each 

community-water supply will be published as a Fact Sheet (see fig. 1) and 

made available on the World Wide Web 

(Web). The assessment will describe 

the: source of drinking water (surface 

water, ground water, or both), characteristics of the community-water supply 

wells and/or intakes, source-water quality, finished water quality, potential 

sources of contamination, susceptibility 

to potential contamination, and surfacewater and/or ground-water protection 

efforts. The information and data used in 

the assessment preparation are provided 

by the IEPA and include searching existing State and Federal data bases, analyses, field surveys, and water-test results. 

The SWAP Fact Sheets for all 

community-water supplies are scheduled for completion by May 2003.

In addition to the published Fact 

Sheets, which document the sourcewater conditions at one point in time 

(the time the data are collected), the 

USGS and IEPA are developing a Web 

application for retrieving up-to-date 

source-water data and analyses. The 

Web application will include a query 

tool for retrieving recent source-waterassessment data published by the IEPA 

and also will have a geographical information system (GIS) interface for spatial data-base queries. USGS real-time 

data also will be accessible through the 

GIS interface. USGS real-time data for 

Illinois consists of primarily surfacewater stage and discharge data, but realtime water-quality data also are available for some stations. For example, the 

Sangamon River at Monticello, Illinois; 

has real-time data available for specific 

conductance and water temperature, in 

addition to streamflow and stage data 

(http://il.water.usgs.gov/nwisw/IL/data.components/rt.cgi?statnum=05572000). Recently, telemetry 

was added to the USGS monitoring well 

near Hoopeston, Illinois; making realtime ground-water data available 

(http://il.water.usgs.gov/nwisw/IL/data.components/gw.cgi?statnum=402558087351501). This effort 

will allow decisionmakers and the public to obtain the most recent information 

regarding the source water in any given 

area in the State.

To learn more about the IEPA 

SWAP program, please visit the IEPA 

SWAP web page at 

http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/pws/gro

undwater/source-water-quality-program.html. Additional information on 

USGS Illinois District programs can be 

found at 

http://il.water.usgs.gov/index.html.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR ILLINOIS

BY TERRY ORTEL

Figure 1. Example Source Water Assessment Program Fact Sheet for a community 

water supply (only front page shown).
9

WRIR 97-4054-C, Altitude, Depth, 

and Thickness of the GalenaPlatteville Bedrock Unit in the 

Subcrop Area of Illinois and 

Wisconsin, by T.A. Brown, 

C.P. Dunning, and J.B. Sharpe

WRIR 99-4138, Geology, Hydrology, and Ground-Water Quality 

of the Upper Part of the GalenaPlatteville Aquifer at the 

Parson’s Casket Hardware 

Superfund Site in Belvidere, 

Illinois, by R.T. Kay, D.J. 

Yeskis, J.W. Lane, Jr., P.C. 

Mills, P.K. Joesten, G.L. Cygan, 

and J.R. Ursic

WRIR 99-4152, Analysis of Nutrients, Selected Inorganic Constituents, and Trace Elements in 

Water from Illinois CommunitySupply Wells, 1984-91, by 

K.L. Warner

WRIR 00-4027, Recharge Potential 

of Surficial and Shallow 

Bedrock Aquifers in the Upper 

Illinois River Basin, by 

T.L. Arnold and M.J. Friedel

WRIR 00-4088, Hydrology, Water 

Quality, and Nutrient Loads to 

Lake Catherine and Channel 

Lake, near Antioch, Lake 

County, Illinois, by R.T. Kay 

and others

WRIR 4101, Methodology, Data 

Collection, and Data Analysis 

for Determination of WaterMixing Patterns Induced by Aerators and Mixers, by G.P. 

Johnson and others

WRIR 00-4115, Suspended Budget, 

Flow Distribution, and Lake Circulation for the Fox Chain of 

Lakes in Lake and McHenry 

Counties, Illinois, 1997-99, by 

D.L. Schrader and R.R. Holmes

ILLINOIS DISTRICT

PUBLICATIONS

Listed below are publications that 

were recently published. District 

policy is to provide copies of our 

publications to requestors at no cost 

as long as the publication is in stock 

in the District office. To obtain 

copies of the following, or any other 

Illinois District publication, you may 

contact Donna Ayers at

(217) 344-0037, extension 3053 or 

by email at dmayers@usgs.gov.

FY 2000

WRIR 99-4229, Volatile Organic 

Compounds in Ground Water of 

the Lower Illinois River Basin, 

by W.S. Morrow, Jr.

OFR 99-69, Water, Sediment, and 

Nutrient Budgets, and Bathymetric Survey of Old and New 

Gillespie Lakes, Macoupin 

County, Illinois, May 1996-

April 1997, by G.P. Johnson

From the Mailbag

If you have comments about 

our newsletter or our Web site, 

please use the form on the back 

page. Comments also can be sent 

to dc_il@usgs.gov.

“I enjoyed the Water Resources 

Update and look forward to future 

updates. I would suggest nothing 

other than keeping me on your mailing list and continuing with your 

excellent work.”

“I wanted to thank all of you for 

the timely response provided regarding my questions on the gage datum 

at Louisville. The information was 

useful in assessing the problems we 

were having with our model calibration. Thanks again for your time.”

“Thanks for the response. I can 

now access the site. I guess one can 

always blame it on the internet!! I 

find this site so great when looking 

at water levels on the Chain O 

Lakes. With all the high water levels 

this year, it really gives me a great 

view of the water level status.”

“... I’m writing to give you the 

requested feedback on the Illinois 

Water Resources Data CD-ROM for 

1999.... What can I say but that this 

is an excellent resource! My boss 

concurs. We’d love to see this 

expanded to other states, especially 

those in our area of responsibility. 

We especially like the period-ofrecord discharge values, in “rdb” 

format, for each site, as these are 

what we use for the calibration of 

our model...”

Excerpts from the Water Stakeholders Listening Session, March 

15, 2000, Arlington, Virginia: “Data 

is USGS cornerstone ... quality science is your benchmark ... costs and 

especially overhead charges are too 

high ... maintain neutrality ... a balance in quality of water issues 

against quantity and supply issues ... 

more ground-water information is 

needed ... USGS staff are a tremendous resource ... develop plans with 

the States ... don’t try to be all things 

to all people ... focus on what makes 

USGS “special” ... look at fundamental processes ... keep a focus on 

research and development ... work to 

inform legislation ...”
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