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Bathymetry and Water-Quality of Surface Water Bodies in Cook County, Illinois

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By Central Midwest Water Science Center June 8, 2022

Surface water bodies in Cook County are used for stormwater detention, domestic and industrial uses, recreation, and commercial navigation. However, the bathymetry (elevation of the bottom surface) of most water bodies in Cook County has not been measured or mapped comprehensively. Similarly, water quality in most of these water bodies is unknown. 

Bathymetric and water quality data is critically important for developing a management strategy for surface water resources and stormwater, to aid emergency responders during search and rescue operations, to inform construction permitting (e.g., pipelines), and for understanding available habitat. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will collect, process, and analyze bathymetric, water quality, and lake assessment data for a selection of surface water bodies in Cook County. The USGS and the Cook County Bureau of Technology (https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/bureau-technology) will work closely to designate the specific water bodies for survey and refine data requirements and data structure for publication. The USGS will compile any available existing data and develop and execute a plan for surveying selected water bodies. The methods, results, and interpretive assessments for this study will be published in a comprehensive USGS Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) and data will be published as a USGS data release or through the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database.

Surface water bodies in Cook County are used for stormwater detention, domestic and industrial uses, recreation, and commercial navigation. However, the bathymetry (elevation of the bottom surface) of most water bodies in Cook County has not been measured or mapped comprehensively. Similarly, water quality in most of these water bodies is unknown. 

Bathymetric and water quality data is critically important for developing a management strategy for surface water resources and stormwater, to aid emergency responders during search and rescue operations, to inform construction permitting (e.g., pipelines), and for understanding available habitat. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will collect, process, and analyze bathymetric, water quality, and lake assessment data for a selection of surface water bodies in Cook County. The USGS and the Cook County Bureau of Technology (https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/bureau-technology) will work closely to designate the specific water bodies for survey and refine data requirements and data structure for publication. The USGS will compile any available existing data and develop and execute a plan for surveying selected water bodies. The methods, results, and interpretive assessments for this study will be published in a comprehensive USGS Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) and data will be published as a USGS data release or through the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database.

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