Random forest model for chlorophyll a in the La Grange Pool of the Illinois River, Illinois, using 1993-2022 data

The Illinois River receives nutrients from point and non-point runoff from upstream urban and agricultural areas. These excess nutrients could be contributing to harmful algal blooms in the Illinois River and its tributaries. The Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program has been monitoring water quality on the La Grange Pool in the Illinois River since 1993. The data collected from this program were used to model chlorophyll a, which is a surrogate for phytoplankton abundance.