Traveltime and dispersion in the Illinois River, Marseilles to Peoria, Illinois

Traveltime in 89.3 mi of the Illinois River between Marseilles Dam and Peoria Dam was measured using rhodamine-WT dye. On each of four subreaches, dye-tracer measurements were made at approximately 50- and 85% flow duration in 1978, 1979, and 1985. The dye-tracer data were used to develop a method for estimating the traveltime and peak concentration of a solute spilled into the Illinois River. The estimates can apply to spills at any point within the study reach during a period of relatively steady discharge of from low to medium streamflow. A sample problem to demonstrate the estimating method is solved for a hypothetical situation in which 100,000 pounds of contaminant is spilled at a railroad crossing between Spring Valley and Hennepin, Illinois. (USGS)