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The USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center collects, analyzes and disseminates the impartial hydrologic data and information needed to wisely and effectively manage water resources in Illinois. Our scientific research affects current issues ranging from flood and drought hazards to the impact and control of invasive species.
Link to Science CenterNews
A regional assessment of untreated groundwater in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, which includes parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Indiana, is now available from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Oxygen levels, dissolved minerals among factors responsible for high concentrations of radium in untreated water from aquifer that underlies six states
A carbonatite here, a glacial moraine there, a zig-zagging fault or two, even a behemoth of a batholith. The geology of the 50 States is an enormous patchwork of varied forms, beautiful in their variance but challenging to present as a single map.
Publications
Development of a hydraulic model and flood-inundation maps for the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois
A two-dimensional hydraulic model and digital flood‑inundation maps were developed for a 30-mile reach of the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois. The flood-inundation maps, which can be accessed through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Flood Inundation Mapping Science web site at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/...
Boldt, Justin A.
River meander modeling of the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois
Natural river channels continually evolve and change shape over time. As a result, channel evolution or migration can cause problems for bridge structures that are fixed in the flood plain. A once-stable bridge structure that was uninfluenced by a river’s shape could be encroached upon by a migrating river channel. The potential effect of the...
Lant, Jeremiah G.; Boldt, Justin A.
Using reverse-time egg transport analysis for predicting Asian Carp spawning grounds in the Illinois River
Identifying spawning grounds of Asian carp is important for determining the reproductive front of invasive populations. Ichthyoplankton monitoring along the Illinois Waterway (IWW) has provided information on abundances of Asian carp eggs in the IWW's navigation pools. Post-fertilization times derived from egg development stages and water...
Zhu, Zhenduo; Soong, David T.; Garcia, Tatiana; Behrouz, Mina Shahed; Butler, Steven E.; Murphy, Elizabeth A.; Diana, Matthew J.; Duncker, James J.; Wahl, David H.
Sediment Acoustics- Molly Wood
Acoustic instruments are increasingly being used to measure suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in fluvial environments. The USGS Office of Surface Water, USGS Sediment Acoustics Leadership Team, and the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project are developing standardized methods and software for estimating SSC from acoustic backscatter from acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs).
Large-scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) for Measuring Complex Flows- Frank Engel
Valuable hydraulic data such as water levels, estimates of discharge, inundated areas, etc., can be extracted from photos and movies taken by engineers and scientists that can be used to help improve the analysis and understanding of flood hazards.
Data for Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Near Lemont, IL
Approved Mean Annual Discharge
The stream flow monitoring station on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont, Illinois has been in operation since December 7, 2004. The site is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, Chicago, Illinois.
Link to Approved Mean Annual Discharge...
Illinois Water Conditions Summary Table
A water conditions summary table that includes historical and current river stage data and combines National Weather Service forecast river stages for stream-monitoring sites in Illinois is available. The table is updated every 30 minutes and the stream-monitoring sites are operated by various agencies. River stages above flood stage are shown in red to help monitor flooding conditions. ...
Research and Investigations
The USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center (CMWSC) is comprised of water science offices in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.
The MOWSC conducts research and monitoring on a wide variety of hydrologicial issues affecting steams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater in our three states and across the Nation.
Real-Time Precipitation Data - Illinois
Real-time precipitation data is available in our map-driven application for Illinois. You can use a map to select a precipitation-monitoring site and view precipitation amounts for the previous 3,6,12,24,48 hours and 7,14, and 30 days. A data table shows precipitation amounts at all sites within the state.
Go to the Real-Time Precipitation Web site for: ...
Fish Telemetry
To monitor fish movement in selected rivers, the USGS has installed near real-time receivers for fish tags. These receivers detect the presence of acoustic tags that have been surgically implanted into a variety of fish species. The tag detection data can provide information about how far fish are moving in a river system, changes in fish population distribution, and, when viewed with flow and...
Completed and Archived Projects - Streamflow, Groundwater, and Lakes, CMWSC
Completed and Archived Projects - Streamflow, Groundwater, and Lakes, CMWSC
River WebCams for the Central Midwest Water Science Center (Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri)
We have installed webcams at a number of locations in the Central Midwest Water Science Center to allow you to view, in real time, the current conditions. Some of the cameras allow users to temporarily control the tilt, pan, and zoom. During periods of flooding the Central Midwest Water Science Center may take control of the camera.
Real-Time Data Links
Assessing the uncertainty in model estimated streamflows: A case study using watersheds and rain gage network in Chicago metropolitan area- David T. Soong
The intern will benefit through professional growth gained by academic training in hydrologic science, statistical analysis, and numerical modeling. The intern will also benefit from mentoring opportunities with the PIs and other USGS scientists; with academic professionals at University of Illinois–Urbana, and potential co-authorship on one or more scientific publications.
Assessment of historical recruitment of grass carp in the Sandusky River- David T. Soong
This is an interdisciplinary project linking stream ecology and hydraulic engineering. The intern will join a team to conduct scientific research on a “hot-topic problem” that has gained national attention and will benefit by gaining exposure to a real-world problem that perhaps cannot be found in textbooks.
Annual Water Data Reports - Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri
Beginning with Water Year 2006 and ending with Water Year 2013, annual water data reports were made available as individual electronic Site Data Sheets for the entire Nation for retrieval, download, and localized printing on demand. As of 2014, NWISWeb now provides an on-demand, print-ready Water-Year Summary as an annual water-data product.
Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from U.S. Geological Survey 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States
These data are part of a larger USGS project to develop an updated geospatial database of mines, mineral deposits and mineral regions in the United States. Mine and prospect-related symbols, such as those used to represent prospect pits, mines, adits, dumps, tailings, etc., are currently being digitized on a state-by-state basis from USGS Historical Topographic Maps.
Long-term Trends in Midwestern Milkweeds and their Relevance for Monarchs
This is the dataset used in the BioScience publication of the same name.
National Water Information System web interface (NWISweb)
The National Water Information System (NWIS) web application provides access to real-time and historical surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, and water-use data collected at approximately 1.5 million sites across all 50 states.
National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper
The NWIS mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric data has been collected. Users can search by site type, data type, site number, or place.
Structures Data
USGS data portray selected structures data, including the location and characteristics of manmade facilities. Characteristics consist of a structure's physical form (footprint), function, name, location, and detailed information about the structure. The types of structures collected are largely determined by the needs of the disaster planning and response and homeland security organizations.
Boundaries Data
Boundaries data or governmental units represent major civil areas including states, counties, Federal, and Native American lands, and incorporated places such as cities and towns.
Hydrography Data
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) are used to portray surface water on The National Map.
The United States Interagency Elevation Inventory (USIEI)
The USIEI is a comprehensive, nationwide listing of known high-accuracy topographic and bathymetric data for the United States and its territories. The project is a collaborative effort of the USGS and NOAA with contributions from other federal agencies. The inventory supports the 3D Elevation Program and the Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping effort. This resource is updated in Spring and Fall.
Elevation Data
The 3DEP products and services available through The National Map consist of lidar point clouds (LPC), standard digital elevation models (DEMs) at various horizontal resolutions, elevation source and associated datasets, an elevation point query service and bulk point query service. All 3DEP products are available, free of charge and without use restrictions.
Orthoimagery Data
Orthoimagery data typically are high resolution aerial images that combine the visual attributes of an aerial photograph with the spatial accuracy and reliability of a planimetric map. The National Map offers public domain, 1-meter orthoimagery for the conterminous United States with many urban areas and other locations at 2-foot or finer resolution.
The National Map Small-Scale Collection
The National Map offers a collection of small-scale datasets, most of which are at 1:1,000,000. The National Map publishes two data collections at one million-scale: one for Global Map users and one for National Map users. In terms of vector geometry, the lines, points, and areas in these data collections are identical. The difference is in the attributes assigned to these features.
The 3DEP products and services available through The National Map consist of standard digital elevation models (DEMs) at various horizontal resolutions, elevation source and associated datasets, an elevation point query service and bulk point query service. All 3DEP products are available, free of charge and without use restrictions.
Using reverse-time egg transport analysis for predicting Asian Carp spawning grounds in the Illinois River
Identifying spawning grounds of Asian carp is important for determining the reproductive front of invasive populations. Ichthyoplankton monitoring along the Illinois Waterway (IWW) has provided information on abundances of Asian carp eggs in the IWW's navigation pools. Post-fertilization times derived from egg development stages and water...
Zhu, Zhenduo; Soong, David T.; Garcia, Tatiana; Behrouz, Mina Shahed; Butler, Steven E.; Murphy, Elizabeth A.; Diana, Matthew J.; Duncker, James J.; Wahl, David H. Development of a hydraulic model and flood-inundation maps for the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois
A two-dimensional hydraulic model and digital flood‑inundation maps were developed for a 30-mile reach of the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois. The flood-inundation maps, which can be accessed through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Flood Inundation Mapping Science web site at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/...
Boldt, Justin A. River meander modeling of the Wabash River near the Interstate 64 Bridge near Grayville, Illinois
Natural river channels continually evolve and change shape over time. As a result, channel evolution or migration can cause problems for bridge structures that are fixed in the flood plain. A once-stable bridge structure that was uninfluenced by a river’s shape could be encroached upon by a migrating river channel. The potential effect of the...
Lant, Jeremiah G.; Boldt, Justin A.
Performance evaluation testing of wells in the gradient control system at a federally operated Confined Disposal Facility using single well aquifer tests, East Chicago, Indiana
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) performed tests to evaluate the hydrologic connection between the open interval of the well and the surrounding Calumet aquifer in response to fouling of extraction well pumps onsite. Two rounds of air slug testing were performed on seven monitoring wells and step drawdown and subsequent recovery tests on three...
Lampe, David C.; Unthank, Michael D. St. Louis area earthquake hazards mapping project; seismic and liquefaction hazard maps
We present probabilistic and deterministic seismic and liquefaction hazard maps for the densely populated St. Louis metropolitan area that account for the expected effects of surficial geology on earthquake ground shaking. Hazard calculations were based on a map grid of 0.005°, or about every 500 m, and are thus higher in resolution than any...
Cramer, Chris H.; Bauer, Robert A.; Chung, Jae-won; Rogers, David; Pierce, Larry; Voigt, Vicki; Mitchell, Brad; Gaunt, David; Williams, Robert; Hoffman, David; Hempen, Gregory L.; Steckel, Phyllis; Boyd, Oliver S.; Watkins, Connor M.; Tucker, Kathleen; McCallister, Natasha
Estimating suspended sediment using acoustics in a fine-grained riverine system, Kickapoo Creek at Bloomington, Illinois
Acoustic technologies have the potential to be used as a surrogate for measuring suspended-sediment concentration (SSC). This potential was examined in a fine-grained (97-100 percent fines) riverine system in central Illinois by way of installation of an acoustic instrument. Acoustic data were collected continuously over the span of 5.5 years....
Manaster, Amanda D.; Domanski, Marian M.; Straub, Timothy D.; Boldt, Justin A.
Historical files from Federal Government mineral exploration-assistance programs, 1950 to 1974
The Defense Minerals Administration (DMA), Defense Minerals Exploration Administration (DMEA), and Office of Minerals Exploration (OME) mineral exploration programs were active over the period 1950–1974. Under these programs, the Federal Government contributed financial assistance in the exploration for certain strategic and critical minerals. The...
Frank, David G. Ground motion-simulations of 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes, central United States
We performed a suite of numerical simulations based on the 1811–1812 New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) earthquakes, which demonstrate the importance of 3D geologic structure and rupture directivity on the ground‐motion response throughout a broad region of the central United States (CUS) for these events. Our simulation set consists of 20...
Ramirez-Guzman, L.; Graves, Robert; Olsen, Kim B.; Boyd, Oliver S.; Cramer, Chris H.; Hartzell, Stephen; Ni, Sidao; Somerville, Paul G.; Williams, Robert; Zhong, Jinquan Crustal deformation in the New Madrid seismic zone and the role of postseismic processes
Global Navigation Satellite System data across the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) in the central United States over the period from 2000 through 2014 are analyzed and modeled with several deformation mechanisms including the following: (1) creep on subsurface dislocations, (2) postseismic frictional afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation from the...
Boyd, Oliver S.; Robert Smalley, Jr; Zeng, Yuehua Why the New Madrid earthquakes are M 7–8 and the Charleston earthquake is ∼M 7
Estimates of magnitudes of large historical earthquakes are an essential input to and can seriously affect seismic‐hazard estimates. The earthquake‐intensity observations, modified Mercalli intensities (MMI), and assigned magnitudes Mof the 1811–1812 New Madrid events have been reinterpreted several times in the last decade and have...
Cramer, Chris H.; Boyd, Oliver S. Isolation and molecular characterization of a novel picornavirus from baitfish in the USA
During both regulatory and routine surveillance sampling of baitfish from the states of Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin, USA, isolates (n = 20) of a previously unknown picornavirus were obtained from kidney/spleen or entire viscera of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and brassy minnows (Hybognathus hankinsoni). Following the...
Phelps, Nicholas B.D.; Mor, Sunil K.; Armien, Anibal G.; Batts, William N.; Goodwin, Andrew E.; Hopper, Lacey; McCann, Rebekah; Ng, Terry Fei Fan; Puzach, Corey; Waltzek, Thomas B.; Delwart, Eric; Winton, James; Goyal, Sagar M.
User’s manual for the National Water Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey: Water-Quality System
This user documentation is designed to be a reference for the quality of water (QW) programs within the National Water Information System (NWIS). If you are a new user, the “Introduction” and “Getting Started” sections may be the right place for you to start. If you are an experienced user, you may want to go straight to the details provided in...
Dupré, David H.; Scott, Jonathon C.; Clark, Melanie L.; Canova, Michael G.; Stoker, Yvonne E.
Invasive Bighead Carp Caught Near Joliet, IL
USGS hydrologist Jim Duncker prepares to sample liver tissue from an invasive bighead carp caught on the lower Des Plaines River near Joliet, IL. The USGS is working with other partner agencies and university researchers to keep the invasive species from becoming established in the Great Lakes.
PAMF Participation Cycle
This video describes the annual participation cycle for those enrolled in the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF). PAMF encompasses three annual steps including enrolling, monitoring and managing. As participants employ management actions and submit monitoring reports they will receive management guidance generated by the PAMF model, which provides the most
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PAMF Participation Cycle (Audio-Described)
This video describes the annual participation cycle for those enrolled in the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF). PAMF encompasses three annual steps including enrolling, monitoring and managing. As participants employ management actions and submit monitoring reports they will receive management guidance generated by the PAMF model, which provides the most
...
Acoustic Deterrent Emiquon Preserve
James Wamboldt (USGS – La Crosse, WI), Kelsie Murchy (University of Victoria - BC Canada), and Doug Blodgett (The Nature Conservancy- Illinois Rivers Office at Emiquon) testing an underwater acoustic deterrent for Asian Carp at the water control structure located at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve, Lewiston, Illinois in 2017. Underwater speakers were activated in
...
The Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF)
This is an introductory video to an adaptive management approach for the invasive plant Phragmites australis in the Great Lakes basin. An adaptive management framework is an iterative process of robust decision making aimed at reducing uncertainty over time, for a variety of stakeholders with differing backgrounds and interests, via system monitoring.
Timelapse of Brandon Road Lock during USGS Dye Study
This is a timelapse video of a dye tracer study at Brandon Road Lock, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facility in Joliet, IL, on the Des Plaines River on October 20, 2015. This video was collected using a digital camera mounted on the upstream gates of the lock looking downstream with a 5-second interval between images and played back at 10 frames per second (fps).
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Visualizing Flow Through the Brandon Road Lock & Dam
This video portrays two areas near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a US Army Corps of Engineers facility in Joliet, IL. This video was collected as the lock was emptied through the downstream valves, refilled with water, and then emptied again. This data collection is supporting efforts to combat the spread of invasive Asian carp into the Great Lakes Basin. Brandon Road has
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R/V Sturgeon leaving dock at the Navy Pier in Chicago, IL
The R/V Sturgeon setting sail from the Navy Pier in Chicago, IL on its fall survey of Lake Michigan. The Sturgeon is based in Cheboygan, MI at the Cheboygan Vessel Base.
Daniel E. Christiansen
Daniel E. Christiansen
Silver Carp on the Illinois River
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) jumping out of the Illinois River.
Public-supply well in Illinois
Public-supply wells pump higher volumes of water than domestic-supply wells. This photo appears in Circular 1352, Water Quality in the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern United States, one of a series of circulars on groundwater quality in the
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Salt Creek at Wood Dale, IL (05531175)
This site is located at Irving Park Road in Wood Dale, Illinois. The time is reported in Central Standard Time and the bridge-pier elevations are referenced to NGVD 1929.
This site is operated in cooperation with the DuPage County, Illinois, Stormwater Management Division
A regional assessment of untreated groundwater in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, which includes parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Indiana, is now available from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Oxygen levels, dissolved minerals among factors responsible for high concentrations of radium in untreated water from aquifer that underlies six states
A carbonatite here, a glacial moraine there, a zig-zagging fault or two, even a behemoth of a batholith. The geology of the 50 States is an enormous patchwork of varied forms, beautiful in their variance but challenging to present as a single map.
Invasive mussels and less nutrients from tributaries have altered the Lake Michigan ecosystem making it more conducive to the stocking of lake trout and steelhead than Chinook salmon, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan State University study.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists will inject a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the auxiliary lock at Locks and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River near Pleasant Valley, Iowa, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, weather permitting. If needed, a backup date is scheduled for June 27, 2017.
If invasive bighead carp and silver carp spread into Lake Michigan, there would be enough food available for these particular species of Asian carp to survive, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Human and bovine, or cattle, viruses were detected in a small percentage of some Great Lakes Basin streams, with human viruses more prevalent in urban streams and bovine viruses more common in streams in agricultural areas, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey-led study.
Bifenthrin combats pests, but may harm aquatic ecosystems
When a moving barge encounters small fish in the Illinois Waterway there is a possibility that the fish will become trapped in the gap between barges, according to a new study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Highest concentrations found in Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
First-of-its-kind survey shows that algal toxins are found nationwide
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Locations
Illinois Water Science Center
Phone: 217-328-8747
Fax: 217-328-9770
Southern Illinois Field Office - Mt. Vernon
Phone: 618-242-4495
Fax: 618-242-4578
Northern Illinois Field Office - DeKalb
Phone: 815-756-9207
Fax: 815-756-9214
