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Paul J Terrio

Paul is a Hydrologist with the USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center located in Urbana, Illinois.

Current Projects:
Drainage Management to Reduce Nitrate Loads from Tile Drainage and to Improve Crop Production in Central Illinois
National Water-Quality Assessment - Lower Illinois River Basin and Upper Illinois River Basin Study Unit
Illinois Water-Quality Monitoring Network
Co-instructor for University of Illinois, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Course 398FM - Introduction to Field Methods for Hydrologic and Environmental Studies
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Ground-Water Quality Assurance Review

Professional Experience

  • 1982-Present USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Education and Certifications

  • BS Hydrology, University of Arizona, Tucson, 1982

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 26

Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations, loads, and yields in upper Macoupin Creek, Illinois, 2017–21

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Macoupin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the American Farmland Trust, undertook a monitoring effort from 2017 to 2021 in the upper Macoupin Creek watershed. The monitoring effort was to determine and characterize nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment concentrations, loads, and yields for a 566.7 square kilometer area of the
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Central Midwest Water Science Center

Continuous monitoring and Bayesian estimation of nutrient and sediment loads from Illinois watersheds, for water years 2016–2020

The State of Illinois is one of the leading contributors of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. During water years 2016–20, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, operated continuous monitoring stations on eight major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Trends in nutrient and soil loss in Illinois rivers, 1978–2017

Nutrient and soil loss, defined herein as the loss of nutrients or soil to streams and other downstream receiving waters, affect watersheds around the globe. Although governments make large investments mitigating nutrient and soil loss through watershed management efforts, the efficacy of these efforts is often difficult to assess, in part because streamflow variability obscures the effects.This s
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Central Midwest Water Science Center

Evaluating the potential role of bioactive chemicals on the distribution of invasive Asian carp upstream and downstream from river mile 278 in the Illinois waterway

Two non-native carp species have invaded the Illinois Waterway and are a threat to Great Lakes ecosystems. Poor water quality in the upper Illinois Waterway, may be a factor contributing to the stalling of the carp population front near river mile 278. In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey collected 4 sets of water samples from two sites upstream and 4 sites downstream from river mile 278, and one t
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center

Fate and transport of nitrapyrin in agroecosystems: Occurrence in agricultural soils, subsurface drains, and receiving streams in the Midwestern US

Nitrapyrin is a nitrification inhibitor that is co-applied with nitrogen fertilizer in agroecosystems. There is limited information on the fate of nitrapyrin after it is applied to agricultural soils. Over the course of one year (March 2016 to June 2017), 192 water samples from seven streams across Iowa and Illinois were analyzed for nitrapyrin, its metabolite 6‑chloropicolinic acid (6‑CPA), and t
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Water-quality sampling plan for evaluating the distribution of bigheaded carps in the Illinois Waterway

The two nonnative invasive bigheaded carp species (bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp H. molitrix) that were accidentally released in the 1970s have spread widely into the rivers and waterways of the Mississippi River Basin. First detected in the lower reaches of the Illinois Waterway (IWW, the combined Illinois River-Des Plaines River-Chicago Area Waterway System) in the 1990
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Continuous monitoring of sediment and nutrients in the Illinois River at Florence, Illinois, 2012-13

The Illinois River is the largest river in Illinois and is the primary contributing watershed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loading to the upper Mississippi River from Illinois. In addition to streamflow, the following water-quality constituents were monitored at the Illinois River at Florence, Illinois (U.S. Geological Survey station number 05586300), during May 2012–October 20
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Real-time continuous nitrate monitoring in Illinois in 2013

Many sources contribute to the nitrogen found in surface water in Illinois. Illinois is located in the most productive agricultural area in the country, and nitrogen fertilizer is commonly used to maximize corn production in this area. Additionally, septic/wastewater systems, industrial emissions, and lawn fertilizer are common sources of nitrogen in urban areas of Illinois. In agricultural areas,
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Developing and implementing the use of predictive models for estimating water quality at Great Lakes beaches

Predictive models have been used at beaches to improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water-quality assessments over the most common current approach to water-quality monitoring, which relies on culturing fecal-indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli.). Beach-specific predictive models use environmental and water-quality variables that are easily and quickly measured as s

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Water Resources Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Initial results from a reconnaissance of cyanobacteria and associated toxins in Illinois, August--October 2012

Ten lakes and two rivers in Illinois were sampled in August–October 2012 to determine the concentrations and spatial distribution of cyanobacteria and associated cyanotoxins throughout the State. The reconnaissance was a collaborative effort of the U.S. Geological Survey and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Sample results indicated that concentrations of both total cyanobacterial cell
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Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Fecal-indicator bacteria concentrations in the Illinois River between Hennepin and Peoria, Illinois: 2007-08

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has designated portions of the Illinois River in Peoria, Woodford, and Tazewell Counties, Illinois, as impaired owing to the presence of fecal coliform bacteria. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, examined the water quality in the Illinois River and major tributaries within a 47-mile reach betwee
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Concentrations, fluxes, and yields of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment in the Illinois River basin, 1996-2000

Concentrations, spatial and temporal variations, and fluxes of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment were determined for 16 streams in the Illinois River Basin, Illinois from October 1996 through September 2000. Water samples were collected through the National Water-Quality Assessment's Lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) and Upper Illinois River Basin (UIRB) Study Units on a monthly to week
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center
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USGS Gage 05447500 Green River near Geneseo, Illinois

Illinois Nutrient Monitoring Sites

Eight nutrient monitoring stations were established in 2015 to continuously monitor nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads in support of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. This site provides current and historical monitoring information for the eight nutrient monitoring stations.
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Central Midwest Water Science Center
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Illinois Nutrient Monitoring Sites

Eight nutrient monitoring stations were established in 2015 to continuously monitor nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads in support of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. This site provides current and historical monitoring information for the eight nutrient monitoring stations.
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Modeled nutrient and sediment concentrations from major rivers in Illinois based on continuous monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2020

During water years 2016-2020, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from the State of Illinois to the Mississippi River. This data release presents estimates of daily nitrate, suspended sediment, and phosphorus co
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Central Midwest Water Science Center

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