17 research outputs found
Assessment of Streams and Watersheds in Illinois: Development of a Stream Classification System and Fish Sampling Protocols
Final Report issued October 1, 2003.Report issued on: October 1, 2003INHS Technical Report prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of
Resource Conservation and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Wate
Evaluating Streams in Illinois Based on Aquatic Biodiversity
Annual Project Report 2006, Project #: T-20-P-001, July 30, 2005 - July 29, 2006INHS Technical Report prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resource
Evaluating Water Temperature, Habitat and Fish Communities in Candidate Coolwater Streams in Illinois
Annual Project Report 2006, Project #: T-13-P-001, July 30, 2005 - July 29, 2006INHS Technical Report submitted to Illinois Department of Natural Resource
Ecological Classification of Rivers for Environmental Assessment and Management: Stream attribution and Model preparation
Report issued on: March 2005Final Project ReportINHS Technical Report prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resource
Evaluating Water Temperature, Habitat and Fish Communities in Candidate Coolwater Streams in Illinois
Coolwater streams are less common in Illinois than their warmwater counterparts, but
because of their unique temperature patterns they have the potential to harbor biota not
typically found in warmwater streams. However, these systems are poorly understood
and few attempts to define and characterize coolwater streams have been made in Illinois.
This study was designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of coolwater streams as a
foundation for managing these resources.
The primary objectives of this study include validating initial attempts to locate cool
streams, conducting in situ measurements of stream temperature throughout Illinois,
characterizing physical components and biota in cool streams, and evaluating methods for
rapid estimation of stream temperature. We were able to obtain 280 temperature records
from 232 locations collected between 1999 and 2010 (early collections from previous
studies). More than one third (35.3%) of sampled locations were classified as cold or
cool (<21.0 oC mean daily July temperature). Although this proportion is artificially high
since we targeted streams we suspected to be cool for monitoring in this study, one in
five (20.8%) of our random survey of wadeable stream sites was observed to have
coolwater conditions. In addition, maps of their distribution indicate that they are fairly
common in some watersheds (e.g., Apple River, Rock River, upper Kishwaukee River).
Prior to initiation of this study, potential coolwater streams were identified using the
locations of fish species considered indicators of cool temperatures and a GIS derived
model of potential groundwater discharge. Observed stream temperatures revealed that
the majority of these fish species were not reliable as indicators of cool conditions and
that the groundwater model was effective only under certain conditions. However, the
distributions of four fish species (brook stickleback, longnose dace, mottled sculpin,
brown trout) correlated well with cold and cool temperatures, and indicator analysis
revealed a coldwater fish community type. Coolwater and warmwater fish communities
were generally similar in their species makeup. Although it was beyond the scope of this
study combining multiple characteristics into predictive models may hold promise for
differentiating stream thermal patterns amongst Illinois streams.
Landscape features, instream habitat, vegetation, fish, mussels, and macroinvertebrates
were evaluated in streams where temperature data were available in an effort to discover
characteristics that might aid in rapid estimation of thermal conditions. Few physical
characteristics correlated well with stream temperature, and conclusive patterns related to
prediction of thermal regime remain elusive. Vegetation character and macroinvertebrate
taxa (including mussels) from summer collections were not related to coolwater
conditions. Overall, few individual characteristics were related clearly to temperature.
Models derived temperature classes were reviewed and revised for stream segments
throughout Illinois as part of this study. Model predictions were more accurate in
identifying the thermal character of stream segments than the biological indicators that
were examined in this study. However, only a small fraction of all stream segments have
been monitored for temperature and additional validation of the model is needed.Illinois Department of Natural Resourcesunpublishednot peer reviewe
Ecological Classification of Rivers for Environmental Assessment and Management: Model Development and Risk Assessment
Final Project ReportSubmitted to Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Wa
Evaluating streams in Illinois based on aquatic biodiversity
IDNR State Wildlife Grant Grant/Contract No: T-20-P-001INHS Technical Report Prepared for IDNR, State Wildlife Grant progra
Evaluation of Watershed Management Practices for Improving Stream Quality in the Illinois Watershed Program
ID: 8922; Annual Progress Report: issued November 1, 2001INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisherie
Developing a Multimetric Habitat Index for Wadeable Streams in Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Grant/Contract No: T-25-P-001As Illinois’ Wildlife Action Plan is implemented, there is a need for a habitat index that reflects improvements and deteriorations in aquatic systems. The main objectiveof this project was to develop a multi-metric habitat index for use in wadeable streams that was rapid to conduct, adjusted for regional differences that exist under natural conditions, and able to detect meaningful changes in a stream over timeINHS Technical Report Prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resource
Development and Expansion of the Natural Resource Data and Information Systems in Support of the Illinois Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan. Annual Segment Report, 2005
issued March 1, 2005Report issued on: March 1, 2005INHS Technical Report prepared for unspecified recipien