Read the full story from the Prairie Research Institute.
Through its long history, the Water Survey’s scientific endeavors in collecting and analyzing water samples from precipitation, lakes, rivers, and streams have guided scientific data collection and modeling efforts and informed decisions locally and statewide about water quality and water resources management. Ongoing projects in watershed science continue to contribute to long-term databases, while new projects tackle some of today’s tough challenges.
In the ISWS Watershed Science Section led by Laura Keefer, Illinois State Hydrologist and head of the section, field data are collected year-round. Field personnel and scientists gather and analyze data on-site and remotely, whether analyzing raingage measurements across a precipitation network or wading into surface waters to collect measurements or gather samples for analysis. A few of the Watershed Science Section projects are highlighted.
