Environmental Conditions of Illinois
Water Resources
 |
Over the next five years, the percentage of monitored watersheds which have fish
advisories will decrease. |
 Contaminant
levels in fish are monitored through a cooperative effort between the
Illinois Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Nuclear Safety,
Public Health, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Fish
samples are collected from streams, lakes, and impoundments and Illinois'
portion of Lake Michigan. Pollutants causing advisories in Illinois fish
include pesticides and other compounds such as chlordane, dieldrin, and
PCBs, as well as the heavy metal mercury. Since bans have been imposed
for these compounds (except mercury) during the mid and late 70's, there
has been a considerable reduction in the concentrations of these pollutants
found in fish. The Agency expects this trend to continue over the next
five years as a result of decreases in the levels of the contaminants
remaining in the environment. As the Agency continues to collect samples
and possibly expand its fish contamination monitoring program, more information
will become available to set a specific numeric goal.
The Fish Consumption Advisories Figure provides a generalized indicator of the
geographic areas of the state where fish have been tested and found to be safe for
unlimited consumption, areas where limited consumption is recommended, and areas where no
consumption of certain species of fish is recommended. No advisories were issued for 222
watersheds, Seven watersheds received limited consumption advisories, and 26 watersheds
received no consumption advisories. No information was available for 564 watersheds.
Advisory information for specific water bodies is available in the current Illinois
Fishing Information Booklet published by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
| Fish Consumption Advisories |
 |
USGS Catalog Units |
IEPA Watersheds |
 |
No Data |
 |
Data No Problem |
 |
Limited Consumption of Some Species |
 |
No Consumption of Some Species |
|
 |
Program Expansion
The Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program has been operating with
limited data for the past several years as a result of budgetary restraints. An increase
in funding for Fiscal Year 1998 will allow for additional samples to be collected and
analyzed each year. The expansion of the number of water bodies sampled could result in an
increase in the number of watersheds in which fish consumption advisories are necessary,
especially if a significant number of water bodies are sampled which have not been sampled
in the past. |
|
