Environmental Conditions of Illinois
Water Resources
 |
- Waterways with Good water quality conditions will increase by 10 percent by the year
2000.
- The percentage of stream miles needing additional nonpoint source corrective actions to
meet Clean Water Act goals and objectives will decrease by 10 percent from 1996 to the
year 2000.
|
 Illinois'
water resources can be impacted by a variety of sources including agriculture,
industry, urban development, and mining. These activities can have an
affect on the degree to which a given waterbody is safe for human uses
and aquatic life. Waters all over the state have been classified as either
Good, Fair, or Poor depending upon whether they can attain the standards
necessary for their designated uses. The quality of Illinois' rivers and
streams has dramatically improved over the last twenty years. The number
of river miles in Good condition has increased from 34.7 percent in 1972
to 54.3 percent in 1996. This shows continuing progress toward a goal
of 59 percent of river miles in Good condition by 2000. Illinois EPA has
also isolated individual watersheds within the state and detailed the
water quality conditions as well as the various impacts to each watershed.
The Illinois Water Quality Conditions Figure highlights the water quality
of rivers and streams within the 12 major river basins in the State.
| Much of the improvement in watershed conditions over the next five years
is expected to come from reducing nonpoint source impacts. As the Percent of Stream Miles
Figure indicates, the percentage of stream miles needing additional nonpoint source
corrective actions has declined 10 percent between 1992 and 1996. The Agency expects an
equivalent reduction through the year 2000. |
 |
Illinois River
One of the most dramatic improvements in river quality has taken place on the Illinois
River. Twenty-five years ago, commercial fisheries were severely threatened by several
different pollution sources. Now, more species and numbers of sport fish can be found as
well as the "macroinvertebrates" or bugs that the fish eat. Indicative of these
improvements was the Professional BassMasters Tournament held in Peoria during the summer
of 1995, an event that would never have been considered in years past. In contrast,
however, are continuing concerns over excessive sedimentation of parts of the Illinois
River. These concerns led to passage of legislation in 1996 that will implement a
watershed protection plan for the river. |
|
