Research

Heavy rainfall can change water quality and food webs in lakes. These changes can decrease their aesthetic value and harm tourism. Heavy rainfall has increased recently. It can wash pesticides from farms into rivers and lakes. We studied four lakes in Kickapoo State Recreation Area. We collected water after heavy rainfall. We then measured levels of pesticide runoff from farms into the lakes from the water samples. We also measured pesticides in the Middle Fork River. We found that pesticides were present in many of the water samples. The decrease in water quality can harm animals that live in these waters. We collected animals from the lakes as well. We are studying the communities in the lakes to measure changes after the rainfall. Many people use the lakes and river we studied for recreation. Our results can inform management of the waters to keep them safe. People and food webs may be harmed by increases in pesticides in these waters. We will continue our research to learn more about these effects.

• PI: Carla Cáceres
• PI Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023

Excessive input of fine sediment and absorbed phosphorus to streams is a leading pollutant of fresh water in the United States, adversely affecting the water quality for aquatic organisms and people. The input of sediment and associated phosphorus from farmed land to streams is known to vary spatially and temporally in relation to storm events of different magnitudes and intensities, but pathways of connectivity between farmed fields and streams remain poorly understood. The proposed study will evaluate the extent to which eroded soil and sediment-absorbed phosphorus enters headwater agricultural streams through different pathways during different runoff-producing events. Sediment tracing will be based on Beryllium-7 (7Be), which is readily adsorbed onto sediment, has a short half-life, and is an excellent event-based tracer of fine sediment flux during storm events. Samples of sediment will be collected from different source pathways and from the stream and analyzed for 7Be and phosphorus concentrations. Analysis will examine how the 7Be signatures of different source pathways, along with differing phosphorus concentrations of sediment in various pathways, compares to the concentrations of 7Be and phosphorus concentrations of sediment within the stream. Results will provide insight into the specific pathways by which eroded sediment enters the stream system—knowledge that will be valuable for guiding sediment and phosphorus management in intensively managed agricultural landscapes in Illinois.

• PI: Bruce Rhoads
• PI Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023

Nutrient runoff from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and agriculture leads to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in surface water resources. HABs result in significant changes to ecosystems, such as decreased levels of dissolved oxygen. HABs also affect water health since they can form toxic microcystins. WWTPs and farms in Illinois are currently under new regulatory pressure to reduce nutrient loading in waterways. Achieving these goals will require significant energy costs. This project focused on developing a new understanding of HABs by studying the nutrient dynamics in Long Lake and its watershed and developing a new technology to reduce energy usage in WWTPs by using machine learning and sensors.

• PI: David Lampert
• PI Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology
• September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023

The widespread existence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment represents an emerging issue due to their stability, bioaccumulation potential, and risks to human and ecological well-being. Areas where PFAS have been released into the environment have now pose bioaccumulation risks. One approach for risk reduction is to contain the contamination in-situ to prevent exposure. This project provides new insight into the efficacy of PFAS remediation using in-situ capping technologies to protect surface water resources from contaminated groundwater. The results are expected to be of value to communities that are at risk of exposure to PFAS. The objectives of the project are to:

1. build laboratory experimental systems to examine the effectiveness of caps for PFAS containment that include pore water upwelling,
2. develop methods to measure a wide range of PFAS in water samples,
3. present results of PFAS containment research to a wide range of researchers and professionals at a national conference.

• PI: David Lampert
• PI Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology
• September 1, 2021 – February 28, 2023

The project was undertaken to quantify the travel times of waters introduced into a saturated buffer zone (SBZ), which would allow for the calculation of the nitrate reduction within the system. SBZs are a possible best management practice that can be employed to intercept tile drainage water prior to discharge in streams. While the utility of SBZ is not in question, studies have shown that denitrification and plant uptake are removal mechanisms, understanding the travel time (distances) that are needed for the SBZ systems to be effective is not well documented. This work was an attempt to provide data and insight to address this knowledge gap. The results from the tracer test 1) quantified the travel times for waters in a saturated buffer zones situated in glacial materials. The initial calculations conducted prior to the test suggested a travel time of approximately 70 days. After the tracer injection, the down gradient wells had their peak tracer concentrations at 13-15 days, which was the result of a higher than anticipated hydraulic gradient. Despite the shorter time, the data showed that between 38% to 100% of the nitrate introduced from the tile drainage system was removed along the travel path. As the observation wells were different distances from the diversion tile, the results had a linear relationship between distance (time) traveled and nitrate reduction. These data can be used to help develop SBZ systems that provide optimal reduction given limitations of land available.

• PI: Eric Wade Peterson
• PI Institution: Illinois State University
• March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2021

The work was a pilot study investigating the potential of floating gardens to improve the water quality of an urban stream, the Chicago River. The results showed that concentrations of nitrate as nitrogen in the waters were lower after flowing past the floating garden. Statistical differences were noted in the surface concentrations during both the growing season (t(22) = 1.9, p = 0.03) and the dormant season (5(18) = 4.1, p < 0.001) at the surface. The 0.3 m depth says statistically significant lower concentrations in the dormant season (t(11) = 2.1, p = 0.3). During the non-growing season, which aligns with periods of highest chloride concentrations, the 0.3 m depth say a significant decrease in chloride concentrations after the water flowed under the garden (t(11) = 2.1, p = 0.03). The pilot project shows that floating gardens have the ability to improve the water quality of river systems.

• PI: Eric Wade Peterson
• PI Institution: Illinois State University
• June 18, 2019 – December 31, 2020

• Low concentration of Cr (VI) can be remediated using H. annuus L. which was identified as a hyperaccumulator.
• Grade A biosolids are applicable as a soil amendment for providing nutrients to the plants, and biosolids were found to be better than low nitrogen fertilizer in terms of plant growth.
• PCE/TCE were fully removed from the contaminated soil matrix, which might be possibly due to plant uptake, degradation, plant volatilization or soil volatilization.
• Increased microbial biomass after phytoremediation indicates that the activity of rhizosphere microorganisms was improved which could help the remediation process.
• The very low concentration of Cr (VI) in the obtained biodiesel makes it a potential source of renewable fuel.

• PIs: Jia Liu, Md Hadiuzzaman
• PI Institution: Southern Illinois University
• Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7365-8
• June 18, 2018 – September 17, 2019

Both drone images and water samples were collected for each water sample location in the Carbondale Reservoir and the SIUC Campus Lake. In the early summer (June 2019), we were not able to identify any algae from the Carbondale Reservoir due to very wet weather. In July, we identified both regular and toxic algae using water sampling from SIU Campus Lake. We are in the process of analyzing the statistical relationship between the spectral values of images and water quality indicators.

• PIs: Ruopu Li, Di Wu
• PI Institution: Southern Illinois University
• June 18, 2018 – September 17, 2019

The most notable observations in this study are the 24-hour time series vegetation uptake and multi-process increase signals. Time of maximum and minimum NO3- -N concentration data indicate vegetation uptake generates the sinusoidal trend. Time of maximum and minimum NO 3- -N concentration occurs when it would be expected for a photosynthetically controlled process. Maximum NO3- -N concentration occurs during the dark period, while minimum NO3- -N concentration occurs at the end of the photoperiod. Vegetation uptake is observed under conditions where vegetation growth is possible and sufficiently isolated from competing processes by environmental conditions. The alternate explanation for the sinusoidal trend, denitrification, is not supported by these data. If denitrification were the process responsible for the time of maximum and time of minimum NO3- -N concentration, then the denitrification rate would need to change and would have to be driven by water temperature changes. No relationship exists between 24-hour water temperature difference and NO3–N concentration difference. Additionally, these data indicate multiple processes are responsible for the increase trend. Anoxic conditions in the saturated zone coupled with water column height drops from ET provide ideal conditions for conversion of accumulated NH4+ to NO3- in the unsaturated zone. NO3- produced by nitrification in the unsaturated zone was then transported to the saturated zone by unsaturated flow. NO3- transport from the upgradiant agricultural land use are best accounts for increases during the winter.As an area that is intensively farmed, Illinois fields receive a large amount of NO3- fertilizer yearly. Tile drains make many forms of NO3- management ineffective, exporting NO3- through soil into streams, bypassing riparian zones and making best management practices such as riparian buffers less effective. The results of this study reinforce the importance of vegetation NO3- uptake. The results presented here provide evidence for a measurable contribution of NO3- removal by vegetation. Seasons that have a significantly different μ daily [NO3–N] do not have a significantly different μdifference [NO3–N]. This means the amount of NO3- available does not influence the magnitude of change over 24-hours. If implemented, conservation practices that intercept and increase residence times of water will reduce NO3- loads. Future research could focus on quantification of total nitrogen captured by vegetation, NO3- flux in the unsaturated zone, and stable isotope methods for NO3- source and fate. This study focused on NO3- -N in the saturated zone, but other forms of nitrogen such as ammonium and nitrite in the unsaturated zone may be of interest.

• PI: Eric Wade Peterson
• PI Institution: Illinois State University
• March 1, 2017 – February 28, 2019

This work constitutes a resource for TNC in managing GMP and the other prairies in the Indian Boundary Prairies to preserve biodiversity and maintain valuable ecosystem services. Continuing work at Gensburg Markham Prairie includes sampling of surface soils from the bottom of ditches during the dry season to evaluate deposition of metals and road salt constituents from water that infiltrates into the subsurface. Additional methods of estimating soil EC are also being explored to permit separation of intrinsic soil properties from anthropogenic effects on EC. As part of an ongoing partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, we are working to integrate the EC sensors installed as part of this research with larger-scale environmental sensing infrastructure via the Waggle platform (Beckman et al., 2016). This integration will permit open data dissemination in real time, allowing these measurements to inform site management decisions and be available to the public to facilitate discussion of alternative deicing strategies.

• PI: Aaron Packman
• PI Institution: Northwestern University
• Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz163
• March 1, 2017 – February 28, 2019

First, in relation to measurements of river discharge, the performance of the tripod-mounted LSPIV and the UAS LSPIV was nearly identical in each case where both methods were used. We found that when the tripod is extended high enough to view the entire channel width, the camera oscillates in the wind. The UAS is also not completely steady, but after about 30 seconds (depending on wind speed and height above the water surface), mean velocities are generally unaffected by camera movement. While in certain situations, such as in narrow, tree-lined rivers, in restricted flight zones, or when no certified UAS operator is present, it may be beneficial to use a tripod-mounted camera, in many situations the UAS is a more flexible option for obtaining mean surface velocity and therefore discharge. The UAS can more easily image wide rivers and the field of view can be adjusted on the fly in response to changing conditions. In addition, LSPIV discharge from both the tripod and UAS compared favorably with the propeller and ADCP discharge and were often within a few percent of these reference values. Our results generally support the typical practice of relating depth-averaged velocity to surface velocity with a simple coefficient in the range of 0.85 — 0.9, but additional research into this is ongoing. Finally, we found that in some low and high flow conditions, the LSPIV discharge was close to the reference discharges measured by the research team but significantly (>25 %) different than the USGS gage. Overall, both the tripod and UAS methods resulted in rapid, accurate discharge calculations with respect to reference methods. Second, we found that LSPIV is an important complement to traditional velocity measurements and can enrich our understanding of flow in complex hydrodynamic environments like confluences. Not only can LSPIV be used for qualitative flow visualization, useful for comparison among field sites and flow events and with numerical modeling, but quantitative information can be obtained over a large spatial scale. UAS greatly increases the capability to obtain LSPIV over a large area, and mean flow velocities are relatively easy to obtain. It is generally more difficult to obtain quasi-instantaneous flow “snapshots”, especially as camera height above the water and magnitude of camera movement/oscillation increases. Under favorable circumstances, however, flow snapshots can be obtained from both tripod mounted and UAS LSPIV.

• PI: Bruce L. Rhoads
• PI Institution: University of Illinois
• Link: https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101109
• March 1, 2016 – February 28, 2018

Outcomes from these activities present spatial and temporal data for Cl – within a watershed impacted by deicing agents. Results identify seasonal trends in the concentration of Cl – in the LKC watershed, with elevated concentrations in the winter. However, periodic spikes during the summer follow precipitation events. The spikes appear to be associated with Cl – stored within the aquifer system that is released in response to infiltration associated with the precipitation events. The continued use of roads salts will continue to elevate the concentration of Cl – with in the waters. If the application of Cl – ceased, the watershed would not fully recover within 50 years. Residual Cl – would remain in the system. The numerical modeling approach provides an initial evaluation; additional modeling incorporating transient flow will be needed to support all future research activities and develop appropriate BMPs for Cl – applications.The Illinois State Geological Survey and the Illinois State Water Survey have examined the issue of road salts in the Chicago metropolitan area and the subsequent effects on the Illinois River watershed. A pilot GIS model developed to evaluate the transport and fate of Cl – within Illinois indicated that data are spatially and temporally too variable to accurately assess the problem. Our data suggest a balance between spatial resolution and temporal resolution exists. While our sampling points were closer together, the 2-week time period was to coarse to model accurately the pulse of Cl- moving through the system. A finer temporal resolution is needed to develop more adequate GIS and flow models.Increases in road salts use, leading to increases in stream/groundwater chloride concentrations, are fueling the need for useful tools to study chloride fate and transport. Linear regression modeling has been used many times to predict the movement of a contaminant and is used here to predict chloride concentrations downstream. Land cover, representing impervious surfaces, drainage area, and discharge are all controlling factors in chloride concentration downstream, however there must be other factors controlling chloride concentration other than the ones viewed in this study. This study also revealed that there is an impacted area around an urban setting. Chloride concentrations are less diluted upstream due to the chlorides stored and discharging into the upstream sites. More dilution occurs downstream due to the waters discharging into downstream locations are agriculturally derived.’

• PI: Eric Wade Peterson
• PI Institution: Illinois State University
• Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081688
• March 1, 2016 – February 28, 2018