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Water Survey

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  • Researchers study radium in aquifers of north-central Illinois

    Sep 20, 2021 9:00 am

    Walt Kelly, Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) groundwater geochemist, answered questions about the findings of his recent study on radium levels in groundwater of the St. Peter Sandstone aquifer, with a study area in north-central Illinois. Radium levels are above the drinking water standard in many community water supply wells open to the aquifer.

  • orange irrigation pipe

    Reporting program collects data on water use in Illinois

    Nov 2, 2020 9:00 am

    Scientists investigating present and future water resources in Illinois find a wealth of data through the Illinois Water Inventory Program (IWIP), which collects data from users of high-capacity intakes and wells in Illinois.

  • Report for the Urban Flooding Awareness Act

    Apr 6, 2017 12:45 pm

    The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has released a new report examining the prevalence and costs associated with urban flooding in Illinois, along with strategies and recommendations for minimizing damage to property from this flooding. The Illinois General Assembly called upon IDNR to prepare the report in collaboration with several state agencies.

  • Report describes water resources available in Middle Illinois River region

    Oct 10, 2018 11:30 am

    A report on the water resources available in the Middle Illinois River water supply planning region is now available (ISWS Contract Report 2018-02). The results of the study are generally positive for the region, with abundant water available for most needs.

  • Dr. Misganaw Demissie

    Remembering Dr. Misganaw "Mike" Demissie 1949 - 2023

    May 1, 2023 12:15 pm

    The PRI family recently lost one of our own, Dr. Misganaw (known to many as Mike) Demissie, who made a positive difference worldwide through his work and made a lasting impression on the legacy of the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS). Demissie passed away on April 20, 2023.

  • Regional Climate Models are Poised to Predict Future Climate of Illinois

    Nov 19, 2008 9:15 am

    While scientists have predicted for years that the global climate will change in the future, an atmospheric scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is working on a climate model at the regional scale to predict the impacts of climate change right here in Illinois.

  • Record-Wettest August in Illinois

    Sep 1, 2016 5:00 pm

    The statewide average rainfall for August was 6.89 inches, 3.30 inches above normal and the wettest August on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

  • Record Wet Start to the Year in the Midwest

    Jul 16, 2013 2:30 am

    Following the drought-stricken 2012, the first six months of 2013 are off to a record wet start in much of the Midwest.  Year-to-date regional precipitation totals rank as the wettest January-to-June period on record (records start in 1895) for the Midwest, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu) at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Record Wet Conditions Continue for the Midwest

    Aug 4, 2015 2:30 pm

    Heavy rain continued to fall across the Midwest this July after Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio broke records for June precipitation. Seven of the nine states in the region recorded above normal precipitation for July, according to Bryan Peake, service climatologist at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/), Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Record-Setting Rainfall in April for Illinois

    Apr 29, 2011 12:15 am

    The statewide average rainfall for Illinois in April was 7.45 inches, nearly double the average rainfall of 3.83 inches for the month. This exceeds the old record of 7.13 inches set in 1957, according to State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.isws.illinois.edu).

  • Record-Setting December Occurred in Illinois

    Jan 4, 2016 10:30 pm

    December was the warmest and second wettest for that month on record in Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

  • Record June Rain, Flooding Inundates Midwest

    Jul 2, 2015 2:45 pm

    Heavy rain and flooding highlighted a wild month of June across the central portions of the Midwest.  The wettest state was Illinois, where a precipitation record that has stood for over 100 years was broken, according to Bryan Peake, service climatologist at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu), Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Record-Breaking Wet February in Illinois

    Mar 2, 2018 11:00 am

  • Rainy and Dry, Chilly and Warm: 2011 Was a Unique Year

    Jan 10, 2012 8:30 pm

    The year 2011 was the 10th wettest year and a year of extreme monthly temperatures and precipitation, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel at the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Public Meeting on Arsenic in Tolono Wells to be Held Oct. 4

    Sep 23, 2011 9:15 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is presenting information and outcomes from a study on arsenic concentrations found in resident wells in the Tolono area on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

     

  • Map of building footprints

    Project maps out building footprints in Illinois to study natural disasters

    Mar 27, 2019 10:00 am

    Researchers at the University of Illinois are keeping an eye on areas of Illinois that are at high risk for flooding, not only county by county, but also building by building.

  • Project features home assessments for flood risks

    Nov 13, 2019 4:15 pm

    Scientists studying and mapping flood hazards have long identified whole neighborhoods that are vulnerable to flooding, but with new data, researchers at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) can specify flood risk for individual homes and businesses.

  • PRI water and climate experts take part in new State Water Plan and its goals

    Jan 23, 2023 3:00 pm

    Scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) have contributed their expertise and data on multiple water issues to inform the newly released 2022 Illinois State Water Plan, which serves as an advisory to address water-related challenges for the next seven years. PRI will also play an integral part in reaching the plan’s goals, particularly in developing an Illinois Integrated Water Information Center, a portal to water science information and technology in Illinois.

  • PRI scientists provide winter soil conditions and an insect pest forecast for Illinois

    Mar 14, 2022 9:30 am

    Near-average winter soil and air temperatures are an indication that crop insect pests may have survived the cold in Illinois, according to scientists Jennie Atkins and Kelly Estes at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois.

  • PRI scientists bring expertise to study of critical interfaces

    Nov 16, 2020 8:30 am

    PRI scientists from the Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State Geological Survey are part of a collaborative project to study “critical interfaces” in the environment.

  • Walt Kelly, Zohreh Askari, and Sam Panno

    PRI researchers gain new insights into how groundwater flows within the Illinois Basin

    Sep 15, 2017 3:00 pm

    A conceptual model of water movement in rock layers many feet underground, published by Prairie Research Institute scientists, shows for the first time that water is flowing steadily south through the thick sequence of rock layers that form the Illinois Basin.

  • a hand clad in a purple latex glove holds a small snake against a grassy backdrop

    PRI offers applied science internships for summer 2022

    Jan 28, 2022 8:00 am

    PRI is offering hands-on summer internships that will enable undergraduate students from populations underrepresented in graduate study at Illinois to explore careers in applied science. There are opportunities in atmospheric science and climate; biology, ecology, and environmental science; geology; sustainable energy; and water supply and safety. To see all of the internship options and to apply, visit https://go.illinois.edu/PRI-interns

  • PRI experts help assess climate change impact on Illinois

    Apr 21, 2021 2:15 pm

    Illinois is undergoing a rapid change in weather patterns that has started to transform the state, according to a new scientific assessment by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. Scientific experts from across PRI contributed to the report, including Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford; Water Survey scientists Daniel Abram, Walt Kelly, Momcilo Markus, Sally McConkey, and Ashish Sharma; and Natural History Survey scientists Sergiusz Czesny, Jim Ellis, Chris Stone, and John Taft.

    Read more about the report and its findings from the Nature Conservancy.

  • Previous records slashed with monumental cold conditions in Illinois

    Jan 31, 2019 4:00 pm

    Illinois has been experiencing some of the coldest weather that has been seen in decades and, in some locations, ever.

  • Precipitation Totals Set Records in the Midwest

    Jul 3, 2008 12:45 am

    Substantial recent flooding in the Midwest was caused by heavy precipitation that fell not only in June, but also throughout the first half of 2008. The NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) found that 286 National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Network stations reported precipitation totals for the first half of 2008 that ranked within their top five records of the January-June period since the late 1800s in some cases.

  • Online tool estimates nitrogen availability for crop fields

    Apr 6, 2023 1:30 pm

    An atmospheric scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is perfecting his online and Android app decision-support tool that helps farmers schedule applications based on real-time nitrogen availability in local soils.

  • October Was Wetter Than Average for Illinois

    Nov 4, 2014 3:45 pm

    The statewide average precipitation for October in Illinois was 4.5 inches, which is 1.2 inches above average, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

  • October Was Warm and Dry in Illinois

    Nov 3, 2010 12:00 am

    The statewide average rainfall for October was 1.4 inches, 1.5 inches below normal. This ranks as the 20th driest October on record, according to State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.isws.illinois.edu).

  • October was the 10th wettest in Illinois

    Nov 2, 2017 2:30 pm

    The statewide average precipitation in Illinois for October was 4.94 inches, 1.70 inches above normal, and the 10th wettest October since 1895, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • October: Warm and Dry in Illinois

    Nov 2, 2015 2:30 pm

    October was warmer and drier than average in Illinois. The statewide average temperature was 55.8 degrees, 1.7 degrees above average, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

  • October Solar Radiation in Illinois: Record High in 2010, Record Low Last Year

    Nov 10, 2010 12:45 am

    Did it seem to you that the weather in October was quite a bit sunnier than in Octobers of the past? Do you remember last October as being rather cloudy?

    If these are your impressions, you are correct, according to Bob Scott, Director of the Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program at the Illinois State Water Survey. Scott operates an array of weather sites across the state called the Illinois Climate Network, and one of the sensors on the stations measures solar radiation.

  • October Rainfall Helps Soil Dryness

    Nov 4, 2013 1:45 am

    Precipitation was near normal for the month of October in Illinois, at a statewide average of 3.2 inches. The long-term average, or normal, for October is 3.26 inches of precipitation, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

  • October in Illinois had warm temperatures and plenty of rain

    Nov 2, 2021 10:45 am

    October 2021 in Illinois was the eighth warmest and the fourth wettest October on record going back to 1895, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • October in Illinois: Cool and Wet

    Nov 1, 2012 7:30 pm

    October 2012 was cooler and wetter than normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

  • October brought real fall to Illinois this year

    Nov 1, 2022 3:00 pm

    October in 2021 was warm and rainy, putting a damper on fall festivities in Illinois, but this year’s October did not disappoint fall lovers, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. Temperatures and precipitation were below average.

  • brown fallen leaves

    October broke records for both heat and cold

    Nov 1, 2019 2:15 pm

    State Climatologist Trent Fords reports that Illinois saw highly variable temperatures in October, with record-breaking heat in the early part of the month and record-breaking cold in the latter part.

  • November was cold and snowy in Illinois

    Dec 4, 2018 2:30 pm

    The statewide average temperature for November in Illinois was 35.3 degrees, which is 7.2 degrees below normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois. November 2018 was ranked the eighth coldest November on record.

  • November Snow Climatology for the Midwest

    Nov 4, 2010 12:45 am

    In the Midwest, November is typically the first month of the cold season when measureable snowfall occurs over a majority of the region, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).  However, it is not uncommon for northern portions of the Midwest to experience their first snowfall in October.

  • November puts an end to a warmer and drier fall

    Dec 4, 2023 10:15 am

    The average statewide temperature was above the 30-year average in November, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Precipitation was 2.34 inches below average, making it the eighth driest of that month on record. 

  • November in Illinois: Cool and dry with a dash of snow

    Dec 1, 2017 2:45 pm

    November in Illinois was slightly cooler and slightly drier than average, says the Illinois State Climatologist.

  • map of Illinois average temperature for November 2020

    November brings a warm end to fall

    Dec 2, 2020 9:30 am

    According to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford, November was much warmer and slightly drier than average across Illinois. The preliminary statewide average November temperature was 46.6 degrees, 4.1 degrees above the 30-year normal and tied for the ninth warmest on record. Preliminary statewide average total precipitation for November was 2.94 inches, 0.53 inches less than the 30-year normal, and the 70th driest on record.

  • November: An Interesting Month for Weather in Illinois

    Dec 7, 2011 9:00 pm

    November in Illinois was the sixth wettest November on record and the ninth warmest, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  In addition, the drought in central and western Illinois has ended due to the above average rainfall.

  • November 2013 in Illinois – Cold and Dry

    Dec 2, 2013 1:30 am

    November 2013 will always be remembered for the tornado outbreak on November 17, 2013, that produced 25 tornadoes across Illinois based on the latest reports. While not as dramatic, weather conditions for the month of November were colder and drier than average, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

  • No Surprises for March: Near Average Temperatures

    Apr 5, 2011 12:15 am

    The statewide average temperature for Illinois in March was 41.0 degrees, just 0.1 degrees below the 1971–2000 average, according to State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.isws.illinois.edu).

  • No Surprise: July was Hot and Dry in Illinois

    Aug 7, 2012 7:45 pm

    This July was the second warmest and fourth driest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

  • View of New York City from the East River.

    NOAA draws on ISWS expertise for climate model update

    Sep 11, 2020 8:00 am

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tapping the expertise of the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) to finish a multi-year collaboration updating climate model projections for its Atlas 14, which serves as the benchmark for precipitation frequency values across the United States.

  • Ninth Warmest Fall on Record for Illinois

    Dec 11, 2007 7:30 pm

    "Fall temperatures averaged 57.0 degrees, 2.9 degrees above normal and the 9th warmest fall since 1895. This was largely the result of warmer September and October temperatures that were 3.6 and 4.9 degrees above normal, respectively. Statewide temperatures in November averaged 41.6 degrees, only 0.1 degree below normal," says State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

  • New Online Map Tracks Freezing Temperatures

    May 18, 2011 12:45 am

    The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) in the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, has provided a new tool for users to glean information on the occurrences of freezing temperatures to help assess the vulnerability of spring flowers and plants.

  • New online county maps highlight flood hazard areas in Illinois

    Feb 8, 2008 7:15 pm

    Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) engineers are bringing county floodplain maps into the 21st century, from two-dimensional paper products to digital illustrations using the latest geographical software and technology. The updated, online maps are easily accessible to community stakeholders for use in reducing the risk for flood damage.

  • New Nanosensor Detects Leaky Water Pipes

    Feb 26, 2010 1:45 am

    Combining the latest nanotechnology with hydraulics may yield a promising solution to the costly problem of leaking water pipes in community public water systems, according to Yu-Feng Lin, a hydrologist at the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.