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Jenna Shelton sits by a river during a field research trip.

Shelton named Illinois State Water Survey director

Aug 14, 2025 4:45 pm17 views

Jenna Shelton recently joined the Prairie Research Institute as the new director of the Illinois State Water Survey. Shelton is a hydrobiogeochemist with 14 years of experience at the U.S. Geological Survey. She has a dynamic background of research and leadership, with expertise in strategic planning, machine learning, budgeting, the energy-water nexus, workforce development, stakeholder outreach, and international and Tribal Nation relations.

Heavy rain falls from storm clouds over fields.

Staying ahead of intense precipitation in Illinois

Aug 7, 2025 12:00 pm3 views

The Prairie State is no stranger to intense precipitation and consequential flooding. However, the frequency and intensity of rainfall have been increasing in recent decades, putting a renewed focus on the information, warning systems, planning and preparation needed to protect Illinois from the threat of intense rainfall.

Photo shows a stretch of highway flanked by fields with storm clouds above.

June brought summer heat, storms

Jul 16, 2025 8:45 am0 views

The heat wave in late June was extreme in both its intensity — especially nighttime temperatures — and its duration, breaking 14 daily high and 88 daily high minimum temperature records across Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

Mild May wraps up otherwise warm spring in Illinois

Jun 16, 2025 12:30 pm0 views

Despite milder May temperatures, the spring season was still a top 10 warmest on record in many places in the Midwest, including in St. Louis, Peoria, and Paducah, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

Water survey to analyze flood risk in McHenry County

Jun 3, 2025 3:45 pm0 views

The Illinois State Water Survey is continuing data development for the Kishwaukee River watershed as part of a multiple-phase study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning.

Water survey to analyze flood risks in Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Jasper, Lawrence counties

May 23, 2025 3:00 pm0 views

The Illinois State Water Survey is continuing data development for the Embarras River watershed as part of a multiple-phase study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning.

Meet Gustava Curtin, graduate research assistant

Feb 24, 2025 7:00 am7 views

Meet Sarah Manderbach, water safety researcher

Oct 29, 2024 8:00 am7 views

Meet Jake Vile, undergraduate researcher

Jul 29, 2024 10:30 am5 views

Atticus Zavelle, 2024 Distinguished Research Specialist/Technician Award recipient

Jun 7, 2024 8:30 am10 views

Atticus Zavelle, senior scientific specialist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Research Specialist/Technician Award by the Prairie Research Institute.

Walton R. Kelly, 2024 Research Scientist Career Achievement Award recipient

Jun 6, 2024 8:30 am14 views

Walton R. Kelly is the recipient of the Prairie Research Institute’s 2024 Research Scientist Career Achievement Award, which recognizes the achievements of a PRI scientist whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact over the course of their career.

Water Survey to analyze flood risks in Clinton, Fayette, Shelby, and Washington counties, Illinois

Mar 29, 2024 11:30 am5 views

PRI team part of NSF’s program focused on equitable water solutions

Mar 19, 2024 4:30 pm6 views

Coming soon: new hotline, website, and maps on private wells

Feb 7, 2024 9:15 am5 views

ISWS wins Salt Symposium Chloride Reduction Leadership award

Aug 30, 2023 11:15 am6 views

The annual Salt Symposium Chloride Reduction Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations who are leading the way in chloride reduction. This year, the Illinois State Water Survey’s (ISWS) groundwater science section which includes Walt Kelly, Daniel Abrams, Devin Mannix, and Cecilia Cullen, was one of six recipients of this award.

Illinois soils have cooled in mid-August

Aug 21, 2023 3:00 pm20 views

A change in weather has cooled soils across Illinois in mid-August, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

July brought sweetcorn…and floods, drought, heat, smoke, and tornadoes

Aug 3, 2023 4:15 pm5 views

In one month, Illinoisans experienced severe heat, lingering drought and flash floods, strong storms, and poor air quality. This was not your typical July, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey.

Students take on watershed project in summer internship

Jul 24, 2023 3:00 pm6 views

College students in a summer internship program at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) are developing new skills in geographic information system (GIS) learning while tackling ways to map Illinois streamflow more accurately to inform soil conservation efforts. This on-the-job training will better prepare students for future studies and their careers.

Momcilo Markus named Head of the Watershed Science Section

Jun 21, 2023 3:15 pm6 views

Database reveals locations of sinkholes, crevices, and mines in Jo Daviess County

May 18, 2023 9:45 am2 views

Remembering Dr. Misganaw "Mike" Demissie 1949 - 2023

May 1, 2023 12:15 pm5 views

Laura Keefer named Deputy Director of the Water Survey

Apr 18, 2023 12:45 pm4 views

Backyard weather observers contribute to science

Apr 4, 2023 9:15 am4 views

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

Jan 23, 2023 3:30 pm6 views

2022 research report highlights Water Survey work

Sep 2, 2022 5:00 pm82 views

The Water Survey's annual research report highlights the work of our scientists in key areas, including public health, community resiliency, surface and groundwater, climate and atmospheric science, and the nexus of water and sustainable energy. Download the Water Survey's 2021 Research Report

Leaves turn at Volo Bog Nature Preserve in the fall. Photo credit: Bill Batalden

Groundwater experts help industries and nature preserves thrive

Jul 7, 2022 8:00 am7 views

complex Hydraulic Flow Patterns of Cache River

Data from the sky inform flood planning

Jun 21, 2022 8:00 am5 views

ISWS-Waterly partnership digitizes groundwater data

Jun 15, 2022 4:00 pm5 views

Bondville weather station has a long history of research partnerships

May 3, 2022 1:30 pm6 views

Groundwater hydrologist Steve Wilson receives PRI, U of I recognition awards

Apr 6, 2022 8:15 am8 views

Steven Wilson is one of six recipients of the Chancellor's Academic Professional Excellence award for 2022. The CAPE award was established to recognize academic professionals for their work, personal and professional contributions.

Wilson assists people nationally who get their drinking water from private wells. His programs also serve as a resource for water and wastewater system operators in small towns and on tribal lands. His work includes applied scientific research, outreach and education of the general public and government officials.

dried plants sticking up through a covering of snow on a field

Winter soil conditions and an insect pest forecast for Illinois

Mar 14, 2022 9:00 am4 views

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.

tall buildings in downtown Chicago in the foreground, with Lake Michigan in the background

National Science Foundation funds project to improve weather forecasts for cities

Feb 23, 2022 8:30 am6 views

Scientists at the Illinois State Water Survey have begun a new project that will ultimately improve weather forecasting of severe storms and heatwaves in cities across the United States. In the three-year project with a budget of over $850,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF), ISWS will focus on improving weather forecasts for the Chicago, New York, and Denver metro areas using observations from space and from the ground combined with numerical model development. The goal is to study the chemistry, atmosphere, and human adaptive choices that influence storms and heatwaves over cities.

a black girl sits on a window ledge drinking water from a glass, while a black woman stands opposite her drinking water from a glass

Study seeks private well users for research into lead levels

Jan 24, 2022 9:15 am101 views

The Water Survey, with collaborators from the University of Illinois and county health departments, is continuing a study into measurable lead levels in homes with private wells in rural areas and is now recruiting participants from Champaign and Whiteside counties and the neighboring counties of Ogle, Lee, Bureau, Henry, and Rock Island. If you live in one of these counties, use a private well, and are interested in participating, please contact waterlead@illinois.edu for more information.

Scientist-community interaction is a boon for water supply planning

Jan 13, 2022 11:45 am3 views

How can cities help accelerate climate action to meet COP26 goals?

Nov 18, 2021 8:30 am4 views

irrigation system watering young plants in a field

Time for Illinoisans to report irrigation water use

Sep 30, 2021 2:30 pm6 views

PRI projects and data boost agricultural producers’ productivity

Sep 9, 2021 9:45 am6 views

Water Survey simulation matches Aug. 12 Gibson City flood

Aug 24, 2021 2:00 pm35 views

A model simulation produced by the Illinois State Water Survey shows the progression of the flood in Gibson City from the morning to the evening of Aug. 12, 2021.

Sampling sewer water for COVID-19 in the community

Aug 9, 2021 10:15 am13 views

Illinois State Water Survey researchers are part of a project to look for traces of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in sewer water in order to help monitor the spread of infection.

2021 research report highlights Water Survey work in key strategic areas

Jul 27, 2021 5:00 pm54 views

The Water Survey's annual research report highlights the work of our scientists in key areas, including public health, community resiliency, surface and groundwater, climate and atmospheric science, and the nexus of water and sustainable energy. Download the Water Survey's 2021 Research Report

Integrating surface water and groundwater modeling

Jul 27, 2021 2:30 pm8 views

Understanding water’s role in decarbonization

Jul 27, 2021 2:30 pm7 views

Increasing opportunities through hazard mitigation

Jul 27, 2021 2:15 pm11 views

Climate studies focus on a new priority: urban areas

Jul 15, 2021 1:30 pm14 views

Climatologist: Vegetation plays a role in developing flash droughts

Apr 22, 2021 2:00 pm8 views

Water Survey helps Cook County manage stormwater

Apr 5, 2021 9:30 am5 views

Experts from the Illinois State Water Survey have been working since 2015 with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), supporting MWRD in making informed watershed management decisions for its vast service area that includes 128 suburban communities in Cook County.

Improved pest degree day calculators are available for the 2021 growing season

Feb 5, 2021 8:00 am5 views

Meet the Health and Environmental Applications Lab team

Jan 11, 2021 4:00 pm6 views

The Water Survey’s Health and Environmental Applications Laboratory (HEAL) provides chemical analysis services to support better understanding of our water resources. HEAL supports state institutions, communities, and people in Illinois and beyond.

Illinois Water Inventory Program

Nov 2, 2020 9:45 am5 views

Scientists investigating present and future water resources in Illinois find a wealth of data through the Illinois Water Inventory Program. For more than 40 years, the state-sponsored program has collected data from users of high-capacity intakes and wells in Illinois rated to pump more than 70 gallons per minute.

physical model in which vertical rods extend from a map to show groundwater level changes in the Joliet, Illinois, area

Advances in Display and Analysis of Groundwater Data

Sep 17, 2020 11:45 am30 views

The Water Survey has been a leader in groundwater science since its inception in 1895. Water Survey staff have developed innovative ways to analyze and visualize data, from painstakingly soldered flow models using electricity, to digital flow models like the widely used Prickett-Lonnquist Aquifer Simulation Model (PLASM), to more recent interactive maps and a new approach to developing potentiometric surfaces using MODFLOW. Learn more about the past, present, and future of the Water Survey's groundwater data innovation in this StoryMap.

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