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Water Survey

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  • Warm and dry, but enjoyable, October

    Nov 5, 2024 3:30 pm

    Most of last month was somewhat to extremely dry across Illinois, marking the state’s 10th driest October on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Fall begins with warm September in Illinois

    Oct 4, 2024 11:30 am

    The first three weeks of September were extremely dry across much of the Midwest, with the remnants of Hurricane Helene providing drought relief for parts of Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Hydrogeologist speaks at a conference.

    PRI shares water sustainability research with Illinois municipal leaders

    Sep 25, 2024 3:15 pm

    Municipal officials from across the state attended a panel session on water sustainability hosted by the Prairie Research Institute and Champaign County community leaders last week.

  • August caps off a mild summer

    Sep 5, 2024 8:00 am

    The final month of summer had mild temperatures, except for an intense heat wave in the final few days of the month, wrapping up a mild season overall, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Another very weather-active July in the books

    Aug 7, 2024 11:15 am

    After a drier than normal June, Hurricane Beryl and an active, stormy July resulted in statewide precipitation of 7.01 inches, 2.95 inches above the 1991-2020 average and the third wettest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Lake Michigan coast

    PRI research targets coastal resilience and water planning challenges

    Jul 29, 2024 8:00 am

    PRI scientists are investigating how artificial reef complexes can stabilize shorelines and developing strategies to address water sustainability challenges and future water planning. These efforts aim to provide critical insights that will inform decision-making and improve environmental management in the southern Lake Michigan region.

  • flooded intersection in Nashville, Illinois

    PRI's CHAMP program simulates floods to aid the Nashville, Illinois community

    Jul 27, 2024 9:45 am

    On July 16, Nashville, Illinois, experienced a severe weather event with 5 to 7 inches of rainfall in eight hours. This deluge caused the Nashville City Reservoir to overflow, resulting in impassable roads and the evacuation of around 200 homes. The PRI Coordinated Hazard Assessment and Mapping Program (CHAMP) used flood simulations to help the community understand the impact and improve preparedness for such events.

  • Warm, active June kicks off summer

    Jun 28, 2024 1:30 pm

    In June, Illinois largely avoided serious drought conditions seen this time last year, thanks to abundant — sometimes surplus — precipitation in April and May. However, stretches of hot and dry weather have begun to quickly deplete soil moisture and drop stream levels in much of central and south-central Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Warm May wraps up very mild spring

    Jun 10, 2024 1:00 pm

    This spring was the fourth warmest start to any year on record in Illinois, and the summer has a high chance of above normal temperatures, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Soils are warm throughout Illinois in mid-April

    Apr 16, 2024 3:45 pm

    Warm weather has continued into April, impacting soil temperatures, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • eclipse

    Water Survey program to monitor weather effects of the solar eclipse

    Apr 3, 2024 8:45 am

    As the solar eclipse brings a spectacular show in the sky on April 8, viewers can also follow its path online as the Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program at the Illinois State Water Survey offers real-time monitoring of changing weather conditions during the event. 

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

    Mar 27, 2024 1:00 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is collecting data within the Upper, Middle, and Lower Kaskaskia River watersheds as part of a multiple-phase hydrologic and hydraulic study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. 

  • University of Illinois-Washington University team part of NSF’s program focused on equitable water solutions

    Mar 19, 2024 4:15 pm

    The National Science Foundation recently announced the awarding of 15 grants, totaling $9.8 million, to interdisciplinary teams under Track K: Equitable Water Solutions, focused on research to benefit society at large. The University of Illinois team, working with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, received $650,000 for a one-year effort to further develop their idea of passive sampling of water quality at the tap.

  • Higher soil temperatures this winter foretell potential crop pest problems

    Mar 5, 2024 3:15 pm

    Winter 2023-24 has been warm throughout Illinois, creating conditions ripe for insects to overwinter, according to scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois.  

  • Another Mild February Ends Another Weak Winter in Illinois

    Mar 5, 2024 9:45 am

    Preliminary findings showed that February 2024 was the 3rd warmest and 4th driest on record back to the 1800s in Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.  

  • A wet and wild January finally brings winter to Illinois

    Feb 6, 2024 9:15 am

    Mild weather carried over from December into January in Illinois, when frigid temperatures and winter storms hit mid-month. Rain and snowfall in January took a big bite out of drought in the state, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.  January precipitation tied for the eighth wettest January on record.

  • Cultivating Innovation: The Intersection of Geography, Climate, and Agricultural Research in Illinois

    Jan 31, 2024 8:45 am

    Since its inception in 2008, the Prairie Research Institute has conducted long-term monitoring of Illinois’ water, soil, and climate. These data, including growing and pest degree days, soil temperature and moisture, water table levels, and in-stream sediment, are used every day by thousands of Illinoisans and by the state’s agriculture, renewable energy, and construction industries.

  • December average temperature in top three for Illinois

    Jan 3, 2024 9:30 am

    Preliminary reports showed that December 2023 was the third warmest December on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • 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. 

  • well water

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

    Nov 27, 2023 11:15 am

    A new hotline, website, and other resources will soon be available through the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) for private well and septic system owners and the water professionals that serve them. 

  • A warming climate is evident in new winter plant hardiness map

    Nov 16, 2023 2:00 pm

    Changes in the new 2023 US Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness map are strong evidence of global warming.

  • A mild October had a chilly end

    Nov 2, 2023 11:30 am

    Most of October in Illinois had above average temperatures, until a weather shift in the last few days of the month brought a shockingly cold Halloween and even snow in some areas, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. 

  • Illinois soils are cooling in the first half of October

    Oct 18, 2023 9:30 am

    Soil temperatures have fallen 10 to 20 degrees so far in October, which is normal for this time of year.

  • Illinois drought impacts continue into the fall

    Sep 14, 2023 2:30 pm

    Drought intensified again in Illinois at the end of the growing season, increasing the risk of fire and blowing dust as harvest approaches. River levels have also dropped near or below low stage, leading to navigation concerns.

  • Illinois soils are cooler and drier in mid-September

    Sep 14, 2023 2:15 pm

    Cooler weather in the past week has led to lower soil temperatures throughout the state in mid-September.


  • August wrapped up a mild and drier summer in Illinois

    Sep 1, 2023 2:45 pm

    The heatwave in late August was intense, but the average temperature and rainfall for the month were nearly normal based on long-term records, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Likewise, the summer season temperature was within 1 degree of normal with slightly drier conditions. 

  • Road salt

    ISWS wins Salt Symposium Chloride Reduction Leadership award

    Aug 30, 2023 10:00 am

    Starting in the late 1990s, the ISWS began assessing groundwater quality data in the Chicago region to determine how chloride concentrations might be increasing with time due to road deicing applications. It turns out almost all water resources in the region are being impacted. Because of these efforts and increased awareness, various counties and municipalities in the region now practice sensible salting, including pre-application of brines and training of operators. 

  • soils in cornfield

    Illinois soils have cooled in mid-August

    Aug 17, 2023 9:15 am

    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 1:45 pm

    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 12:45 pm

    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.

  • Soil moisture has improved in Illinois

    Jul 19, 2023 9:30 am

    Illinois has received 3.41 inches of rain in the first half of July, 1.6 inches more than in the entire month of June, and leading to higher soil moisture across the state. 

  • Journal issue highlights the Water Survey’s past and present accomplishments

    Jul 17, 2023 2:30 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey’s (ISWS) research and history highlights are featured in the June issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), showcasing the importance of the survey’s latest studies related to water issues, particularly in addressing today’s challenges, and commemorating its 125th anniversary. 

  • Water Survey to analyze flood risks in DeKalb County, Illinois

    Jul 6, 2023 8:00 am

    Illinois State Water Survey hydrologic and hydraulic modeling in DeKalb County, Illinois, is underway as part of a study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. The first phase of the project, data collection, is anticipated to begin in July 2023 and be completed in early fall 2023. In this phase, surveyors will conduct detailed channel and bridge surveys of streams in or near the community of Sycamore.

  • A dry June prolonged Illinois’ drought

    Jul 3, 2023 8:15 am

    Dry weather from April to June has caused the most serious drought in Illinois since 2012, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. In June, crop conditions worsened, and the air quality at the end of the month was the worst the state has seen in years.

  • momcilo markus

    Momcilo Markus named Head of the Watershed Science Section

    Jun 21, 2023 3:15 pm

    Markus specializes in hydrological forecasting and artificial neural networks. His work on the effects of climate change and urbanization on water resources, statistical evaluation of streamflow and water quality networks, stochastic modeling for load estimation, data mining, and hydrologic flood frequency analyses has contributed to the development of the National Weather Service River Forecast System.

  • Illinois drought and soil moisture conditions worsen in mid-June

    Jun 15, 2023 10:00 am

    Northeastern and central Illinois are now experiencing severe drought, as dry conditions persist across the state in the second week of June, causing soil moisture levels to drop and record-low water levels in some areas of the Illinois River. Also, corn and soybeans in parts of southwestern, central, and northeastern Illinois are showing signs of slow growth, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford and Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Drought takes hold after a warm and dry May

    Jun 6, 2023 8:30 am

    The typical May showers were largely absent for most of Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Most of the state ended the month between 1 and 4 inches drier than normal, with drought conditions affecting soil moisture and streamflow. 

  • Increased risk of drought conditions in Illinois

    May 23, 2023 8:00 am

    Weather conditions have been dry in the past four to six weeks in parts of northeastern, western, and central Illinois. Forecasts for the next 7 to 10 days show very dry weather and above normal temperatures, which will likely worsen already dry conditions in the state and potentially cause rapid-onset drought conditions in some areas.

  • Jo Daviess County alfalfa crop pattern in 2012

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

    May 18, 2023 8:45 am

    A new database compiling information from a decade of Prairie Research Institute (PRI) studies on the unique geology and hydrology of Jo Daviess County is designed to help residents and officials understand the karst features of the land where they live and to better protect their water supply from surface contamination.

  • Illinois April temperatures were a roller coaster of highs and lows

    May 2, 2023 10:15 am

    April gave Illinoisans a taste of summer in the first half of the month, only to revert to winter-like conditions in the last week of the month. Overall, average temperatures were slightly above normal in April and precipitation was nearly 1.5 inches below normal with a record-setting dry week, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • 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.

  • Illinois soil temperatures are cooler than normal in mid-April

    Apr 20, 2023 2:00 pm

    Cooler weather in mid-April has caused Illinois soil temperatures to fall.

  • Laura Keefer

    Laura Keefer named Deputy Director of the Water Survey

    Apr 19, 2023 12:00 pm

    Keefer has more than 37 years of experience in multi-scale watershed monitoring and assessments of hydrology, nutrients and sediment for many Illinois watersheds, as well as studying erosion and sedimentation processes related to stream channel stability issues. In addition to her role as Deputy Director, Keefer serves as the Illinois State Hydrologist, providing science-based information on watersheds, rivers, groundwater, and other state water resources and leverages the expertise of PRI staff on statewide water issues, such as flooding and contamination. Laura has represented the Water Survey as an advisor on dozens of committees ranging from watershed planning to state and federal interagency task forces to resolve hydrologic, sediment, and nutrient watershed issues. 

  • 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.

  • March started the spring season with rain and storms

    Apr 4, 2023 9:30 am

    In his blog, State Climatologist Trent Ford describes the March weather conditions in Illinois.

  • CoCoRaHS logo

    Backyard weather observers contribute to science

    Mar 29, 2023 10:45 am

    Whether you enjoy watching the weather or hope for more accurate local forecasts, reading a rain gauge in your own backyard as a volunteer to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow (CoCoRaHS) network can make a big contribution to spot-on forecasts and studies of precipitation and climate, according to Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Illinois’ mild winter might benefit insect pests this spring

    Mar 9, 2023 2:45 pm

    Above normal air temperatures this winter kept Illinois average soil temperatures higher than usual. These mild conditions are favorable for insect pests that overwinter in Illinois, but many other factors will affect insect populations for the upcoming growing season, according to scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a part of the University of Illinois.

  • Mild February wraps up a weak winter

    Mar 2, 2023 4:45 pm

    February in Illinois was particularly mild, ending a winter season that was 2 to 6 degrees above normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. February also brought wetter weather to the state.

  • Warmer January temperatures nearly broke records

    Feb 1, 2023 5:00 pm

    Illinois temperatures were above normal in January, preliminarily ranking the month as the sixth warmest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Water Survey to analyze flood risks in eight east-central and southeastern Illinois counties

    Jan 27, 2023 11:45 am

    Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) crews are starting to collect data within the Embarras River watershed as part of a multiple-phase hydrologic and hydraulic study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. Results from the new study will be used to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), which typically depict the 1 percent and 0.2 percent annual-chance floodplains.