Final Report: Your Water Your Future – A Residential Household Survey To Assess Our Water Future

The continued expansion in residential growth in McLean County impacts water quality and quantity in many ways, including raising concerns about the availability of water for the future. Yet, much of the current research on non-point source pollution continues to focus on agricultural producers as the primary source, with very… Continue reading

Water Your Opinions: A Social Assessment of the Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen Watersheds

The Mclean County Soil and Water Conservation District, in collaboration with Illinois State University, has received funding from the Illinois EPA to conduct a watershed social assessment, with an emphasis on the Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen Watersheds.  Water supply and water quality are critically important issues for both human… Continue reading

Illinois Vermillion River Watershed Rapid Watershed Assessment Report

This assessment report provides information about the Vermillion Watershed and where conservation efforts are most needed in order to help local landowners and community officials. Information about annual precipitation, drainage, hydric soils, quaternary deposits, aquifers, nitrates, and ground conversation is included in this report.   Illinois Vermillion River Watershed Rapid Watershed… Continue reading

Sangamon River/ Lake Decatur Watershed TMDL Report

Water quality standards are laws or regulations that states authorize to enhance water quality and protect public health and welfare. Water quality standards provide the foundation for accomplishing two of the principal goals of the CWA. These goals are: Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the… Continue reading

Interim Bloomington Water Supply Plan

The water supply challenges of the City of Bloomington, Illinois (City) are typical of many communities. The Water Department must address both short-term issues related to surface-water quality deterioration and interim-term needs for additional sources of supply. The City is working to alleviate two areas of concern: high nitrate levels… Continue reading

Lake Bloomington Watershed Plan

This is a management plan working to improve the water quality and stop pollution and chemicals from entering Lake Bloomington. It provides studies done testing the levels of chemical pollutants, sources of pollution, effects on wildlife, and possible solutions to these detrimental issues.  

Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Land

The five ecological principles deal with time, species, place, disturbance ,and the landscape. These principles dictate several guidelines for land use. These guidelines suggest that land managers should examine impacts of local decisions in a regional context, plan for long-term change and unexpected events, preserve rare landscape elements and associated… Continue reading

Lake Bloomington Executive Summary

This is a management plan that talks about protecting Lake Bloomington. It provides goals as well as implementation and monitoring plans that should help improve the quality of the water. The plan is specifically formulated to reduce phosphorous, nitrates, and sedimentation within the lake. Lake Bloomington Executive Summary

The Hydrogeological Effects of Variable Land Use along Wolf Creek in the Mackinaw River Watershed

This is a thesis looking at the Wolf Creek subwatershed. Tests were run and data was collected to determine chemical contents in the water and sources of runoff and pollution. It discusses the significance of the pollution and the effects it is having on the local water quality. The Hydrogeological… Continue reading

Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality

The purpose of this article is to review the current state of wetland science as it pertains to impacts from urbanization, and to explore the possible management implications for local natural resource managers and land use planners who are the principal audience for this article. It is always difficult to… Continue reading