Water Quality Monitoring

Water Quality Monitoring is an essential part of our environmental protection and restoration efforts.  Most of the information used by EPA to manage water quality is collected and/or assessed by States and Tribes. Additional water quality data and research, however, are undertaken by a variety of Federal and non-governmental organizations.

Region 5 Monitoring Activities

Volunteer Monitoring

State Monitoring in Region 5 - including general monitoring, fish advisories, and nonpoint source monitoring

Other Links

Sediment Core. Sullivan Lake, Michigan

Region 5 Monitoring Activities

• Surface Water Monitoring and Standards Meeting

• Survey of the Nation’s Waters - Regional Participation

• Region V State Bioassessment and Ambient Monitoring Programs: Initial Evaluation and Review, MBI

• Fox and DuPage Rivers Study

• Biomonitoring and Bioassessment Workgroup

• Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Projects (REMAP)

• Evaluation and Development of Large River Biological Assessment Methods and Standardized Protocols for Region 5, ORSANCO (Section 104(b)(3) Grant)
  • Final Report (PDF) (110 pp, 2791Kb) - Evaluation and Development of Large River Biological Assessment Methods and Standardized Protocols for Region V: Boat Electrofishing Methods Comparison Study

Related Topics

Local Water Topics

Volunteer Monitoring

We are all interested in whether our waters are safe for fishing, swimming, drinking, and supporting wildlife. One way to get personally involved is through Volunteer Monitoring.

All of the States in Region 5 have active volunteer monitoring programs. In many cases, the data are collected using specific quality assurance/quality control techniques that allow the states to use this valuable data in water quality assessment reports, such as the Section 305(b) reports. Below you will find links to the programs in each state, and additional information for your specific watershed can be found by using EPA’s Surf Your Watershed site.

Region 5 recognizes the important contributions being made by citizen monitors. We are
working in a number of areas to provide additional support for States and local
organizations interested in providing data on water resources. For more information on
Region 5's volunteer water monitoring activities, contact Pete Jackson (jackson.peter@epa.gov).

State Monitoring in Region 5 -

U.S. EPA Region 5 is comprised of six States -- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin --  all of which conduct water monitoring programs.  State monitoring websites can be accessed directly through the links below. Each state also developed a water monitoring strategy based on EPA's Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program guidance.

Fish Advisories -

National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Projects States in Region 5 are currently implementing a number of national nonpoint source monitoring projects. 

• 	Lake Pittsfield, IL
  	Waukegon River, IL
  	Sycamore Creek, MI
  	Otter Creek, WI
  	Whitewater River, MN

Other Links

- Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council

- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's national monitoring webpage

- EPA's Beach Program

- EPA's Monitoring and Assessment Program

- Great Lakes Monitoring (U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program office)

- Other Links