Region 5 Monitoring Activities

Survey of the Nation's Waters - Region 5 Participation

EPA and its state, tribal, federal and other partners are implementing a series of surveys of the quality of the nation’s waters. These surveys will periodically generate statistically-valid and environmentally relevant reports on the condition of the nation’s water resources.

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

The purpose of this report is to provide an initial assessment of the current status of the monitoring and assessment programs in the Region V states and initiate a process to determine what is needed to improve the capacity and quality of those programs. This review specifically emphasizes biological assessment as a critical linchpin to the success of state monitoring and assessment programs. Specifically, the report focuses on the use of biological assessments to support the integrated assessment of status and trends, reporting, and other primary water quality management programs (WQS, planning, TMDLs, permitting) for aquatic life uses.

Report Contents (all files are PDF)

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• Region V Report
• Appendix A: Region V State Monitoring & Assessment Program Overview
• Appendix B: Important Concepts and Elements of an Adequate State Watershed Monitoring
  and Assessment Program
• Appendix C: Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program

Research on the Effects of Dams and Dam Removal on Water Quality - Fox and DuPage Rivers

Awareness of the impact of dams on water quality and aquatic communities has increased over the past several years. Dams act as barriers to fish migration and recreational activities such as canoeing. Removing or retrofitting dams can improve fish habitat and other recreational opportunities. Despite the benefits of removing dams, the potential for environmental degradation exists if contaminated sediments accumulate behind the dam and are released during removal. Our understanding of how to deal with dams is not complete and research is needed to fill the gaps.

The Water Division (WD) is partnering with Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the Conservation Foundation, Illinois EPA and Illinois DNR to study the environmental effects of dams and the implications of dam removal on the Fox and DuPage Rivers. In particular, WD staff will collect sediment and water quality samples while other partners will examine fish, biological communities, and land use. Additionally, this project integrates a number of other issues including the watershed approach; Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) development; and monitoring and quality assurance procedures in the Region. 

Region 5 WQ
Water Quality Monitoring
Subtopics

Water Quality Monitoring

Other Local Water Topics

Biomonitoring and Bioassessment Consistency Workgroup 

A healthy aquatic community is made up of a diverse population of fish, insects, algae, plants, and other organisms. The Biomonitoring and Bioassessment Consistency Workgroup was established in 1998 to address concerns raised by State Water Directors and EPA managers on the way state-generated monitoring data was being utilized in regional and national reports. Reports such as 305(b) and the data contained within that report are used not only to compare States to each other but also as a source for allocating future monitoring funds. The issue for the States was the relevance of compiled reports which use 305(b) information and the comparability of 305(b) reports between States and over time.

Each Region 5 State collects information on the biological condition of streams using indicators such as macroinvertebrates, fish and habitat; and uses that data to determine whether designated uses are being met. Although each State collects similar information, the methods for collecting data vary and no two States in Region 5 conduct biological monitoring in exactly the same way. In addition each State has set up a different monitoring strategy and analyzes and compiles data differently. 

The goals of the Region 5 consistency workgroup are to identify inconsistencies with current monitoring and reporting strategies, develop a Regional baseline of minimum sampling requirements, identify research needs, assist the states with the development of a more comprehensive biological monitoring program to address the requirements in 305(b) and 303(d), and provide technical assistance in the field.

Upon completion of the major tasks of the workgroup, we expect to have data for the national reporting requirements of 305(b) and 303(d) that are comparable at the regional level and useful for conducting trend analysis. We do expect to continue our efforts working with the States beyond the baseline consistency to update and refine biological sampling as new information and technologies become available.

Current Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Projects

• Northern Lakes and Forests
• Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
• Wisconsin Stream Monitoring and Assessment
• A Biological Assessment of the Large Rivers of the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River Basins in Region 5 (19p, 264KB)

List of all Region 5 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Projects