TY - GEN
T1 - Hydrology and hydraulics of the Illinois River
AU - Demissie, Misganaw
AU - Knapp, Vern
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - The Illinois River, one of the major tributaries to the Mississippi River in the Central United States, has a drainage area of 75,156 square kilometers (28,906 square miles) that covers portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Except for about a 10,360 square kilometers (4,000 square miles) area in Indiana and Wisconsin, the Illinois River watershed is located within the state of Illinois. As a result of repeated leveling by glaciers, most of the Illinois River watershed is flat and covered with fine loess soil, making it one of the best agricultural regions in North America. More than 80 percent of the Illinois River basin is presently used for agricultural purposes. Most of the significant rivers in the state such as the DesPlaines, Fox, Kankakee, DuPage, Vermillion, Mackinaw, Spoon, Sangamon, and LaMoine Rivers all drain into the Illinois River. Because of its strategic location in the state and because it is downward of the Chicago metropolitan area, the Illinois River has experienced significant changes over the years. Most of the changes are related to commercial navigation, municipal and industrial waste discharges, and agricultural practices in the watershed. These changes have resulted in various degrees of environmental and ecological degradation along the river. With this realization, major efforts are underway to "restore" some of the ecological functions of the river. One of the most important factors will be the management of the hydrology and hydraulics of the river so that it promotes and sustains ecological restoration while maintaining the economical functions of the river. Restoration of the Illinois River will require proper understanding of the natural factors and how human-induced changes that control the hydrology of the watershed and the hydraulics of the river over time. This paper summarizes the historical changes that have affected the hydrology and hydraulics of the Illinois River basin and evaluate their influence on restoration efforts in the future. Copyright ASCE 2004.
AB - The Illinois River, one of the major tributaries to the Mississippi River in the Central United States, has a drainage area of 75,156 square kilometers (28,906 square miles) that covers portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Except for about a 10,360 square kilometers (4,000 square miles) area in Indiana and Wisconsin, the Illinois River watershed is located within the state of Illinois. As a result of repeated leveling by glaciers, most of the Illinois River watershed is flat and covered with fine loess soil, making it one of the best agricultural regions in North America. More than 80 percent of the Illinois River basin is presently used for agricultural purposes. Most of the significant rivers in the state such as the DesPlaines, Fox, Kankakee, DuPage, Vermillion, Mackinaw, Spoon, Sangamon, and LaMoine Rivers all drain into the Illinois River. Because of its strategic location in the state and because it is downward of the Chicago metropolitan area, the Illinois River has experienced significant changes over the years. Most of the changes are related to commercial navigation, municipal and industrial waste discharges, and agricultural practices in the watershed. These changes have resulted in various degrees of environmental and ecological degradation along the river. With this realization, major efforts are underway to "restore" some of the ecological functions of the river. One of the most important factors will be the management of the hydrology and hydraulics of the river so that it promotes and sustains ecological restoration while maintaining the economical functions of the river. Restoration of the Illinois River will require proper understanding of the natural factors and how human-induced changes that control the hydrology of the watershed and the hydraulics of the river over time. This paper summarizes the historical changes that have affected the hydrology and hydraulics of the Illinois River basin and evaluate their influence on restoration efforts in the future. Copyright ASCE 2004.
KW - Fluvial hydraulics
KW - Human factors
KW - Hydrology
KW - Illinois
KW - Restoration
KW - Rivers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=74949085970&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=74949085970&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/40517(2000)102
DO - 10.1061/40517(2000)102
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:74949085970
SN - 0784405174
SN - 9780784405178
T3 - Joint Conference on Water Resource Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management 2000: Building Partnerships
BT - Joint Conference on Water Resource Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management 2000
T2 - Joint Conference on Water Resource Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management 2000
Y2 - 30 July 2000 through 2 August 2000
ER -