Description of the environmental setting of the lower Illinois River Basin available

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has prepared a report describing the environmental setting in the lower Illinois River Basin. The environmental setting will serve as the basis for the sampling design and strategy of the water-quality assessment of the basin. The report contains historical and recent information from Federal, State, and local agencies describing the physiography, geology, soils, population, land use, climate, streamflow, habitat, ground water, water use, and aquatic biology of the basin.

The lower Illinois River Basin encompasses 18,000 square miles of central and western Illinois. The basin extends from the confluence of the Illinois and Fox Rivers near Ottawa, Ill., down to the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers at Grafton, Ill. The lower Illinois River Basin is part of the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program . The goals of the NAWQA Program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation's streams and ground water and to provide a sound scientific understanding of the natural and human factors affecting water quality.

The report is titled, "Water-Quality Assessment of the Lower Illinois River Basin: Environmental Setting," by Kelly L. Warner, published as U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4165. Copies are available for inspection at the U.S. Geological Survey, 221 N. Broadway, Urbana, Ill., and at large public and university libraries nationwide. Paper and microfiche copies can be purchased at cost from the U.S. Geological Survey-ESIC, Open-File Reports Section, Box 25286, MS 517, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO, 80225-0046 (phone number is (303) 236-7476). Orders must include check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of the Interior-U.S. Geological Survey and must specify report number 97-4165.