LKSI Presentation on Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed Water Quality

Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed Water Quality Update: 2005 to 2015

The public is invited to attend a presentation by Janet Buchanan of HeartLands Conservancy on a water quality assessment of the Lower Kaskaskia River watershed, at a meeting hosted by the Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc. (LKSI). LKSI is a non-profit organization that works for the future protection, use, and preservation of the Lower Kaskaskia River Basin.

In 2006 and 2007, a comprehensive water quality assessment was conducted for the Kaskaskia River watershed by Dr. Karl Williard (SIU-Carbondale) in partnership with HeartLands Conservancy (formerly Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development). The findings of this analysis were shared in a series of presentations throughout the watershed, alongside descriptions of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address the pollution issues identified.

Ten years on, Dr. Williard is conducting an update to this water quality assessment with support from the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP) and the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). Pollutants assessed include nitrogen, phosphorus, turbidity, and fecal coliform. Comparisons to the previous assessment revealed the changes in quality trends have improved, declined, or remained the same at 14 monitoring gauges in the watershed. Appropriate BMPs have been identified which can address the levels of pollutants of concern in the Lower Kaskaskia watershed. These findings are being shared at meetings for local audiences in the Upper and Lower Kaskaskia watersheds.

This event will be held on July 27 at St. Pancratius Church Hall in Fayetteville, located at 2213 N 2nd St, Mascoutah, IL 62258. The meeting begins at 12 noon, with lunch ($8.00) served beforehand at 11:30 a.m.