GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STREAMBED SEDIMENT IN THE UPPER ILLINOIS RWER BASIN¹

Abstract

Geochemistry of fine-fraction streambed sediments collected from the upper illinois River basin was surveyed in the fall of 1987 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment pilot projects. The survey included 567 samples analyzed for 46 elements. Three distinctive distribution patterns were found for seven U.S. Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutants surveyed, as well as for boron and phosphorus: (1) enrichment of elements in the Chicago urban area and in streams draining the urban area relative to rural areas, (2) enrichment in main stems relative to tributaries, and (3) enrichment in low-order streams at high-population-density sites relative to low-population-density sites. Significant differences in background concentrations, as measured by samples from low-order streams, were observed among five subbasins in the study area. Uncertain geochemical correspondence between low-order, background Bites and high-order, generally metal enriched sites prevented determination of background levels that would be appropriate for highorder sites. The within-sample ratio of enriched elements was variable within the Chicago area but was constant in the illinois River downstream from Chicago. Element ratios imply a composite fine-fraction sediment in the Illinois River of 35-40 percent Des Plames River origin and 60-65 percent Kankakee River origin. (KEY TERMS: trace metals; streambed sediment; rivers; sediment geochemistry; sediment transport; trace-metal enrichment; tracemetal background.)

Sediment quality and quantity issues related to the restoration of backwater lakes along the Illinois River waterway

“…This is particularly true for the section of the waterway below Peoria (river mile 160). Profiles of other trace metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Ni, As) show similar geographical patterns, as has also been noted in more detailed studies of surficial sediments nearer Chicago (Colman and Sanzolone, 1992).…”

URBANIZATION INFLUENCES ON AQUATIC COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS STREAMS1

“…Streambed sediment may be contaminated from historical landuse practices and point sources and may be another source of contaminants to the water column. Sediments from urban streams in the upper Illinois River Basin and in the nation tend to be enriched in antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, phosphorus, silver, and zinc compared to rural streams (Mathis, 1976;Colman and Sanzolone, 1992;Fitzpatrick et al, 1998;Rice, 1999). Rooftops, parking lots, and streets can be nonpoint sources of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc (Steuer et al, 1997).…”

Physical, chemical, and biological responses to urbanization in the Fox and Des Plaines River basins of northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin

“…Fitzpatrick and others (1995), summarizing USGS and other historical data in the UIRB, found that sediment concentrations of chromium, copper, mercury and zinc were enriched in urban streams relative to agricultural streams, and concentrations of many trace elements decreased in the Illinois River with increasing distance from the Chicago metropolitan area. Rice (1999), Mathis and Cummins (1973), and Colman and Sanzolone (1992) also found relations between urban land use, or a surrogate, and sediment trace-element concentrations.…”