Illinois Waterway Research Articles

Distribution of invasive scud, Apocorophium lacustre (Vanhoffen, 1911) in the Illinois Waterway, USA: Do habitat and water quality variables influence spatial distribution and relative abundance?

Apocorophium lacustre – a species of benthic amphipod native to American and European estuaries along the North Atlantic Ocean – has rapidly expanded outside of its native range and is now established in the Illinois, Upper Mississippi, and Ohio river systems, USA. A. lacustre is considered high risk for colonization and disruption of the Laurentian Great Lakes’ benthic communities. To further our understanding of factors influencing A. lacustre distribution and its threat to the Great Lakes, zoobenthic and habitat data were collected from colonization samplers (i.e., rock bags) deployed at 370 sites along the Illinois Waterway. A. lacustre was found in the lower six pools of the Illinois Waterway and was the most abundant amphipod collected in those pools. Our results parallel other studies in that A. lacustre was not observed upstream of Dresden Island Pool, but A. lacustre was found ~11 km farther upstream of any previous records. Generalized linear mixed effects modeling indicated that parameters pertaining to food availability, water quality, and impoundment influenced A. lacustre abundance. Model averaging identified five statistically significant variables: A. lacustre abundance was negatively associated with turbidity, fluorescent dissolved organic matter, and vegetation density and positively associated with temperature and downstream distance (i.e., closer to the next downstream dam). Our findings of what factors influence A. lacustre abundance should be of broad interest to risk assessment and invasion forecasting in other regions where A. lacustre have been or may be introduced.

Reduction of large vessel traffic improves water quality and alters fish habitat-use throughout a large river

Rivers are increasingly used as superhighways for the continental-scale transportation of freight goods, but the ecological impact of large vessel traffic on river ecosystems is difficult to study. Recently, the temporary maintenance closure of lock and dam systems on the Illinois Waterway (USA) brought commercial vessel traffic to a halt along the river's length, offering a rare opportunity to study the response of the ecosystem before, during, and after an extended pause of this persistent anthropogenic disturbance. We observed improvements in main- and side-channel water quality and a redistribution of fish habitat-use during a months-long, near-complete reduction of large vessel traffic. Over 3600 water quality and 1300 fish community samples indicate that large vessel traffic reduction coincided with a 33 % reduction in turbidity as well as increased use of sampling strata near vessel navigation corridors by sound-sensitive and rheophilic fishes. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), the most abundant species in the system, also expanded their use of these ‘impact’ areas. Though inland waterway transport is an economically- and climate-friendly alternative to trucking and rail for the shipment of freight, our data suggest that intense vessel traffic may have profound physical and biological impacts across a large river. Monitoring and mitigation of ecological impacts of the ongoing expansion of inland waterway transport around the world will be critical to balancing large rivers as both useful navigation corridors and functional ecosystems.

Invasive Round goby Neogobius melanostomus distribution, relative abundance, and establishment in pools of the Illinois Waterway following 30 years of invasion

Round goby Neogobius melanostomus – a small, benthic fish native to Eurasia – was first introduced to North America in the 1980s through ballast water of cargo ships. In 1990, the Round goby was first discovered in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin and rapidly spread through all Great Lakes from 1993 to 1998. The Round goby is an aggressive, prolific, and efficient egg predator that subsequently displaced native fishes from their preferred habitats and resources in the Great Lakes, where they are well established and abundant. From Lake Michigan, Round goby moved south into the Chicago Area Waterway System in 1993 and slowly progressed down the Illinois Waterway to the Mississippi River from 2004 to 2019, where less is known about their abundance, establishment, and impact. The goal of this study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the first large river invasion by Round goby in the Mississippi River Basin by leveraging Round goby capture data from 2019 to 2022 on all pools of the Illinois Waterway. We describe their current distribution, relative abundance (i.e., catch-per-unit-effort), frequency of occurrence, and establishment (i.e., presence of young-of-year and adults) status throughout the Illinois Waterway. Results show that catch-per-unit-effort, frequency of occurrence, and the proportion of sites where multiple life stages are present are considerably higher in the upstream pools relative to more downstream pools of the Illinois Waterway. Our data support that the Round goby has established self-sustaining populations in the Chicago Area Waterway System, the upper Illinois River (i.e. Dresden Island Pool downstream through Starved Rock Pool), and a portion of the lower Illinois River (i.e. Peoria Pool downstream through Alton Pool) of the Illinois Waterway. In the lower Illinois River, Round gobies appear to only be established in Peoria Pool, with captures occurring infrequently in La Grange Pool, and no Round gobies being captured in Alton Pool.

New records of Spotted Bass, Micropterus punctulatus, within the Mississippi River Basin, Illinois.

Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus, like many sport fishes, have experienced range expansion through intentional introductions (i.e., legal stocking and illegal transfers) and migration across the United States. In Illinois, USA, native populations of Spotted Bass occur along the eastern and southern border of the state. We report new records of Spotted Bass in their non-native range of the Illinois Waterway and the Illinois portion of the Upper Mississippi River in addition to collections in their native range in the Illinois sections of the Ohio and Wabash rivers to better understand their current distribution. Continuous, collaborative efforts to track the distribution and expansion of non-native fishes are important for maintaining and establishing native and non-native fisheries management objectives and education, as non-native fishes can influence native species population distribution and dynamics.

Analysis of per capita contributions from a spatial model provides strategies for controlling spread of invasive carp

AbstractMetapopulation models may be applied to inform natural resource management to guide actions targeted at location‐specific subpopulations. Model insights frequently help to understand which subpopulations to target and highlight the importance of connections among subpopulations. For example, managers often treat aquatic invasive species populations as discrete populations due to hydrological (e.g., lakes, pools formed by dams) or jurisdictional boundaries (e.g., river segments by country or jurisdictional units such as states or provinces). However, aquatic invasive species often have high rates of dispersion and migration among heterogenous locations, which complicates traditional metapopulation models and may not conform to management boundaries. Controlling invasive species requires consideration of spatial dynamics because local management activities (e.g., harvest, movement deterrents) may have important impacts on connected subpopulations. We expand upon previous work to create a spatial linear matrix model for an aquatic invasive species, Bighead Carp, in the Illinois River, USA, to examine the per capita contributions of specific subpopulations and impacts of different management scenarios on these subpopulations. Managers currently seek to prevent Bighead Carp from invading the Great Lakes via a connection between the Illinois Waterway and Lake Michigan by allocating management actions across a series of river pools. We applied the model to highlight how spatial variation in movement rates and recruitment can affect decisions about where management activities might occur. We found that where the model suggested management actions should occur depend crucially on the specific management goal (i.e., limiting the growth rate of the metapopulation vs. limiting the growth rate of the invasion front) and the per capita recruitment rate in downstream pools. Our findings illustrate the importance of linking metapopulation dynamics to management goals for invasive species control.

Native Villages of La Salle's Illinois Country

Native Villages of La Salle's Illinois Country

Spatiotemporal Variation in the Magnitude of Reproduction by Invasive, Pelagically Spawning Carps in the Illinois Waterway

AbstractThe relationship between the magnitude of reproduction and adult density of pelagically spawning carp (PSC) species (bigheaded carp Hypophthalmichthys spp., Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus) and the influence of environmental factors on this relationship are valuable information for management and control of these highly invasive cyprinids. Six years of standardized monitoring for PSC reproduction and adult density in navigation pools of the Illinois Waterway (IWW; the Illinois River and its connection to Lake Michigan through the Des Plaines River and Chicago Area Waterway System), in conjunction with removal efforts in the upper IWW, where there is limited fish movement between pools, provided an opportunity to deepen our understanding of factors affecting the reproductive productivity of this invasive assemblage. Reproductive activity most commonly occurred in May and June, with the magnitude of reproduction in June far exceeding that occurring in other months. The highest egg counts were found within a 72‐km zone containing the hydromorphological transition between the upper and lower Illinois River, with the majority of PSC larval drift occurring below this zone in the lower Illinois River. Magnitude of reproduction increased nonlinearly with adult PSC density, declining at high adult densities. Annual egg counts were also higher in years that combined more variable spring discharge with higher accumulated degree‐days through June. The density‐dependent reproduction exhibited by PSC implies that any stock–recruitment variation observed for these species needs to be interpreted cautiously before being ascribed to environmental factors affecting survival from hatching to juvenile stages. An increased understanding of which life stages of PSC are subject to density dependence can refine projections of how these species respond to harvest and other control measures.

Environmental factors associated with silver carp presence and relative abundance near an invasion front to inform removal efforts

Management of invasive fishes has relied heavily upon understanding their spatial distributions and habitat use at fine spatial scales to guide treatments and removals. In the USA, targeted removal is used in management of bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) in the Mississippi River system to reduce invasion potential into the Laurentian Great Lakes from the upper Illinois Waterway. Our study tested factors linked to fine-scale spatial distributions of the most prevalent bigheaded carp species—silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)—in the upper Illinois River to increase effectiveness of removal efforts. Bi-monthly mobile hydroacoustic sampling was conducted from 2017 to 2018 and paired with continuous environmental data collection in the two northern-most invaded reaches of the upper Illinois River. Model selection was used to describe habitat conditions associated with silver carp presence and density. Depth was the most consistent predictor of silver carp presence and density, with shallower depths consistently associated with higher abundance. During summer months, shallow areas in large backwater habitats with lower temperature and higher dissolved oxygen concentration held more silver carp. These results may help managers focus targeted removal efforts through time, increase harvest effectiveness, and reduce the potential for further invasion toward the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Evaluating the potential role of bioactive chemicals on the distribution of invasive Asian carp upstream and downstream from river mile 278 in the Illinois waterway

Two non-native carp species have invaded the Illinois Waterway and are a threat to Great Lakes ecosystems. Poor water quality in the upper Illinois Waterway may be a factor contributing to the stalling of the carp population front near river mile 278. In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey collected 4 sets of water samples from two sites upstream and 4 sites downstream from river mile 278, and one tributary. Each sample was analyzed for up to 649 unique constituents of which 287 were detected including 96 pesticides, 62 pharmaceuticals, 39 wastewater indicator chemicals, 29 metals, 19 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 6 disinfection by-products (DBPs), 5 hormones, and 5 carboxylic acids. Potential for bioactivity was estimated by comparing chemical concentrations to aquatic life or human health criteria and to in-vitro bioactivity screening results in the U.S Environmental Protection Agency ToxCast™ database. The resulting hazard quotients and exposure-activity ratios (EARs) are toxicity indexes that can be used to rank potential bioactivity of individual chemicals and chemical mixtures. This analysis indicates that several bioactive chemicals (BCs) including: carbendazim, 2,4-D, metolachlor, terbuthylazine, and acetochlor (pesticides); 1,4-dioxane (VOC); metformin, diphenhydramine, sulfamethoxazole, tramadol, fexofenadine, and the anti-depressants (pharmaceuticals); bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol, galaxolide, 4-tert-octylphenol (wastewater indicator chemical); lead and boron (metals); and estrone (hormone) all occur in the upper Illinois Waterway at concentrations that produce elevated EARs values and may be adversely affecting carp reproduction and health. The clear differences in water quality upstream and downstream from river mile 278 with higher contaminant concentrations and potential bioactivity upstream could represent a barrier to carp range expansion.

Efficacy of increasing discharge to reduce tow-mediated fish passage across an electric dispersal barrier system in a confined channel

The Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) was built to limit the interbasin transfer of aquatic invasive species between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes Basin. Commercial barge traffic, or tows, moving downstream through the EDBS can facilitate the upstream passage of small fish through the barrier by reducing the voltage gradient of the barrier and causing localized upstream return currents. This study tested whether it is possible to prevent upstream passage of small fish across the barrier by preventing upstream return currents. Measurements of water velocity, voltage gradient, and tow speed, as well as sonar-based observations of resident fish, were made as a tow transited the EDBS moving downstream. The results indicate that upstream return currents can be prevented for typical flow conditions in the CSSC (ambient velocity = 0.15 to 0.23 m/s) when tow speeds are <0.46 m/s. Similarly, increasing the ambient velocity above typical values can prevent upstream return currents for faster tow speeds and larger tows. Additionally, preventing upstream return currents at the EDBS may reduce, but does not prevent, tow-mediated upstream fish passages because tows also cause a temporary reduction in the streamwise voltage gradient at the EDBS. These results have implications for the management of invasive bigheaded carps in the Illinois Waterway.

Using reverse-time egg transport analysis for predicting Asian carp spawning grounds in the Illinois River

Identifying spawning grounds of Asian carp is important for determining the reproductive front of invasive populations. Ichthyoplankton monitoring along the Illinois Waterway (IWW) has provided information on abundances of Asian carp eggs in the IWW's navigation pools. Post-fertilization times derived from egg development stages and water temperatures can be used to estimate spawning times of Asian carp eggs, but estimating how far these eggs have drifted requires information on river hydraulics. A Fluvial Egg Drift Simulator (FluEgg) program was designed to predict the drift of Asian carp eggs in the riverine environment with egg growth considered. This paper presents a reverse-time particle tracking (RTPT) algorithm for back-casting the spawning location of eggs from their collection site. The RTPT algorithm was implemented as a module in FluEgg. The new version of FluEgg was coupled with an unsteady hydrodynamic model of the IWW to predict the spawning locations for 530 eggs that were collected in June 2015. The results indicate that tailwater sections below the Locks and Dams (L&Ds) in each navigation pool appear to be preferred spawning locations for Silver Carp (a species of Asian carp). From the data analyzed, the most upstream spawning location for the June 2015 spawning period was in the upper Marseilles navigation pool, downstream of the Dresden Island L&D. The RTPT algorithm can efficiently estimate spawning locations for multiple egg samples.

Entrainment, retention, and transport of freely swimming fish in junction gaps between commercial barges operating on the Illinois Waterway

Abstract Large Electric Dispersal Barriers were constructed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) to prevent the transfer of invasive fish species between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes Basin while simultaneously allowing the passage of commercial barge traffic. We investigated the potential for entrainment, retention, and transport of freely swimming fish within large gaps (> 50 m3) created at junction points between barges. Modified mark and capture trials were employed to assess fish entrainment, retention, and transport by barge tows. A multi-beam sonar system enabled estimation of fish abundance within barge junction gaps. Barges were also instrumented with acoustic Doppler velocity meters to map the velocity distribution in the water surrounding the barge and in the gap formed at the junction of two barges. Results indicate that the water inside the gap can move upstream with a barge tow at speeds near the barge tow travel speed. Water within 1 m to the side of the barge junction gaps was observed to move upstream with the barge tow. Observed transverse and vertical water velocities suggest pathways by which fish may potentially be entrained into barge junction gaps. Results of mark and capture trials provide direct evidence that small fish can become entrained by barges, retained within junction gaps, and transported over distances of at least 15.5 km. Fish entrained within the barge junction gap were retained in that space as the barge tow transited through locks and the Electric Dispersal Barriers, which would be expected to impede fish movement upstream.

Runaway barges damage Marseilles Lock and Dam during 2013 flood on the Illinois River

I n the spring of 2013, the highest floodwater levels in the last 70 years were recorded on the Illinois Waterway (NOAA 2013), a 541 km (336 mi) navigation system of rivers, lakes, and canals running from Lake Michigan (Chicago, Illinois) to the mouth of the Illinois River at Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River (figure 1). River traffic, made possible by eight lock and dam structures on the waterway, was halted when the dam at Marseilles, 247 river miles above the Mississippi River, was damaged. On April 19, 2013, the currents and winds on the Marseilles pool above the dam caused seven barges to break free and crash into the Marseilles Dam. Four of the barges sank (figure 2). These barges blocked the southernmost spillway submersible tainter gates used to maintain the 2.7 m (9 ft) navigation channel and prevented gate adjustments to release excess water from the pool. Floodwaters backed up for many kilometers and flooded adjacent Illinois River bottomlands, including the town of Marseilles (figure 3). Approximately 1,500 residents were evacuated from the low-lying areas, and more than a meter (3 ft) of floodwater surrounded 200 homes and building structures and destroyed at least 24 homes. Many other…

Incorporation of Air Emissions in Dredging Method Selection

Though environmental impacts of dredging have been studied, no efforts have been applied to the evaluation of air emissions from comparable types of dredging equipment, as in this study. This study provides a procedure to include air emissions resulting from the combustion of diesel fuel during dredging operations into the dredging equipment selection decision-making process. The proposed procedure includes a limited life cycle assessment and is demonstrated for typical dredging methods and data from the Illinois Waterway as performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Ill. It was found that commonly used rules of thumb in the dredging industry hold true by indicating that mechanical bucket dredges are better suited for long transport distances and have lower air emissions and cost per cubic meter (m3) for smaller quantities of dredged material. In addition, the results show that a cutterhead pipeline dredge would be preferable for moderate and large volumes of dredged material when no additional booster pumps are required. Finally, the results indicate that production rates can be a significant factor when evaluating the air emissions from comparable dredging equipment.

Using chloride and other ions to trace sewage and road salt in the Illinois Waterway

Chloride concentrations in waterways of northern USA are increasing at alarming rates and road salt is commonly assumed to be the cause. However, there are additional sources of Cl− in metropolitan areas, such as treated wastewater (TWW) and water conditioning salts, which may be contributing to Cl− loads entering surface waters. In this study, the potential sources of Cl− and Cl− loads in the Illinois River Basin from the Chicago area to the Illinois River’s confluence with the Mississippi River were investigated using halide data in stream samples and published Cl− and river discharge data. The investigation showed that road salt runoff and TWW from the Chicago region dominate Cl− loads in the Illinois Waterway, defined as the navigable sections of the Illinois River and two major tributaries in the Chicago region. Treated wastewater discharges at a relatively constant rate throughout the year and is the primary source of Cl− and other elements such as F− and B. Chloride loads are highest in the winter and early spring as a result of road salt runoff which can increase Cl− concentrations by up to several hundred mg/L. Chloride concentrations decrease downstream in the Illinois Waterway due to dilution, but are always elevated relative to tributaries downriver from Chicago. The TWW component is especially noticeable downstream under low discharge conditions during summer and early autumn when surface drainage is at a minimum and agricultural drain tiles are not flowing. Increases in population, urban and residential areas, and roadways in the Chicago area have caused an increase in the flux of Cl− from both road salt and TWW. Chloride concentrations have been increasing in the Illinois Waterway since around 1960 at a rate of about 1 mg/L/a. The increase is largest in the winter months due to road salt runoff. Shallow groundwater Cl− concentrations are also increasing, potentially producing higher base flow concentrations. Projected increases in population and urbanization over the next several decades suggest that the trend of increasing Cl− concentrations and loads will continue. Given the susceptibility of aquatic ecosystems to increasing Cl− concentrations, especially short-term spikes following snow melts, deleterious effects on riverine ecosystems would be expected.

A systems-level methodology for the analysis of inland waterway infrastructure disruptions

Inland waterways are vital to the Nation’s economic strength, and to the health and welfare of the American people. This paper describes an end-to-end systems analysis methodology for inland waterways that incorporates infrastructure interdependencies and cascading impacts due to loss of a key asset. The methodology leverages available Federal, State, and private-sector data, methods, tools, expertise, and existing studies to minimize duplication and ensure broad acceptance and applicability. The approach determined potential adverse scenarios and impacts upon directly affected assets (e.g., downtime of a lock, dam, or bridge), and identified industrial sites that would be affected by the loss of normal transport capability (e.g., loss of barge transport). Origin and destination information along an inland waterway was correlated with the port and dock locations of industrial sites. Practical alternative transportation modes and routes for each affected industrial site were identified, based on existing railheads and estimated alternative mode system surge capacity. Reasonable assumptions were developed and applied where specific data were unavailable, and consequences such as additional transportation costs, costs of transportation delays, jobs losses, and economic impacts on other sectors locally and regionally were determined for unique inland waterway facilities critical to the Illinois Waterway.

Effectiveness of Piscicides for Controlling Round Gobies ( Neogobius melanostomus)

Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) were introduced to the Great Lakes presumably as a result of ballast water releases from seagoing freighters returning from European water bodies. These unwelcome fish have become established in the Great Lakes region and are expanding their range to suitable portions of other interior drainage basins including the Mississippi River traversing the central United States and the Trent-Severn waterway spanning south-central Ontario. If the invasion continues, use of chemical toxicants as a control measure may be necessary. Toxicity tests of the currently registered piscicides antimycin, rotenone, 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), and Bayluscide ® were conducted with three fish species native to the Great Lakes and round gobies collected from the Illinois Waterway. Tests indicated that round gobies are sensitive to all of the piscicides, however, the level of sensitivity is similar to that of the native fish species tested. Therefore, currently registered piscicides have limited potential to selectively remove round gobies. Bottom-release formulations of Bayluscide ® and antimycin were also evaluated as control agents for the normally bottom-dwelling round goby. Avoidance behavior tests demonstrated that the round goby did not react to the presence of either chemical. Therefore, the bottom-release formulations may have some application for the selective removal of round gobies, and may be one of the few tools presently available to fishery managers to help limit the range expansion of this invasive fish.

Expansion of Round Goby in the Illinois Waterway

Round goby Neogobius melanostomus is expanding its range within Illinois. Prior to 2004, the round goby existed primarily in the Lake Michigan waters of Illinois and was slowly moving inland via the Illinois Waterway. Two fish community monitoring programs, administered by the Illinois Natural History Survey's Illinois River Biological Station, have detected this fish species as it further expanded its range in the Waterway. Although little is known how this non-native benthic fish could threaten ecosystems in Illinois, the rate of invasion appears to be quickening.

Longitudinal Patterns of the Illinois Waterway Fish Community

ABSTRACT The Illinois Waterway can be divided into two segments—an upper region of steep gradient with a rocky substrate and narrow basin and a lower region of shallow gradient with a wide, complex floodplain. We hypothesized that fish abundance and species diversity would be much greater and community structure would differ by species relative abundance and biomass in the lower segment of the waterway given its much greater acreage, habitat availability, and habitat diversity. Patterns in fish species composition and abundance along six reaches of the Illinois Waterway were described from a 15-year (1989–2004). fish monitoring record. Fish numbers in terms of relative abundance and biomass followed expected patterns in most instances; however, overall fish abundances and forage species abundances were greater in the upper river. Longitudinal differences in species relative abundance and biomass were also detected, illustrating a distinct community change between the upper and lower river segments of the system.

Elasticity of Demand for Barged Corn Shipments on the Upper Mississippi River–Illinois Waterway

Qualitative evidence is presented to contend that the predominant response of waterway grain shippers on the Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway to increases in barge shipping costs is most likely to be modal shift. Even so, modal shift faces serious constraints, moderating its ability to substitute for barges as waterway shipping costs rise. In addition, empirically derived estimates of demand price elasticities for barge transport are offered on four reaches of the river system. The elasticities are moderately inelastic, ranging from −0.7 to −0.3.