File photo |
By Shannon Burns
This summer brought a new partnership for the River Prairie Group’s Water Sentinel Program.
For over a decade, volunteers for the River Prairie
Group (RPG) have been monitoring water quality in three rivers within DuPage
County: Salt Creek and the east/west branches of the DuPage River.
Starting in May, 2019, three lakes within the Forest
Preserve District of DuPage County have been added to the monitoring program:
Pratt’s Wayne Woods, Wood Dale Grove, and Hidden Lake. Lake water will be tested six
times during the year, using the same criteria as that used for testing river
water. Currently, samples are
analyzed for phosphorus, chloride, ammonia, and nitrates. Sample analysis is
based on Illinois's statewide general use water-quality standards.
“We’re excited about this partnership with the River
Prairie Group’s Water Sentinel Program,” said Dan Grigas, fisheries ecologist
for the District. “This program allows the District to begin a data
base at a small sample of our lakes, using the same equipment and testing
techniques established by the Sierra Club’s existing program.”
Regular water-quality monitoring has many uses,
including establishing a historical record to help with identifying long-term
trends in seasonal and yearly water variations. Monitoring these variations
will help the District plan for fish and wildlife needs.
This all-volunteer effort, one
of the oldest and broadest programs of its type, is seeking additional water collectors for the lake water testing program.
Collecting water takes place on the first Saturday of each month and takes
about one hour to complete. Contact Shannon Burns for more information or to
volunteer: 630-779-4893 or Shannonburns112@aol.com.
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