The Illinois State Water Survey studies water, weather, climate, and environmental conditions that affect people, communities, and natural resources across Illinois.
Agriculture
ISWS tracks weather, soil conditions, pests, nutrient runoff, and sediment movement to guide farming decisions and minimize impacts on water resources.
See where farming decisions and water resources meet in Agriculture.
Air Chemistry & Quality
ISWS monitors air quality, precipitation chemistry, and weather conditions to study their effects on the environment, public health, and agriculture.
Air Chemistry & Quality gives a closer view of the atmospheric research behind the air that Illinois communities breathe.
Climate & Weather
ISWS studies weather hazards, long-term climate patterns, and changing land and atmospheric conditions to help Illinois prepare for floods, droughts, heat, severe storms, and other risks.
Explore the forces behind Illinois weather hazards and a changing climate in Climate & Weather.
Drought
ISWS monitors drought conditions and studies their effect on agriculture, water resources, trees, and communities to help improve drought tracking and inform responses to rapidly developing dry conditions.
Drought follows the science used to spot dry conditions early and understand their effects.
Flood Risk
ISWS collaborates with communities to identify flood hazards, assess risks, update flood data, and prepare for future scenarios.
See how data and local knowledge can lead to better preparation for Flood Risk.
Water Quality & Safety
ISWS studies nutrient runoff, road salt, sediment, bacteria, heavy metals and minerals, and emerging contaminants in surface water and groundwater to help communities and decision-makers understand water quality concerns across Illinois.
Water Quality & Safety brings the science behind Illinois water quality concerns into focus.
Water-Energy Nexus
ISWS examines how water and energy systems affect one another, including the water needs of power generation and carbon capture, to assess how climate change and future demand may affect water and energy supplies.
See where water needs, power generation, and future demand meet in Water-Energy Nexus.
Water Supply Planning
ISWS collaborates with local stakeholders to better understand water availability, projected demand, groundwater, streamflows, and community water concerns, helping communities see clearer options for fulfilling future water needs.
Water Supply Planning looks beyond today’s demand to the water choices communities grapple with in the future.
Water Resource Systems
ISWS collects long-term data and builds models to study the links between surface water, groundwater, sediment, nutrients, and water quality to track changes in aquifers and watersheds and inform water planning across Illinois.
Follow the data from aquifers to rivers and watersheds with Water Resource Systems.