RECE WED

CLERK’S OF~~iCE

BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

AUG

2 2004

STATE OF lLLh’!O~S

IN THE MATTER OF:

)

Pollution Contro’ board

)

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO

)

R 04-25

DISSOLVED OXYGEN STANDARD

)

35 Iii. Adm. Code 3 02.206

)

NOTICE OF FILING

TO:

See

Attached Service List

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that on

Monday, August 2, 2004,

we filed the attached

Written Testimony of Dr. James E. Garvey Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

with the Illinois Pollution Control Board, a

copy ofwhich is herewith served upon you.

Respectfully submitted,

By:

_______

One ofIts Attorn~

Roy M. Harsch

Sheila H. Deely

GARDNER CARTON & DOUGLAS LLP

191 N. Wacker Drive

—

Suite 3700

Chicago, IL 60606

THIS FILING IS SUBMITTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

---

RECE~JVED

BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

CLERK’S

OFr-1CE

IN THE MATTER OF:

)

)

STATE

AUG

OF

22004

~LL~~s

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO

)

R 04-25

PoUut~on

Controi

~.,

~i

DISSOLVED OXYGEN STANDARD

)

35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.206

)

WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF DR. JAMES E. GARVEY

FISHERIES AND ILLINOIS AQUACULTURE CENTER

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS

Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Illinois Pollution Control

Board during this second hearing in Springfield, Illinois. As I noted in the first hearing

before the Board, I am an Assistant Professor in the Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture

Center and Department of Zoology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. My

research interests revolve around fish and aquatic ecology in lakes and streams. The

Illinois Association ofWastewaterAgencies asked Dr. Matt Whiles and me to assess the

current Illinois state dissolved oxygen standard which requires that at no time shall

concentrations decline below

5

mgIL and for at least 16 hours each day they must remain

above 6 mg/L. In our report, we concluded that this standard is unrealistic formost

streams in the state, because oxygen concentrations fluctuate both seasonally and daily,

often declining below the state standards. These conclusions were based largely on

published studies summarizing research conducted outside ofIllinois in addition to my

unpublished data in tributaries of the Ohio River, which were discussed during the first

hearing.

Proposed Recommendations

To make the state general use standard more realistic, Dr. Whiles and I

recommended that during March 1 through June 30 when early life stages of sensitive

---

species are present, a minimum identical to the current Illinois standard of

5

mg!L and a

seven-day mean of6 mg/L should be adopted. During warmer, productive months and

the remainder ofthe year when species with sensitive early life stages have largely

completed reproduction, we recommended a minimum of

3.5

mg/L and a seven-day

mean minimum of4 mg/L. It is important to emphasize that we included running means

to avoid chronically low dissolved oxygen concentrations. For the proposed standard to

be supported, minima must not be violated, ensuring that concentrations never approach

critically lethal limits.

Analysis ofIllinois Stream Data

In response to questions about fluctuations ofoxygen in Illinois surface waters, I

an~ilyzedthe applicability ofboth the current state standard and the proposed standard to

eight Illinois streams, in which dissolved oxygen and temperature were intensively

monitored. My analysis is attached as Exhibit 1. I was made aware ofthese data during

a meeting with the US EPA on June 18, 2004. It is my understanding that the United

States Geological Survey (USGS) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)

began collecting these data to address concerns about the applicability of the current state

standard to streams in the state. I requested these data from Paul Terrio, a hydrologist

with USGS, shortly following the first hearing. I also reviewed oxygen and temperature

data in other reports for streams in Illinois. I have summarized my analysis ofthese data

in a recent report submitted to the Illinois Association ofWastewaterAgencies and

submitted as exhibit

##.

Paul Terrio (USGS), Robert Mosher (IEPA), and Matt Whiles

(Southern Illinois University) have provided comments on this report that I have

incorporated into the final draft. These long-term data are unprecedented. I am aware of

2

---

no other similarly comprehensive data set for streams ofthe Midwestern United States.

We now have access to robust data that will allow us to ground truth the proposed

dissolved oxygen standards.

The eight, intensively studied stream reaches were North Fork Vermilion River

near Bismarck, Middle Fork Vermilion River near Oakwood, Vermilion River near

Danville, Lusk Creek near Eddyville, Mazon River near Coal City, Rayse Creek near

Waltonville, Salt Creek near Western Springs, and Illinois River near Valley City.

During late summer 2001 through fall 2003, semi-continuous dissolved oxygen and

temperature data were collected by IEPA and USGS. The stream segments varied widely

in physical characteristics, surrounding land use, and latitude. Five ofthe eight stream

segments are currently considered impaired and included on the most recent 303-d list

compiled by IEPA. The nature of impairment varies from nutrient enrichment in Rayse

Creek to mercury and PCB contamination in the Illinois River.

Dissolved Oxygen Patterns in Illinois Streams

The results from this analysis uphold the conclusions ofthe Garvey and Whiles

report. As expected, dissolved oxygen concentrations declined in all streams during

summer, with diurnal fluctuations varying among them. All eight streams violated the

Illinois state standard, although violations occurred as infrequently as 1 of days and as

frequently as

65

ofdays. Among the unlisted, unimpaired stream segments, oxygen

dynamics varied widely, with Lusk Creek, a functioning stream in a forested watershed,

regularly violating the Illinois standard of

5

mg/L during 22 of days. In two ofthe

impaired, 303-d listed streams, the Illinois standard was violated frequently, with

concentrations often declining below 2 mg!L, which is regarded to be lethal for many

3

---

aquatic organisms. However, in other listed streams, dissolved oxygen concentrations

were typically greater thanthe

5

mg/L minimum.

We might expect that nutrient enrichment is the primary factor affecting dissolved

oxygen dynamics. Streams with greater nutrient loading should have lower oxygen.

However, Salt Creek, an impaired stream with low biotic integrity and high nutrient

enrichment, had higher average dissolved oxygen concentrations than the Mazon River,

which was only listed forPCB and pathogen contamination. Nutrient enrichment must

interact with other factors such as stream physical habitat to affect oxygen dynamics.

Application ofthe Proposed Standard

Adoption ofthe proposed standard greatly reduced the number ofviolations in

unimpaired streams such as Lusk Creek while still capturing violations in impaired

str~.~ams.In fact, the proposed standard increased the frequency ofviolations in two of

the severely oxygen-impaired streams and identified the time period when oxygen

problems occurred. It may be tempting to regard Lusk Creek as an intermediate between

a functioning and an impaired system and suggest that its frequent violations ofthe

current state standard are a warning signal. However, this is quite far from the truth.

This stream segment is in the Lusk Creek Wilderness area ofthe Shawnee National

Forest and is considered to be in a pristine state, with a highly regarded, intact, and

diverse fish and macroinvertebrate assemblage. A concern ofthe Board during the first

hearing was that minimum oxygen concentrations of

3.5

mg/L which occurred during

summer in Lusk Creek would negatively affect summer-spawned, early life stages of

resident species. It is quite clear, given the robust assemblage in this system that natural,

summer declines in dissolved oxygen concentration below the state mandated

5

mgIL and

4

---

occasionally reaching 3.5 mg!L did not negatively affect fishes reproducing during this

time. Lusk Creek demonstrates that the seasonally appropriate proposed standard

protects both spring and summer reproducing species.

Temperature Effects

Dissolved oxygen concentrations were quantified in a pooled area ofLusk Creek

as recommended in the implementation guidelines ofthe Garvey and Whiles report. It is

in this area that we would expect to encounter the most conservative dissolved oxygen

concentrations. In contrast, the Middle Fork ofthe Vermilion River, in which oxygen

concentrations were consistently the highest, had a logger located about 100 m below a

riffle area, where we would expect oxygenated water to be abundant. Although it may be

argued that Lusk Creek is a southern Illinois stream and warm temperatures may be

responsible for declines in oxygen during summer, dissolved oxygen concentrations were

lowest at intermediate summer temperatures, indicating that it is not the seasonal maxima

ofstreams that reduce oxygen concentrations. Further, I found no substantive differences

in temperature among streams across the north-south gradient in the state. These data

effectively show that the proposed standard effectively captures oxygen dynamics that

occur in natural, fully functioning Illinois streams such as Lusk Creek. A revised general

use dissolved oxygen standard in Illinois such as that proposed by Garvey and Whiles is

needed.

Habitat Modification

Some investigators have argued that artificially pooling streams or rivers by

building dams will reduce oxygen and therefore negatively affect resident species.

Recent reports in the Fox and DuPage Rivers have shown that pooled areas ofstreams

5

---

violate the current standard more than open reaches and that fish composition differs

between them. The problem with implicating violations ofthe current dissolved oxygen

standard as responsible for altering or degrading species composition in pooled reaches is

that the habitat ofthe river changes as well as the oxygen dynamics. In short, flow

declines, sedimentation increases, and more fish that rely on accumulation oforganic

matter and open water will prosper. Oxygen declines because ofthe increased

biochemical oxygen demand ofthe sediment and increased retention time ofthe water.

As long as oxygen concentrations remain above the proposed standard in pools, species

adapted to pool conditions will be abundant while flow-dwelling species will be rare or

absent. Of course, if oxygen concentrations decline below the proposed standards, even

species adapted to pooled conditions will cease to persist. Garvey and Whiles

recommend monitoring pooled areas ofnatural streams, because oftheir lower expected

oxygen concentration.

The eight intensively monitored streams provide more insight into the problem of

teasing apart changes among habitat, oxygen, and other water quality parameters. Across

the streams, no relationship existed between biotic integrity scores and oxygen minima as

estimated by frequency ofviolations ofeither the current or proposed standards.

Typically, integrity scores are closely related to measures ofhabitat quality, which

include factors such as a stream’s substrate, habitat diversity, and riparian vegetation.

Habitat quality fosters the diversity of organisms by providing food, shelter, and

reproductive areas. As such, it appears that habitat rather than oxygen primarily

influences species composition. Reduced oxygen concentrations and increased diurnal

fluctuations are a secondary effect ofhabitat degradation or modification.

6

---

Comparison between Oxygen and Ammonia Standards

The most conservative ammonia standards for the state are designed to protect

early life stages of all fish species for the duration ofspawning, which may extend

through October. In the first hearing, I was asked whythe most conservative proposed

oxygen standard extended only through June, while the conservative ammonia standard is

extended through the entire reproductive cycle offishes. Dynamics of total ammonia and

oxygen differ in streams. The total concentration ofammonia in streams typically

depends on discharge and does not vary naturally on a seasonal basis. Further, the

toxicity oftotal ammonia increases with increasing temperature during summer,

necessitating stringent standards for all early life stages offish, particularly those that are

produced during summer. Conversely, the data summarized in my report clearly show

that oxygen concentrations in the pooled area ofa natural, functioning stream do decline

well below the current standard during summer but not below the proposed, seasonally

appropriate one. As I noted earlier, because the community in such a stream is intact,

summer-spawning fish species must reproduce successfully during this time,

demonstrating that the proposed standard better reflects natural fluctuations in this system

while protecting resident fishes.

Review by Gary Chapman, Author ofthe National Criteria Document

To determine whether the seasonal standard was consistent with the United States

Environmental Protection Agency’s 1986 National Criteria Document, I solicited a

review from its author, Gary Chapman, following the first hearing. He had provided a

review to the Water Quality Section ofthe Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries

Society on June 28, 2004 and forwarded this review to me. To summarize, he felt that

7

---

the timing ofseasonal standards depended on a working knowledge ofthe fish

community in the state and should be “left to the experts”. His largest concern was the

omission ofa 30-day running average of 5.5 mg!L in the proposed standards. Although I

still think that such a standard is generated over such a large time scale that it is generally

biologically meaningless, it maybe worth considering as part of the proposed standards

given his expert opinion. His other comments were relatively minor, revolving around

the interpretation ofrecent findings in dissolved oxygen research. He supported our

implementation recommendations and thought that they should be adopted. Regarding

protection offish during summer, he commented: “I have seen no data over the past 20

years that would indicate that the 3 mg!L minimum would not be adequately protective

against lethal effects”.

Chemical Interactions with Oxygen

In the first hearing, I was asked about the potential effects of low dissolved

oxygen concentrations on water chemistry in streams and lakes. To the best ofmy

knowledge, reduction—oxidation chemical reactions are unaffected by oxygen

concentrations until they decline far below the proposed 3.5 mg!L minimum.

Conclusions

In summary, much more is known about fluctuations in oxygen and temperature

in streams in the state ofIllinois than during the first hearing. Results ofthe new analysis

confirm the conclusions ofthe Garvey and Whiles report for other aquatic systems.

Semi-continuous measurements in pristine, forested Lusk Creek were quantified in the

appropriate location and provide a useful baseline by which general expectations for

dissolved oxygen concentrations can be generated. Although the proposed standards may

8

---

be generally applied across the state, either regional standards or a stream classification

system should be adopted to better reflect use expectations. Such a system will need to

incorporate biotic integrity, habitat quality, and water quality goals rather than focusing

solely on dissolved oxygen expectations. Given the data from the eight Illinois streams

and other systems in the state, the likelihood that the current dissolved oxygen standard

will not apply to many ofthese systems and produce false violations is confirmed.

Adopting the proposed standard and standardized monitoring outlined in the Garvey and

Whiles report will not only reduce the probability ofdetecting a false violation in

functioning streams but it will provide robust, long-term water quality data sets for

improving management ofsurface waters in the state.

.9

---

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing

Notice of Filing

and

Written

Testimony of Dr. James E. Garvey Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center Southern

Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

was filed by hand delivery with the Clerk of the

Illinois Pollution Control Board and served upon the parties to whom said Notice is directed by

first class mail, postage prepaid, by depositing in the U.S. Mail at 191 N. Wacker Drive,

Chicago, Illinois on Monday, August 2, 2004.

CHOI/ 12378267.1

---

Service List

R2004-025

Fred L. Hubbard

415 North Gilbert Street

Danville, IL 61834-0012

Alex Messina

Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group

3150 Roland Avenue

Springfield, IL 62703

Bernard Sawyer

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

6001 W. Pershing Rd.

Cicero, IL 60650-4112

Charles W. Wesselhoft

Ross & Hardies

150 North Michigan Avenue

Suite 2500

Chicago, IL 60601-7567

Claire A. Manning

Posegate & Denes, P.C.

111 N. Sixth Street

Springfield, IL 62705

.

Connie L. Tonsor

EPA

1021 North Grand Avenue

P.O. Box 19276

Springfield, IL 62794-9276

Deborah J. Williams

IEPA

1021 North Grand Avenue

P.O. Box 19276

Springfield, IL 62794-9276

Dennis L. Duffield

City ofJoliet, Department ofPublic Works and

Utilities

921 B. Washington Street

Joliet, IL 60431

Dorothy M. Gunn

Illinois Pollution Control Boark

100 W. Randolph St.

Suite 11-500

Chicago, IL 60601

Brika K. Powers

Barnes & Thornburg

1 N. Wacker

Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60606

Frederick D. Keady

Vermilion Coal

1979 Johns Drive

Glenview, IL 60025

James L. Daugherty

Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District

700 West End Avenue

Chicago Heights, IL 60411

James T. Harrington

Ross & Hardies

150 North Michigan Avenue

Suite 2500

Chicago, IL 6060 1-7567

Joel J. Sternstein

Office ofthe Attorney General

188 West Randolph

20th Floor

Chicago, IL 60601

---

Service List

R2004-025

John Donahue

Jonathan Furr

City ofGeneva

Illinois Department ofNatural Resources

22 South First Street

One Natural Resources Way

Geneva, IL.60134-2203

Springfield, IL 62702-1271.

Ketherine P. Hodge

Hodge Dwyer Zeman

3150 Roland Avenue

P.O. Box 5776

Springfield, IL 62705-5776

Larry Cox

Downers Grove Sanitary District

2710 Curtiss Street

Downers Grove, IL

60515

Lisa Frede

Chemical Industry Council ofIllinois

2250 E. Devon Avenue

Suite 239

Des Plaines, IL 60018-4509

Margaret Hedinger

2601 South Fifth Street

Springfield, IL 62703

Matthew J. Dunn

Office ofthe Attorney General

188 West Randolph

20th Floor

Chicago, IL 60601

Michael G. Rosenberg, Esq.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

100 East Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Mike Callahan

Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation

District

P0 Box 3307

Bloomington, IL 6 1702-3307

Richard Lanyon

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

100 East Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Richard McGill

Illinois Pollution Control Board

100 W. Randolph St.

Suite 11-500

.

Chicago, IL 60601

Sanjay K. Sofat

IEPA

1021 North Grand Avenue East

P.O.Box 19276

Springfield, IL 62794-9276

Stephanie N. Diers

IEPA

1021 North Grand Avenue East

P.O. Box 19276

Springfield, IL 62794-9276

Sue Schultz

Illinois American Water Company

300 North Water Works Drive

P.O. Box 24040

Belleville, IL 62223 -9040

---

Service List

R2004-025

Susan M. Franzetti

10 South LaSalle Street

Suite 3600

Chicago, IL 60603

Tom Muth

Fox Metro Water Reclamation District

682 State Route 31

Oswego, IL 60543

Vicky McKinley

W.C. Blanton

Evanston Environment Board

Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP

23 Grey Avenue

2300 Main Street

S

Evanston, IL 60202

Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64108

CHO2/ 22319597.1

---

m

---

1

Long term dynamicsofoxygen

and

temperature in Illinois

streams

James E. Garvey

Fisheries

and

Department ofZoology

Prepared for Illinois Association ofWastewater Agencies

July

2004

---

Introduction

Garvey

and

Whiles (2004) concluded

that

the current Illinois dissolved oxygen

standard

is unrealistic, because naturally fluctuating dissolved oxygen concentrations in surface

waters ofthe state should occasionally or frequently decline below the

critical

minimum.

Specifically, the Illinois general

use standard

requires that dissolved oxygen

concentrations within surface waters ofthe state never decline below

5

mgfL and

remain

above 6

mgfL

atleast 16 hours each day. Although the Garvey

and

Whiles (2004)report

cited published

studies

showing

that

dissolved oxygen is heterogeneous within

aquatic

systems and

that concentrations in

natural

systems often decline below

5

mgIL

during

summer, little

stream data within

illinois were available to support

this

conclusion. Since

that report

was

completed, a continuous monitoring data set has become available

(Paul

Terrio, United States Geological Survey

and

Robert Mosher, Illinois Environmental

Protection Agency, unpublished data) in which dissolved oxygen concentrations

and

temperatures were quantified semi-continuously in eight

stream

reaches during a two-

year period. These

streams

were distributed both along a north-south gradient

and a

gradient ofland-use (i.e.,

urban,

agriculture,

and

forest).

Quality

of

streams was also

considered in the selection ofmonitoring sites,

with

the streams varying from fully

functioning

to

impaired, with

some included on the 2004, IL-EPA 303d list.

I

obtained

these data

and analyzed

themrelative to the current IL dissolved oxygen

standard and

the standards proposed in Garvey and Whiles (2004). Following the

National Criteria Document (Chapman 1986), Garvey

and Whiles

(2004) recommended:

---

3

• A minimum of5.0

mgfL

spring

through

early summer (i.e., March 1

throughJune

30)

• A

7-d

mean of6.0

mgfL spring through early summer

(i.e., March 1

through June

30)

• A

minimum

of3.5

mg(L

the remainder oftheyear (i.e., July 1

through

28 or 29)

• A 7-d

mean minimum of4.0

mg(L

the remainder ofthe year (i.e., July 1

through

February 28 or 29)

In

this

report, I evaluate how the current

and

proposed standards characterize

streams in

the state relative to season,

stream quality and

geographic location. Oxygen

and

temperature dynamics

are

interpretedin light ofthe extant biotic communities

and

Study Sites

North Fork Vermilion River near Bismarek, IL.

This east-central illinois stream

reach

(IL-EPA, BPG-09) averages 20-rn wide at base flow

and

is 0.3- to 1-rn deep atthe

location ofthe logger. Total surface water for

this stream

is 1.14 km2. The drainage for

this stream

reach is primarily

agricultural. Substrate

is gravel riffle

with

vegetation

occurring in the channel during summer. Annual mean

stream

flow is 8.8 m3/s.

This

stream was

303-d listed as a high

priority

for

impairment

by pathogens.

---

4

Middle Fork VermilionRiver near Oakwood, IL.

This

east-central,

“wild and

scenic

river” stream

site (IL-EPA, BPK-07) is about 30-rn wide,

with

5.4

kin2 surface area at

normal

flows. The loggerwas placed at an area 1-rn deep near a rock riffle on the outside

of a

gradual

bend. Some

growth

of

aquatic

vegetation

occurs in

the

riffle

during late

m3/s.

Vermilion River near Danville, IL.

This stream

site (IL-EPA, BP-08) in east-central

Illinois is located in an area

with

about 91

agricultural and

4

urban

land-use.

This

stream

has a gravel

and

sand substrate

and

is about 50-rn wide atbase flow. Surface area

of

this stream

is 24.3 km2. Depth at logger location

was

2-3 meters at base flow. Annual

mean

stream

flow is 28.9 m3/s.

Lusk Creek near Eddyville, IL. Located in the

southeastern

-

Illinois Shawnee National

Forestand

draining

the Lusk Creek Wilderness area,

this

0.22-kin2, meandering

stream

(IL-EPA, AK-02) has a bed composed ofsand, gravel, cobble,

and

bedrock. The site was

located in a pool ofabout 2-rn deep

and

10-rn across. Land use is 76

forested

and

about 18

agricultural.

Woody debris

and vegetation occur

in the channel; surface flow

betweenthe pool

and

the channel

can

become disconnected. Annual

mean stream

1.7 m3/s.

---

5

Mazon River near Coal City. IL.

This 17-km2

north-central Illinois river (IL-EPA, DV-

04) is listed as impaired for PCBs

and

pathogens. Agriculture dominates the land-use

(94),

with urban

being the next most abundant class (4).

Stream

width averages at

50 m,

with

vegetation growing in the channel and on the rock

and

gravel

riffle

at the site.

Annual

mean stream

flow is 9.9 m3/s.

S

Rayse Creek near Waltonville.. IL. Although

this

southern-illinois

stream

(IL-EPA, NK-

01) resides in a predominantly

agricultural

watershed, about 17 ofthe

surrounding

land

is forested. The

stream

site is a slow moving and turbid pool,

with

a flashy hydrograph

and

much debris. The stream will dry during periods oflow precipitation. The reach is

about 6-rn wide

and

1 m deep, although these measurements

vary

widely

with

stream

flow.

This 0.62-km2 stream

is a

tributary

ofthe Big Muddy which is impounded

downstream to form Rend Lake.

Annual

mean stream flow is

2.5

m3/s. It is 303-d listed

with

impairment.

Salt Creek near Western

Springs,

IL.

This

is the

northernmost stream

(IL-EPA, GL-09)

located primarily in the urban (80

ofland use) Chicago area. Surface area is about 7

km2

and width

averages 23 meters. The site

has apartial riffle with

heavy aquatic

growth

occurring during summer. Annual mean stream flowis 3.8 m3/s.

This stream segment

also is 303-d

impaired, with

nutrients, salinity, and pathogens as causes.

---

6

illinois River near Valley City. IL.

This

large segment (1,003 km2 surface area; IL-EPA,

D-32) in east-central Illinois averages at 200-rn wide. Location of logger

was

about 8-rn

deep. Annual mean

stream

flow is 643.5 m3/s. Surrounding land

use

is about 77

agriculture

with

the remainder

being

approximately

half forested and halfurban. This

segment is also 303-d listed for metal

and

PCB contamination.

Data Collection

and Analysis

Data collection

was

a joint effort betweenthe USGS and JEPA. At each

stream

site,

temperature

and

dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/L) were quantified every 30-

minutes

during late summer 2001

through

fall 2003. Monitors were typically mounted in

areas

where theyremained continually submerged, including bridge piers. Depth of

loggers ensured

that

they were 3-5 centimeters below the point ofzero flow in the

streams. At routine or high flow, probes were likely at

50

depth.

For each stream, I calculated daily averages and daily

minima.

For the Illinois standard, I

determined the hours within each

day

that dissolved oxygen concentration

was

less

than

5

mgfLand6rng/L.

For the proposed

standard

(Garvey and Whiles 2004), a minimum dissolved oxygen

concentration was defined as the lowest allowable concentration during any given day. A

7-day mean

was

derived by generating daily averages and then determining a

running

---

7

average across 7

days. Maximum

water concentrations

that

exceeded air saturation were

corrected (i.e., decreased) to air saturation values. Seven-day mean

minima

were

calculated by generating a

running

mean of

daily

minima across 7 days.

Within the proposed

standard,

seasons reflecttimes whenmost early life stages of

warmwater fishes (i.e., eggs, embryos,

and larvae,

typically 30-d post spawning)

are

either present

(March

through June) or absent (July

through

February) in illinois waters.

We hypothesized

that

warmwater species

that

spawn later during summer should have

adaptations for

naturally

occurring reductions in dissolved oxygen ccncentrations

expected to occur during

warm

concentrations declined during summer near the proposed minimum, we should still

expect the

stream

to be unimpaired (i.e., unlisted)

with

a robust biota. Those that

frequently declined below the minima would likely show impairment

and

Results

As expected, dissolved oxygen concentrations declined in

all

streams during summer,

with

each segment violating the current Illinois

standard

as infrequently as 2

and as

frequently as

65

ofthe days across the two-year period. These

patterns

delineated by latitude, stream quality, or stream size.

---

8

North Fork Vermilion River near Bismarck. IL. Although 303-d listed,

this stream

segment declined below 5

mg/L

only 1 ofdays

(Figure

1; Table 1).

This stream

only

violated the

rule

of

declining

below 6

mgfL

no more than 8-h each

day

only2 ofdays

as well

(Figure

1; Table 1,2). With the proposed standard, the violations ofthe spring

and summer critical minima

and 7-d

means

declined to near zero (Table 1).

Middle Fork Vermilion River near

Oakwood, IL. This full

attainment

stream

site below a

riffle area had

the consistently

highest

dissolved oxygen concentrations ofthe eight

segments (Figure 2). It still violated the illinois

standards

on greater

than

1 of days

(Table 1).

Vermilion River near Danville, IL. Although

unlisted, this stream

site violated the

Illinois

standard

on6

and

7 ofdays for the

5

and 6 mgfL

rules, respectively

(Figure

3;

Table 1,2). Adoption ofthe proposed

standard

reduced the frequency ofviolations

(Table 1). However, violations

still

occurred during the summer months

—

particularly

the 7-d mean minimum of4

mgJL

when

this rule was

violated 9 ofthe time (Table 1).

This

suggests that dissolved oxygen concentrations in

this

during summer, requiring some restoration efforts.

Lusk Creek near Eddyville. IL.

This

heterogeneous

stream residing in a predominantly

S

forested watershed

very

frequently (22 and 32 ofdays) violated the

current state

standard (Figure

4; Table 1,2). Adoption ofthe proposed

standard

greatly reduced the

---

9

frequency ofviolations during spring months; however, the

7-d

mean minimum of4

mgIL

was violated 3 ofdays (Table 1). The

critical minimum

during summer of3.5

mg/L was

violated 1 ofdates (Table 1). However, the minimum dissolved oxygen

concentration typically declined by 0.5

mgfL

below

this

threshold (Figure 4).

Mazon River near Coal City, IL.

This

303-d listed stream frequently experienced very

low dissolved oxygen concentrations during summer

(Figure

5), violating both the

illinois

standard and

the proposed

standard

(Table 1,2). The

higher

frequency of

violations ofthe proposed summer standards suggests

that

summer eutrophication is a

problem in

this stream

(Table 1).

Rayse Creek near Waltonville. IL.

This impaired stream

violated the Illinois

standard

and the proposed standard most frequently (Figure 6; Table 1,2). The proposed 7-d

mean minimum of4

mg/L was

in factmore sensitive than the Illinois

standard

to

violations in

this

system (Table 1). Spring dissolved oxygen concentrations were

chronically below 6

mg/L

and often declined below the proposed spring minimum of

5

mg/L

(Table 1; Figure 6). Dissolved oxygen concentrations often declined to

chronically

low levels (2 mg/i) during summer through fall (Figure 6).

Salt Creek near Western Springs. IL.

This

303-d listed stream violated the illinois

standards

of

5

mg/L and 6 mg/L

on 9

and

16 ofdays, respectively (Table 1,2;

Figure

7).

When

the proposed

standard was

applied, violations declined somewhat. The

---

10

majority occurred during the spring months when the

5

mg/L critical minimum was

violated 6 ofdays (Table 1).

Illinois River near Valley City. IL.

This

largest ofthe stream segments violated the

current Illinois

standard

of5

mgfL

on 11 of

days and 6 mgfL

on 21 ofdays (Table 1,

2; Figure 8). Violations declined with the proposed

standard,

although violations

continued to occur most frequently during the spring. The 7-d mean minimum of6

mg/L

was

Temperature-Dissolved Oxygen Relationships among Streams. Lusk Creek, the

southernmost

stream, was

warmest during winter months, typically remaining above

freezing (Figure

9).

During

summer months, considerable overlap in monthly average

temperatures occurred, although Salt Creek and North Fork Vermilion River had lower

average temperatures. Mazon River, another northern system,

had

consistently warmer

averages

than

its counterparts. Differences in monthly averages among

all

streams were

4°C during summer (Figure 9),

with

(the warmest) and Salt (the coolest).

Temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration were negatively related in

all streams

(Table 3). However, the

strength

ofthe relationship varied among streams,

with

temperature only explaining 33 ofthe variation in oxygen inthe Mazon River and 84

in the illinois River (Table 3). In Lusk Creek, an apparently

sound system with dissolved

oxygen concentrations that approached the proposed critical minimum of

3.5

mgfL

---

11

during summer, low oxygen occurred most frequently during intermediate (25°C),rather

than

high,

summertemperatures (Table 4).

This

refutes the assumption that the greatest

oxygen declines occur during the warmest temperatures in streams. Ratherperiods of

reduced flowcoupled withintermittently high production in the pooi of

Lusk

Creek

was

Discussion

My goal

was

to identify expected seasonal

and

diel oxygen curves for

streams in Illinois

by which we

can

set realistic standards. With

the

current illinois standard,

all streams

within the state will likely produceviolations. The frequency of

violations

ofthe current

Illinois standard does not appear to be associated

with stream

impairment. To illustrate, a

forested,

functioning

stream (i.e., Lusk Creek) violated the current

standard

far more

frequently than

two

of the listed

streams

(i.e., North Fork Vermilion

and

Salt Creek).

Theproposed standards greatlyreduced (although

did

not eliminate) the probability ofa

violation inLusk Creek, while not greatly reducing the violations in the clearly oxygen-

impaired Rayse Creek and

Mazon River.

In fact, the proposed standard increased the

frequency of

violations

forRayse Creek,

and

provided a seasonal context for interpreting

the violation. Land use

and

alteration ofthe watershed in addition to flowlikely

are

major factors influencing the oxygen dynamics inthese

streams, and

the proposed

standard

would lend

insight into

the degradation of the biota within them.

---

12

Implementation ofthe proposed oxygen standards

and

interpretation ofthe oxygen

dynamics resulting from monitoring depend greatly onthe location ofthe probes. Garvey

and Whiles

(2004) recommend placing loggers inpools at

two-thirds

depth to ensure

that

areas with

the greatest oxygen reductions are sampled. The loggers used in

this

study

were typically at

depths

50

ofthe watercolumn in areas where they could be

conveniently deployed

(Paul

Terrio, personal communication). Thus, the largely

microbial oxygen demand of

stream

bottoms

was

likely integrated into oxygen dynamics

in many ofthe deeper

stream

sites.

Although the recommendation oflogger depth

was

generally upheld,

longitudinal

location ofloggers varied among streams. For example, the

least

violations ofeither the

current or proposed oxygen standardoccurred in the Middle Fork Vermilion River, which

is a

highly

valued

stream

resource. However, the logger at

this

site

was

placed below a

riffle. High gaseous oxygen exchange withthe atmospheremay have elevated dissolved

oxygen concentrations relative to an area

with

slower, less turbulent upstreamflow.

Conversely, in

small,

intermittently flowing Lusk Creek, the logger

was

placed in a pool

with

surface flowthat becomes disconnected from the

stream. In Garvey and Whiles

(2004),

this

is considered the best location forquantifying oxygen dynamics because it

provides a clear picture ofthe “worst case” ofoxygen declines in a stream. Clearly, the

heterogeneous vertical

and

horizontal distribution ofoxygen within

stream

sites will

render standardization challenging. Further, the

dynamic

effects offactors such as flow,

geomorphology, geology, groundwater, shading, sediment, land use,

and temperature will

make interpretation ofresulting oxygen curves a daunting task.

---

13

The Garvey

and Whiles

(2004) report did not develop standards unique to cool

and warm

water assemblages inthe state. Although some temperature differences did appear to

occur across the

latitudinal

gradient inthe state, they appeared to be most pronounced

during winter when oxygen stress isunimportant rather than during summer.

During

summer, slightlywarmer conditions occurredin southern streams, particularly insmall

Lusk Creek, which has the lowest average flow. However, given

that

concentrations occurred at intermediate summer temperatures, the linkage between

oxygen stress

and

unimportant.

Rather

than linking temperature and

oxygen, understandingthe relationship between flow

and

oxygen

will likely

be more informative forpredicting effects on resident organisms.

As noted earlier

and

in Garvey and Whiles (2004), pooled

areas

ofstreams

and

rivers,

albeit

natural

or artificial, should have lower oxygen concentrations and should be

targeted formonitoring. These sites will elicit the most conservative estimate ofoxygen

dynamics in a stream

reach. Recent studies in the Fox River

and

DuPage River systems

support this,

in which oxygen concentrations were typically lower in the pooled portions

(Santucci

and

Gephard 2003; Hammer

and Linke

2003). In pooled areas, species with

adaptations to increased siltation, reduced flow,

and

increased open water

are

abundant

while flow-dwelling

species

are

rare or absent. In artificially pooled reaches, altered

habitat rather

than

reduced oxygen likely is ultimately responsible for shifts in the

community.

Aquatic life adapted to these modified, lentic environments will persist

---

14

whereas species adaptedto flowing waterwill not be present because the appropriate

flow and substrate

will

be unavailable. Of

course,

ifoxygen concentrations in pools do

not meet the proposed standards foraquatic life outlined in Garvey

and Whiles

(2004),

few organisms will be able to

persist,

regardless of

habitat

Conclusions

I have summarized the most comprehensive, long-term dissolved oxygen

and temperature

data set available in the state ofIllinois

and

perhaps for

streams

in general. It is clear

that

the proposed

standards

better capture oxygen violations in

truly

impaired streams (i.e.,

those

with

modified biota such as

Rayse

Creek) relative to fully functioning

streams

such

as Lusk Creek

with high quality

habitat

and

a diverse aquatic biotic assemblage. Ifthe

frequent violations ofthe illinois standard were biologically meaningful, then Lusk Creek

would have a greatlyreduced or modified assemblage and would be listed as impaired.

This

is not the case

and

the frequent declines in dissolved oxygen concentration

approaching the proposed summer minimum within the poolsof

this

system during

summer do not compromise spawning fishes or other organisms. As noted in G~rvey

and

Whiles

(2004), those species reproducing during summer clearly have adaptations for

natural fluctuations in oxygen that occur during

this time

ofyear. Although it may be

argued

that the southern Lusk Creek is much warmer

and thus

may have a warm-water

assemblage adapted to naturally low oxygen, the apparently

minor

(4°C average)

differences in

stream temperatures

across the state coupled

with

weakoxygen-

---

temperature relationships makes

this

argument tenuous. More likely, modifications to

streams that

alter both

surface and

below-ground flowandhabitat

quality will greatly

affect the composition of

stream

communities. Of

course, strongly

impaired, enriched

streams

which frequently violate the proposed standardwill have high incidences of

oxygen stress

and

loss of

aquatic life.

15

---

References

Chapman, G. 1986. Ambient water

quality

003, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office ofWater

Regulations

and Standards, Washington,

DC.

Garvey, J.E.,

and

M.R. Whiles. 2004. An assessment of

national

and Illinois dissolved

oxygen water

quality

ofWastewater Agencies. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Hammer, J.,

and

R. Linke. 2003. Assessments of the impacts of

dams

on the DuPage

River.

Final

Report. The Conservation Foundation.

Santucci,

V.3.,

Jr.,

and

S.R. Gephard. 2003. Fox River fish passage feasibility study.

Final

Report.

Max

McGrawWildlife FOudnation. Submitted to Illinois

Department of

Natural

Resources.

---

17

Table 1. Proportion frequency ofdays in which

the

current Illinois

standard and

the proposed

standards

were violated in each

stream

reach during late summer 2001

through fall

2003. Running means were only generated ifseven contiguous days ofdata were present

in the data set. For the proposed standard, spring is defmed as March throughJune

and

other as July through February. Number of

days

is the number ofdays by which either a

critical

minimum was determined or a mean

with

seven preceding dates

was

available.

Illinois

Sta

ndard Minima

Prooosed Minima

Proøosed 7-d

runnma

Spring

N

3.5

Spring

Other

mean

4

Spring

Other

Stream

IL 5

IL 6

days 5 spring

other

days

days

6

mean

days

days

*NF Vermilion near

Bismark

0.01

0.02

751

0

0

231

520

0

0.01

190

369

MF Vermilion near

Oakwood

0.01

0.02

574

0

0

140

434

0

0

132

390

Vermilion near Danville

0.06

0.07

458

0

0.04

84

374

0

0.09

66

250

Lusk near Eddyville

0.22

0.32

653

0.01

0

204

449

0

0.03

182

429

*Mazon near Coal City

0.17

0.15

606

0.05

0.11

181

425

0.05

0.18

152

335

*Rayse near Waltonville

0.62

0.65

523

0.13

0.7

139

384

0.23

0.78

96

380

*Salt at Western Springs

0.09

0.16

590

0.06

0.02

208

382

0

0

167

*Illinois River at Valley

City

0.11

0.21

638

0.03

0.02

240

398

0.16

0.03

159

334

*Denotes 303-d listed stream segment (2002 cycle).

---

18

Table 2. Frequency of days that dissolved oxygen concentrations

was

lower

than

5

and 6 mgfL

at4-h increments in eight Illinois

streams

during summer 2001

through

spring 2003.

Number of Days

per

Stream

Total

Number of

Hours per

NF

MF

Lusk

Mazon

Rayse

Salt

Illinois

Violation

Day

Vermilion

Vermilion

Vermilion Creek

River

Creek

Creek

River

5mgIL

0

740

567

431

508

504

200

536

569

4

5

2

7

51

18

8

3

14

8

3

5

4

24

37

8

7

10

12

1

0

12

28

38

12

21

12

16

1

0

4

15

8

31

19

8

20

1

0

0

10

1

43

4

2

24

0

0

0

17

0

221

0

23

6mgIL

0

721

553

402

415

454

175

471

465

4

8

4

14

12

27

7

15

17

8

7

7

12

17

32

2

10

24

12

4

8

12

34

58

5

24

18

16

4

2

11

49

32

9

41

17

20

5

0

5

29

1

16

20

7

24

2

0

2

97

2

309

9

90

---

19

Table 3. Linear regression results oftemperature (°C)versus dissolved oxygen

concentration (mg/L) quantified each halfhourin eight illinois streams during late

summer 2001 through fall 2003.

Stream

NF Vermilion near Bismark

N

37022

F

75493

A

-0.28

b

14.5

r2

0.67

MF Vermilion near

Oakwood

27982

32959

-0.20

13.5

0.54

Vermilion near Danville

22907

23361

-0.31

15.6

Lusk near Eddyville

32034

125863

-0.31

13.7

Mazon near Coal City

29906

14910

-0.23

13.3

0.33

Rayse near Waltonville

25812

26061

12.1

Salt at Western Springs

26975

85886

-0.29

13.4

0.76

Illinois River at Valley City

29155

163067

-0.30

13.7

0.84

---

20

Table 4. Frequency ofhalf-hour intervals in Lusk Creek, illinois in which dissolved

oxygen concentrations declined below 5 or 4 mgfL as a function oftemperature (°C)

during late summer 2001 through fall 2003. This stream was chosen due to the wide

variation in temperatures anddissolved oxygen concentrationsthat occurred.

Temoerature

5 mg/L

15

0

17

1

19

13

21

21

0

23

196

25

826

41

27

1105

35

29

434

31

49

33

0

35

0

0

---

2!

List ofFigures

Figures 1-8. Toppanel: Daily average temperature (°C;solid line) and daily minimum

(dotted line) dissolved oxygen concentrationas a function ofdate in eight Illinois

streams. Solid horizontal line is the illinois minimum standard of5 mg(L. Bottom panel:

Seven dayaverages ofdaily average (solid line) and daily minimum (dotted line)

dissolved oxygen concentrations in eight illinois streams. Only data where seven

preceding days ofdata are available areplotted.

Figure 9. Monthly average temperatures in seven illinois streams. The illinois River is

excluded due to its large volume, which makes comparisons with the other streams not

meaningful.

---

22

North Fork Vermilion near Bismarck

18

16

a)

14~

a)

3E

a)

12

c

‘I,

a.

a)

10~

a,

•a

a)

a)

6~

o

4 .i~

2

0

18

___________________

16

—

14

E

12

0

~

10

II)

a)

.6

a)

N.

2

0

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

1/1101

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1103

1/1/04

Date

—

Daily average

Dailyminimum

Figure 1

---

23

Middle Fork Vermilion near Oakwood

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

C

I

40

2

3

2

a.

E

I!

a)

a)

I!

a)

(a

0

—

Daily

average

Daily minimum

20

18

16

~14

O

12

0

a)

0) 10

IMP

4

~444

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

Figure 2

---

24

Vermilion River near Danville

40

35

3

~25

4:

10

~

(a

05

0

1/1/01

20

18

16

..~

!14

o

12

0a)

0)

10

2

F’-

4

2

a’

1/1101

7/1/01

1/1/02

711/02

111/03

7/1/03

Date

Figure

3

20

18

16~

a)

C

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

—

Daily

average

Daily minimum

1/1/04

---

Lusk Creek near Eddyville

2

3

2

a)

a.

E

a,

a,

2

.

~15

0

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1/1/01

711101

1/1102

7/1/02

Date

20

18

16

~14

o

12

0

~10

f/i/Ui

20

18

16~

0)

l2~

10

0

~

8~

U)

U)

60

‘

(a

2

111/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

0

—

Daily

average

Daily minimum

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1103

1/1/04

Date

Figure 4

---

26

Mazon near Coal City

2

I

20

-

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4.

2’

0~

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

Date

Figure 5

711/03

1/1/04

—S

0,

C

I

111/01

7/1/01

111/02

7I1/02

1/1/03

711/03

1/1/04

Date

.~

0)

0

0

a,

0)

2

5

V

F-

—

Daily

average

Daily

minimum

tlI

I

---

Rayse Creek near Waltonville

27

2

I-

a)

0.

E

a,

0,

2

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

C

I

111101

7/1101

1/1/02

711/02

1/1/03

711/03

1/1/04

Date

0

0

0

a)

0,

I

2

1/1101

7/1/01

1/1/02

7(1/02

111/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

Figure 6

---

Salt Creek near Western Springs

Date

Figure 7

0)

14~

0

0

0

5

15

0

12

28

20

18

a,

16

I-

3

2

I

a,

10

1/1/01

711/01

111/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

20

18

16

—

Daily

average

Daily minimum

1’

.~

~14

o

12

a

110

8

6

4

2

0~—

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

---

29

Illinois River near Valley

City

40

35

3

~25

~20

a,

a,

2

15

10

5

0

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

20’

18’

16’

.~

14’

o

12

a

a,

a,

10

(a

2

0

1/1/01

7/1/01

1/1/02

7/1/02

-

Date

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

20

18

18

14

12

10

--S

a,

0

•0

•6

U)

U)

5

a)

0

7/1/02

1/1/03

7/1/03

1/1/04

Date

—

Daily average

Daily

minimum

Y

Figure 8

---

Mean

Monthly

Temperature

(°C)

-~

-~

F’S.)

~)

(.)

(~)

C

01

0

01

0

01

0

01

0

oci~r~z

~

00

0

0

-t

\0

C

0)

CD

C

t~)

C

Ca)

-.1

0

Ca)

-~

C

I

I—

—

r~—,-----

~-~----

-~-~,----

-—-

—

—---

---~-——----

--