This is a list of all documents accepted for permanent retention under the subject classification 'Natural resources and the environment: Soil erosion'.
Natural resources and the environment:
Soil erosion
Bank erosion survey of the Illinois River : volume 2 : appendices (2000) [CR-2000-11v.2]
This report summarizes the research and surveying that were conducted in 1995 to determine the amount and severity of bank erosion that existed on the entire length of the Illinois River. The study reach extended from Grafton, River Mile (RM) 0 to Joliet, RM 286. A multi-disciplinary team of scientists traveled the entire length of the river, mapped bank conditions and erosion sites, and selected 29 reaches for detailed data collection and two sites as observation sites. Bank erosion types were developed by studying and analyzing the erosion features. The team also used fluvial and bank failure processes to guide detailed data collection at the 29 sites. <P>Color-coded bank feature maps were developed for the entire 286 miles of the river.
Bank erosion survey of the main stem of the Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana. (2001) [CR-2001-01]
This report is the second of a series of three reports being prepared for the work done on the Kankakee River based on a Conservation 2000 Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The present report focuses on the bank erosion mapping of the main stem of the Kankakee River from Route 30 Bridge in Indiana to the mouth of the Kankakee River with the Illinois River near Wilmington. A total of 111.8 river miles were mapped during a boat trip November 19-December 1, 1998. The relative magnitude of erosion was based on a visual assessment of the river banks during a boat trip along the main stem of the river. No actual measurements were taken. However, the extent of erosion was noted on 7.5-minute quadrangle maps based on visual observations. A series of 27 maps has been developed in which bank erosion identified on both sides of the river ranged form minor to high erosion. This analysis has shown the 10.4 river bank miles had severe erosion, 39.4 bank miles had moderate erosion, 70.8 bank miles had minor erosion, 46.3 bank miles were stable, 46.7 river bank miles were artificially protected, and data on 10.0 bank miles could not be collected because snags, islands, etc. made the banks inaccessible. This is a first attempt to map existing bank erosion conditions of the main stem of the Kankakee River.
Identification of factors that aid carbon sequestration in Illinois agricultural systems (2003) [CR-2003-02]
Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is important to climate change and cropland agriculture. Crops naturally use the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO<SUB>2</SUB>), from the atmosphere; the greater the crop productivity, the greater the amount of CO<SUB>2</SUB> used. Agronomic practices that enhance sequestration of crop biomass in soil as SOC also enhance removal of CO<SUB>2</SUB> from the atmosphere, and improve and sustain soil fertility. To effectively reduce the concentration of CO<SUB>2</SUB> in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change, sequestration of SOC must be long term, defined as decades or longer. This report presents a review and synthesis of scientific understanding of SOC sequestration, based on the history and genesis of soils and vegetation in Illinois, and the response of SOC and crops to agronomic practices. Recommendations for future cropland SOC research are made. The scientific literature is reviewed in light of the Illinois conditions affecting the five interactive soil-forming factors that are widely recognized (biology, parent material, climate, topography, and time). The literature also shows that human activity can be considered a sixth soil-forming factor. Native American land-use practices of whole ecosystem manipulation were important in governing soil formation and SOC contents in Illinois, as were the land-use practices of the settlers who displaced them. An important finding of this work is that to reduce the atmospheric CO<SUB>2</SUB> content and sustain cropland agriculture, SOC must be sequestered throughout the soil profile. The modern literature reports SOC increases when tillage is changed from conventional to conservation tillage practices. However, SOC measurements are surficial, usually no more than the top 30 cm, with most of the C being sequestered in the top 15 cm. The unstated assumption in the modern literature is that surficial SOC changes represent all the SOC changes in the soil profile. This work shows that the SOC losses in the deeper soil layers may overwhelm surficial SOC increases. In order to assert that C is being sequestered in the soil, the whole-soil profile must be considered. It is recommended that future research into SOC sequestration be conducted from a whole-plant/whole-soil perspective in a soil genesis context using the following strategies. Mine the Literature. Most of the literature needed to provide the requisite whole-plant/whole-soil perspective and soil genesis context is scattered and not organized, summarized, or synthesized in the current SOC sequestration literature. The evolution of SOC sequestration research has been a narrowing of perspective away from the more holistic whole-plant/whole-soil perspective of the foundational agronomic literature to the perspective of the near-surface soil layer. This vast foundational literature needs to be located, restored, and incorporated with the current literature on crop rhizosphere and C and nutrient cycles throughout the whole-soil profile, soil genesis, soil fertility, subsoil amelioration, and other literatures to be organized, summarized, and synthesized into the SOC sequestration literature. Long-term Whole Plant/Whole Soil Monitoring and Assessment. Assessment of the effects of agronomic practices on SOC must be expanded to include the whole-soil profile. Improved estimates of presettlement soil SOC contents are needed to better assess SOC loss and SOC sequestration potential of Illinois' prairie and forest soils. The magnitude and swiftness with which natural factors govern SOC contents need to be better identified and quantified while incorporating a more comprehensive definition of soil aging along with consideration of presettlement and postsettlement anthropogenic landscape management practices as soil-forming factors. SOC Sequestration Research. Finally, research on how agronomic practices can increase SOC throughout the soil profile needs to be conducted from a whole-plant/whole-soil perspective in a soil genesis context. This report indicates that the optimal way to sequester SOC is to convert land back to native prairie, burn frequently, add fertilizers, and remove anthropogenic surface and subsurface drainage. Such an approach is not practical. Constraints on optimizing cropland SOC sequestration include: 1) the need to maintain good soil drainage in Illinois soils for timely spring planting that allows for growth of long-season corn hybrids and soybean varieties; and 2) maintaining soil-nutrient levels that do not result in water-quality issues. Within these constraints, the authors hypothesize that SOC sequestration can best be done by 1) developing balanced soil-fertility programs and other agronomic practices that restore soil nutrients to levels optimum for plant growth, promote movement of plant nutrients throughout the root zone using organic and/or inorganic carriers, and promote deep rooting of plants with minimal mechanical disturbance of the soil by tillage; and 2) developing chemical pest control programs that minimize the effects of pesticides on soil bacteria, and microfauna and macrofauna, thus promoting conversion of biomass to SOC, pedoturbation and net movement of SOC through the soil profile, and creation of soil structure and aggregation that optimize biomass production and conversion to stabilized SOC. Research on the development of these practices must include evaluation of nutrient movement into ground and surface waters. Losses of SOC have occurred on the order of the century time scale. SOC sequestration and the measure of its success (permanence of SOC sequestration) are also necessarily measured on the order of the century time scale. Therefore, long-term (20- to 30-year) agronomic SOC sequestration research at both the farm and individual plot level needs to be designed and conducted for hypothesis and model testing, as well as evaluation of the permanence of SOC in the surface and whole-soil profile. Even longer term research needs to be designed and conducted for hypothesis refinement and for monitoring.
Illinois Natural History Survey Reports (1997, 345 May/June)
Quarterly publication. Contents of this issue include: Effects of Sedimentation on Stream Communities; Illinois Springs; What Color Are Your Squirrels?; Maddox to Retire; Species Spotlight: Zebra Swallowtail; The Naturalist's Apprentice: What Is an Insect?
Illinois State Geological Survey Annual Report {periodical start}
Illinois State Geological Survey Annual Report.
Illinois State Water Survey annual report {periodical start}
The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) continues to provide a wealth of scientific and engineering data for use by individuals, businesses, and government agencies throughout Illinois and the nation. The many uses of this datainclude education, research, natural resources planning, insurance, public health, transportation,policy analysis, agriculture, energy development, facilities maintenance, and construction. Examples of new and evolving ISWS products and services are contained throughout these reports.
Illinois State Water Survey Annual Report (2004-2005, covering July 1, 2004-June 30, 2005)
Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) continues to provide a wealth of scientific and engineering data for use by individuals, businesses, and government agencies throughout Illinois and the nation. The many uses of these data include education, research, natural resources planning, insurance, public health, transportation, policy analysis, agriculture, energy development, facilities maintenance, and construction. More information is contained throughout this 2004-2005 Annual Report. Almost every area of Illinois has been served by the Survey during its 100-year-plus tenure.
Post workshop summary, The Sino-U.S. joint workshop on sediment transport and sediment induced disasters, March 15-17, 1999, Beijing, China (2000) [IEM-2000-01]
The First Sino - U.S. Joint Workshop on Sediment was organized with strong support from both the United States and China, with the intention to strengthen information exchange and cooperation on research on emerging hydro-environmental problems. The Natural Science Foundation of China has established a national key research project, Study on Mechanisms of River Sedimentation, Disasters, and Control Strategies in China, and is interested in establishing a bilateral cooperation program with the United States on sediment transport and sediment-induced disasters. A joint workshop was considered to be an effective approach for scientists and engineers from both countries to exchange knowledge and experience, to explore research and educational needs, and to initiate future collaborations. In a three-day meeting in Beijing, China, followed by a five-day field study in the Loess Plateau along the middle reach of the Yellow River, the participants exchanged information on sediment-related topics and identified opportunities for future research and cooperation. A major emphasis of the workshop was to promote direct discussions, and the workshop sessions were structured accordingly. The format worked very well and resulted in ample exchange of experiences and needs for future studies. This report presents information from the workshop and summaries of discussions from the meeting in Beijing.
Real-time web-based dissemination of Illinois soil temperature. (2002) [CR-2002-06]
Fall application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is a common practice in Illinois to help overcome the uncertainties of spring field work and to reduce the potential for delay in planting of spring crops. If, however, the N is applied while soil temperatures are above 50F, significant N losses can occur before the crop can take up the N. The lost N can pollute the state's water supplies, resulting in harm to the environment. The objective of this work was to provide agricultural community and public access to near real-time, 4-inch bare soil temperatures measured at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) each day. Hourly soil temperatures are measured at 18 automated weather stations in Illinois operated by the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS). These stations make up the Illinois Climate Network (ICN). Measured weather variables include 4-inch sodded soil temperature, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, and wind speed and direction. These data are collected, quality controlled, and placed on a Web site (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/warm/soiltemp.asp) for public access. Daily maps of the 4-inch bare soil temperature are derived from a combination of actual 4-inch bare soil measurements at 8 ICN stations and computed bare soil temperature from 4-inch sodded soil temperature measurements from the remaining 10 sites. These maps allow users to see the general pattern of the 10:00 a.m. CST soil temperature from which they can estimate soil temperature at a given location. The other measured weather variables also are presented on the Web site in map format. Steven E. Hollinger and Robert W. Scott, Water and Atmosphere Resources Monitoring Program, Atmospheric Environment Section and Office of the Chief, Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820-7945
Retention of zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead by geologic materials (1982) [COOP-9]
The vertical and horizontal migration patterns of zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead through the soil and shallow aquifer systems at two secondary zinc smelters were defined by use of soil coring and monitoring well techniques. The vertical migration of the same elements at a third zinc smelter also was defined. The migration of metals at the three smelters has been limited by attenuation processes to relatively shallow depths in the soil profile. Cation exchange and precipitation of insoluable metal compounds, resulting from pH changes in the infiltrating solution, were determined to be the principal mechanisms controlling the movement of the metals through the soil. Increased metal contents in the shallow groundwater systems have been confined to the imnediate plant sites. Soil coring was found to be an effective investigative tool but was not suitable by itself for routine monitoring of waste disposal activities. It should be used to gather preliminary information to aid in determining the proper horizontal and vertical locations for monitoring wells. The analyses of water samples collected in this project generally did not yield a stable, reproducible pattern of results. This indicates the need to develop techniques to obtain representative water samples. The failure of some well seals in a highly polluted environment also indicates the need for additional research into monitoring well construction.