June 27, 2002
New Illinois River Pollution Study Released
River Near Peoria Found To Be "Choking on Nutrient Pollution"
Sierra Club today released the results of water quality testing on the Illinois River in the Peoria area that show levels of pollution that exceed federal standards and result in depleted oxygen levels. Based on their findings, Sierra Club leaders called for stronger safeguards against water pollution from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
"Our tests clearly show that Illinois needs to do more to reduce nutrient pollution in the Illinois River - at times there isn't enough oxygen in the water for fish to breathe," said Joe Laszlo, Chair of the Sierra Club, Heart of Illinois Group and coordinator of its Water Sentinels Project. "If the Illinois River is to be healthy again, pollution controls must be updated."
Sierra Club volunteers in the Peoria area launched their Water Sentinels project in May of 2001. Volunteers collected and tested water samples from eight locations on the Illinois River from Lacon to Peoria on a monthly basis, providing a full year of data. View or download the summary charts of the results here.
The tests indicate that levels of phosphorus in the river regularly exceed the amount considered healthy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Phosphorus is a major component of fertilizers and of sewage, and degrades water by fertilizing algae to the point where excessive algae growth sucks oxygen out of the water that fish need to breathe. Volunteers found that on several occasions, oxygen levels were below the standard set by the Illinois Environmental Projection Agency for healthy aquatic life.
Sierra Club is calling for several actions to reduce pollution levels and restore healthy conditions to the Illinois River. Among the recommendations in the report are:
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Illinois EPA must include the Illinois River on a statewide list of waters in need of cleanup, and prepare and implement the cleanup plan for the Illinois River promptly
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Illinois EPA must also move to control nutrient pollution by establishing a water quality standard for phosphorus. Sewage treatment plants should plan to upgrade pollution controls to remove phosphorus from their discharge to streams;
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Efforts, such as the Illinois Rivers 2020 plan to help farmers reduce polluted runoff, must be expanded, and further runoff reductions pursued.
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Private landowners, including businesses and homeowners, can use native landscaping along streams to eliminate fertilizers and restore wildlife habitat.
As part of a new campaign to alert Illinois River Valley residents to the River's problems, Sierra Club today also announced a new radio advertising campaign that begins today on stations in the region. The spots will run through 4th of July weekend and ask listeners to contact Illinois EPA to urge stronger controls on nutrient pollution.
The Sierra Club, Heart of Illinois Group, represents nearly 800 Sierra Club members in the Peoria area.
For a full description of the Water Sentinals project click here.