Illinois RiverWatch Network: About Us

MISSION

Illinois RiverWatch safeguards the future of Illinois rivers and streams through stewardship, education and sound science. RiverWatch utilizes trained volunteers to collect quality assured data on wadeable streams and fosters coordination among groups involved in similar monitoring efforts.

BACKGROUND

RiverWatch is the only statewide biological monitoring program in Illinois that educates and trains volunteers to collect high quality data on streams. The program was initiated in 1995 as part of the Critical Trends Assessment Project (CTAP), an Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) project designed to conduct a long-term, comprehensive assessment of the environment in Illinois . In February of 2006, responsibility for RiverWatch was officially transferred to the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) with support from the Office of Lieutenant Governor. NGRREC's unique location, strong partnerships, and mission make it an ideal home for RiverWatch.

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PRIMARY FUNDING

• Lewis and Clark Community College and the National Great Rivers research and Education Center (ongoing)
  
  
• The McKnight Foundation (2007 and 2008)
  

• Office of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn (2006)

PROGRAM PERSONNEL

Manager:
Nate Keener

Advisory Council:
Traci Barkley, Prairie Rivers Network
Liz Haynes, University of Illinois Extension
Dr. James Herkert, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Pete Jackson, U.S. EPA - Region 5

Trainers:
David Abendroth
Dr. Bill Bromer
Patti Brown
Debbie Fluegel
Gregg Zink

Database Programmer:
Dr. Jeffrey A. Stein, Illinois Natural History Survey

Quality Insurance Officer:
Matt Diana, Illinois Natural History Survey

RIVERWATCH PARTNERS

The following is a list of citizen groups and organizations that monitor streams and contribute water quality data to the Illinois RiverWatch Network database. While some Citizen Scientists monitor with a group/organization hundreds of others monitor independently with a partner or small team of volunteers.

• Aqua Illinois
  
  
• Aux Sable Creek Watershed
  
  
• Citizens for Conservation Incorporated
  
  
• Embarras Management Association
  
  
• Friends of the Fox River
  
  
• Galena Territory Association, Inc.
  
  
• Kendall County Master Naturalists   
  
  
• Indian Creek Watershed Project
  
  
• Lake in the Hills Sanitary District
  
  
• Lucky 4-H
  
  
• Madison/St. Clair County Master Naturalists    
  
  
• Mazon River Stewardship Initiative
  
  
• Metro East Lutheran High School
  
  
• Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
  
  
• Morgan Park Academy
  
  
• Openlands
  
  
• Original Kaskaskia Area Wilderness, Inc.
  
  
• Paw Paw High School
  
  
• Pilcher Park Nature Center
  
  
• Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Group
  
  
• Spring Lake Park
  
  
• The Conservation Foundation - DuPage RiverCare
  
  
• The Sangamon Paddlers
  
  
• The Upper Sangamon River Conservancy
  
  
• Triad High School
  
  
• University of Illinois Extension   
  
  

CONTACT US

Nate Keener, RiverWatch Coordinator
Lewis and Clark Community College
5800 Godfrey Road
Godfrey, IL 62035
Ph:  (618) 468-2782 
Fax:  (618) 468-7221
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it