Recently, we shared the news that several USGS streamgages—the Salt Fork, Sangamon River, and the Spoon River—were at risk of shutting down due to a lack of funding. These gages provide critical data to help communities prepare for floods, track pollution, and protect our water.
Prairie Rivers Network has been working hard behind the scenes and can officially report some good news on the streamgages. Thanks to funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Sangamon River gage will remain in place. We also have a little more time to save the other two: USGS has agreed to keep the Salt Fork and Spoon River gages in place through the end of November because the agency knows we’re working to secure stopgap funding. And this is where we need your help!
Streamgages matter for the health and safety of our communities. The Salt Fork gage has tracked river levels since 1958, helping inform flood warnings and floodplain maps. This summer, the Spoon River gage recorded the highest nitrate concentration since it came online in 2013: 27.1 mg/L, nearly three times the federal drinking water standard.
Turning off a gage won’t turn off a flood. Turning off a gage won’t stop nitrate pollution in our water. We can’t manage what we don’t measure.
Sign our petition below to the Champaign County Board asking them to help us find funding for these streamgages. If you live in St. Joseph, we will also submit this petition to Mayor Page and the Board of Trustees on your behalf.
Flooding won’t stop. Pollution won’t stop. Take action today to keep the streamgages in the water to keep the data flowing.
