Fisheries Component,
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program
As part of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP),
we have monitored fish communities in La Grange Reach of the
Illinois River since 1990. Sampling from 1990-1992 was at fixed
sites throughout the reach. However, beginning in 1993, we implemented
a stratified random sampling design. Currently, we use large
and small fyke nets, large and small hoop nets, seines, and a
boat electroshocker to sample approximately 150 randomly selected
main channel border, side channel, and backwater sites in La
Grange Reach during each of three 45-day sampling windows annually
(June 15-Oct 30); this results in approximately 450 samples and
50,000 fish per year. Data collected through 1997 are available
from the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center's home
page on the World Wide Web and the Havana Field Station. The
LTRMP is authorized by U.S. Congress through 2002 with funds
appropriated annually.
Areas Sampled for Fishes
Along with main channel and side channel habitats of the La Grange
Reach, major backwater areas that we sample for fishes include:
Pekin Lake, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Quiver Lake, Matanza Lake,
Crane Lake, Chain Lake, Treadway Lake, Muscooten Bay, and Lily
Lake
