Thad Cook
Water Quality Specialist
Havana Field Station,
Illinois Natural History Survey,
704 N. Schrader Havana, IL 62644
Telephone: (309) 543-6000
FAX: (309) 543-2105
E-mail to: t-cook2@illinois.edu
EDUCATION RESEARCH SUPPORT Long Term Resource Monitoring Program, La Grange Reach. Monitoring of bottomland hardwood seedlings. LTRMP, Bioresponce monitoring of Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement
I am currently the water quality specialist at the LTRMP Havana Field Station. My primary duties are to collect water quality samples; water depth, flow velocity, conductivity, secchi disk transparencies, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity; collect, preserve, and filter water samples for lab analysis. I am the vegetation specialist at the LTRMP Havana Field Station also. My primary duties include monitoring and collection of data on broad range of floodplain plant communities including, submergent, moist soil and emergent plants, as well as floodplain forests using methods and techniques prescribed by the USGS, UMESC. I am also responsible for interpreting and mapping of the floodplain and its vegetation within La Grange Reach and select areas using color infrared aerial photographs. I have conducted focused research using plant assays to detect N and P as limiting factors in floodplain soils. I would like to conduct future research focusing on impacts of the hydrological regime in combination with other factors limiting submersed aquatic vegetation in the Illinois River. I was born, raised, and reside in an Illinois River town. My life-long history with the Illinois River and my love for waterfowling and fishing in its backwaters helps me appreciate my work, and better understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of a large river floodplain ecosystem. |