“Think about what happened on the West Side of Chicago last year, where that area around Cicero took like eight-and-a-half inches in just a number of hours,” said Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.
“We’ve seen rainfall totals that high, but falling over 24 hours, 36 hours, not six hours.”
While there is more overall rainfall, temperatures are rising too, increasing evaporation rates. That puts Illinois in a cycle of too much water, then not enough water.
In other words, the state is dealing with both flood and drought conditions throughout the year.
Outdated drainage systems
Ford said drainage systems in many communities were built in the 1950s or earlier. They were designed for a climate that no longer exists.
Many communities in Illinois are working on updating their storm drainage systems, but the process is both expensive and time consuming.
Adding green spaces can give the water somewhere to go other than the drainage system. But the plants need to be able to survive the changing climate, especially those times of drought.
Wetter conditions expand the areas where mosquitoes and ticks can survive. This has increased the risk of Lyme disease and West Nile virus.
There is also an increased risk of heat related illness because of increased temperatures and drought.
The risk is especially high for those who do physically demanding labor, people of color, lower income, and those in rural Illinois.
Farms feeling the effects, too
Increased precipitation is a problem in the agricultural sector as well.
“We have to plan on the extreme. Are we getting ready to go into a period of wet, wet, wet or are we getting ready to go into a period of dry, dry, dry?” said Andy Bartlow, a farmer and board member of the McDonough County Farm Bureau.
Last spring, western Illinois experienced an extended drought. This actually increased yields of crops.
But this season’s recent influx of rain has drowned some of Bartlow’s crops, which were planted in early April.
Bartlow said this can impact the farm’s bottom line.
“Going back in now and replanting the crop, whether it be corn or soybeans, to make sure we’ve got crop growing in those areas,” he said.
Despite replanting, Bartlow expects to see lower yields in those areas.
Bartlow said they’ve seen some success with drainage tiles and different tilling methods to reduce the impacts of the excess water.
He said it’s about changing farming practices to “weatherproof” their crop.
Trent Ford said cover crops such as cereal rye, wheat, or red clover help rehabilitate soil in the off season as well.
Another solution is extended rotations – planting not just corn and beans, but adding grazing or integrating forests, which can help soak up water.
“It’s really a matter of being deliberate in what exactly a system needs to act like, what changes need to be made, and making sure whatever strategies are being implemented are going to get you what you want and minimize those unintended consequences,” said Ford.
Think globally, act locally
There are steps individuals can take too, starting with sustainable water usage. Ford suggested using rain barrels to collect water during storms, then using that water for plants and lawns during drought.
Interacting with local and state representatives to ensure they are considering sustainable water policy is also important.
“it’s really important to understand that despite getting lots of rain, in some cases too much rain, in Illinois, we can’t just assume that our water resources are endless,” said Ford.
Experts anticipate the increase in precipitation and variability will continue, especially if climate change is left unchecked.
Ford hopes to see individuals and communities taking steps now to minimize consequences in the future. He called it an economic issue, an ecological issue, and a public health issue for both urban and agricultural areas.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
