Long-term Trends in Water Quality (2010-2021) of Elkhart County Waterways Report

Our Water

Many waterways in Elkhart County contain elevated levels of E. coli. The Elkhart River regularly tests above safe levels and most of its tributaries contain even higher levels, with the exception of Christiana Creek. For this reason, it is not recommended to swim in the Elkhart River or its tributaries after heavy rainfall, when E. coli levels are highest. Outside of these times, showering after swimming is recommended to wash off potential residual contaminants. Heaton Lake and Simonton Lake also contain somewhat elevated levels of E. coli but are usually within safe limits and are regularly used for recreation. 

Exact levels of E. coli in each waterway naturally vary from day to day and year to year, depending on rainfall and other factors. However, there has been no sustained decrease in E. coli levels since sampling began.

Surface Water Monitoring Program

Since 2005, Elkhart County and the City of Goshen have conducted research into the pollution levels of the waterways in Elkhart County. Water samples are taken by the Elkhart County Health Department on a regular basis from the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers, along with several local lakes and a selection of streams and canals which flow into one or both rivers. A full list of sampling sites can be found here.

Understanding Water Quality Indicators

Samples are analyzed for various indicators of water quality, including E. coli content, suspended sediment, chemicals from fertilizer runoff, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Unnatural levels of suspended sediment, industrial chemicals, dissolved oxygen, temperatures, and pH can directly affect the ability of fish and other aquatic life to breathe, feed, and reproduce. Excess fertilizers specifically can cause harmful algal blooms, which you can read more about here. E. coli is a bacterium that can cause abdominal infections when ingested and usually enters waterways in stormwater containing fecal matter. While it does not generally hurt aquatic life, too much E. coli can make a body of water unsafe for human contact due to the risk of infection from even a small dose.

Sites are sampled at least 3 years in a row to identify trends in these water quality indicators. These trends are useful to identify high-risk bodies of water with elevated levels of a pollutant or unnatural and unhealthy levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, or temperature. Once identified, these waterways can be prioritized for needed intervention. Monitoring trends also allows us to document the success or failure of programs to improve water quality and can suggest a shift in strategy if results are not seen.

Raw data is provided for each year along with graphs and reports when available. Note: most of the data and graphs are also provided in an appendix of that year's report.

All Sampling Sites and Years

Long-Term Surface Water Quality Analysis Report - June 2021 - The St. Joseph River Basin Commission has published a report analyzing over a decade of water quality data collected by the Elkhart County Health Department as part of the Greater Elkhart County Stormwater Partnership’s long-term surface water monitoring program. The report focuses on long-term trends in water quality in major waterways throughout Elkhart County as well as comparisons of trends across testing sites. (Look for "GECSP Water Quality Report (2010-2021) Supplement 1; Supplement 2" under the "Additional Water Monitoring" section.)

Other Water Quality Reports

2016 Wellington Ditch Study

Wellington Ditch is a small drainage ditch that receives stormwater and industrial process water from buildings along College Avenue and 10th Street. Over the years the City has received many reports of discolored water in the ditch, and two fish kills have also been reported. In 2016, Goshen College students conducted research into possible biological and chemical causes for these events along with any potential upstream sources.

There have been two historic permit violations resulting in illicit discharges and reports of discoloration continue, but it appears that "several stressors on water quality have been reduced over the last decades." Fish are also regularly present, which indicates at least a basic level of water quality. Read the full report below for more information:

• Report
• Appendix I: Raw Data
• Appendix II: Permits, Illicit Discharge reports, and City-industry correspondence
• Appendix III: Newspaper articles and other sources

Biological Monitoring

2020 Fish Community Monitoring Report - During 2020, the Elkhart River Dam in downtown Elkhart was removed and resulted in 14 fish species swimming upriver. One example is the Logperch, which swam 18 miles upstream to Shanklin Park in Goshen, IN, in August 2020.

2021 Aquatic Community Monitoring Annual Report 

 

Surface Water Monitoring Data

Reports prior to 2014 available at the Stormwater Department upon request.

Graphs (TSS & E. coli)

2014 Graphs

2016 Graphs

2017 Graphs

2018 Graphs

2019 Graphs

2020 Graphs

2021 Graphs

2022 Graphs

Reports

2014 Report

2015 Report

2016 Report

2017 Report

2018 Report

2019 Report

2020 Report

2021 Report

2022 Report

2023 Report

Data

2014 Data

2015 Data

2016 Data

2017 Data

2018 Data

2019 Data

2020 Data

2021 Data 

2022 Data