For the last two years in October I have shared messages about the Imagine a Day Without Water campaign, and I will again this year. While we are fortunate to have plenty of water and fairly good water quality within our watershed, we must not take that for granted and also realize that many do not. From the Value of Water Campaign:
Imagine a Day Without Water: Commit to a sustainable water future for all.
This year, our country faces an enormous public health crisis from the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout this emergency, water and wastewater systems kept the water flowing in homes, hospitals, and essential businesses. This crisis demonstrated the critical role that water and wastewater systems play in our communities, protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, and making a healthy economy possible. It is easy to imagine how much worse the pandemic would have been without widespread access to water infrastructure. Without reliable drinking water and sanitation, Americans would be unable to stay safe and limit the spread. In communities with inadequate water and wastewater infrastructure, the public health consequences have been dire.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 is this year's date to Imagine a Day Without Water. It’s a day to pause and notice the way that water systems impact our lives and communities, and commit to ensuring a sustainable water future for generations to come. What would your day be like if you couldn’t turn on the tap and get clean drinking water, or if you flushed the toilet and wastewater didn’t go anywhere? What would happen to restaurants, hospitals, firefighters, farms, breweries, or the hundreds of industries that depend on water?
Millions of Americans take water service for granted every day. Turn on the tap, and clean water flows out. Flush the toilet, and dirty water goes away. Washing our hands regularly is one of the most important steps to take to limit the spread of coronavirus, and we usually don’t stop to think about the impressive infrastructure and treatment required to make sure the water comes out when you open the tap, or safely returns water to the environment from your sink. But the truth is, our water and wastewater systems are getting older -- some were installed a century ago -- and everyone should be concerned with the vulnerability of those systems.
While we continue to enjoy high quality and reliable water service now, maintaining that level of service is going to be harder and harder as America’s water infrastructure continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, new threats from record rainfalls, flooding, toxic algae, drought and wildfires threaten our critical water systems. There are even communities, especially in many rural places across the country, that have never had access to infrastructure in the first place.
Most of our communities in the Fox River watershed rely on groundwater for their potable water source, and we are withdrawing that groundwater at a rate that is not sustainable. Some communities rely on the Fox River for their drinking water. In both cases, watershed health is what will protect those water resources.
As we look at ways to help lift our economy out of the recession, investing in water infrastructure is a winning solution. Investing in water creates cascading economic benefits, strengthening American competitiveness, raising GDP, creating jobs and increasing wages. Investing in water provides a path to economic recovery. Imagine a Day Without Water is an opportunity for everyone to get educated about our local water systems and raise awareness with our elected leaders. We need leadership at every level to work together to ensure a reliable water future for generations to come. Investing in water is investing in a future where no American will have to imagine a day without water.
Watch our Facebook and web pages for more information and send us your thoughts on Imagining a Day Without Water! You can also visit the website at https://imagineadaywithoutwater.org/
Jeff Mengler
FREP President
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Welcome to our newest member of the FREP Executive Committee. Jessica Mino, formerly of the Kane County Water Resources Division, is now the Kane & Kendall County Program Director for The Conservation Foundation. Her office is at their facility at 2550 Dickson Road, Montgomery, IL 60538. On our Executive Committee, she is replacing Trish Beckjord, who is no longer at TCF but now a resident of Pennsylvania. Best wishes to Trish, and welcome Jessica in this new role.
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FREP Noon Network
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Noon - 1:30 PM Via Zoom
Program: Hackmatack NWR– A National Wildlife Refuge in our Watershed
Presented by: Nancy Williamson and Steve Byers
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Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is our local, urban refuge. It was first established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2012. The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge boundary employs a Cores and Corridors concept for wildlife preservation with a focus on migratory and grassland birds. Four core areas will be protected alongside existing conservation lands held by other partners including the McHenry County Conservation District and Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources. Nippersink Creek and its tributaries will serve as wildlife corridors to connect most of the core areas. They will also tell about Friends of Hackmatack National Wildife Refuge, who support the stewardship of this refuge.
Join our program to learn what a Hackmatack is, how you can visit this refuge, what you can expect to see, and more about the vision for this amazing refuge in our watershed.
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FREP is in the process of setting up and posting program videos to our own YouTube page. We plan to post the video of our Sept. 9th program on Plastics in our Watershed soon. The link will be posted on the FREP website and in future Downstreams.
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Upcoming:
November 11, 2020 FREP Membership Meeting & Program
1 PM VIA Zoom
Program: Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture
Presenters: Brad Woodson (McHenry County Conservation District)
Joe Bybee (Illinois Department of Agriculture)
Olga Lyandres (Delta Institute)
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As we learned from our One Earth Film Festival screening of the film Need to Grow back in March, soil scientists estimate that at the rate we are depleting farmland, we could have fewer than 60 years of farmable soil left on Earth. So how do we rebuild our soil, while combating climate change? The solution is usually called regenerative agriculture and we heard a little about it and soil health at the 2019 Fox River Summit. At this program we will learn more about what’s going on with regenerative or sustainable agricultural in our Fox River watershed and in Illinois. We especially encourage any landowners or managers who may have any agricultural lands under their control to attend to get an idea of what’s possible.
FREP Executive Committee will meet via Zoom at 11 AM
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FREP Membership & Annual Dues
Current members should have received their annual dues statements by mail.
We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to all who have sent in their dues.
We are listing our latest
2020-21 paid members here, and also have them all posted
on the:
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2020-21 Dues Paid for these members
(Since those posted in our August 28th Downstream):
Barrington Area Council of Goverments (BACOG)
Bluestem Ecological Services
City of Geneva
Dundee Township
Sierra Club - Illinois & Valley of the Fox Chapter
Friends:
John Church
Jack Schaefer
Membership can be initiated or renewed online and dues paid via PayPal at:
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Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning |
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October 2020 Update
A first draft of the watershed resource inventory (WRI) was submitted to Illinois EPA by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) at the end of August. The WRI overviews existing conditions in the Indian Creek watershed planning area including local governments and districts, population and demographics, physical and natural resources, land use and land cover, water quality, pollutant sources, and land and water management practices. The draft is posted on the Indian Creek watershed project page on the FREP website HERE. Some sections that have yet to be rounded out include nonpoint source pollutant load estimates as well as stream physical conditions and stormwater detention basin assessments. For pollutant load modeling, Geosyntec is in the process of updating the Fox River Study Group’s Fox River Watershed HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran) model to apply it to the Indian Creek watershed. They have updated the model with the latest land use, topography, soils, and storm water drainage data; and have delineated over 200 subwatersheds, or catchments, in the 16 square mile planning area. Smaller drainage catchments allow for improved representation of hydrology and pollutant loads and, in future steps, assessing effectiveness of potential BMPs (best management practices) in reducing pollutant loads to Indian Creek and the Fox River.
To facilitate stream conditions field data collection, CMAP is creating an online map and associated data collection forms utilizing ESRI’s ArcGIS Collector and Survey 123 mobile data collection apps. For the detention basin inventory and assessment, CMAP will utilize the ArcGIS Collector apps previously developed by Kane County and DuPage County to collect information on the stormwater basins in their respective counties. Field data collection is expected to begin in October and continue into next spring. Public engagement activities will be planned for the winter months to gain additional insights into watershed conditions and learn about opportunities for water quality improvement and habitat protection and restoration.
For project updates, documents, maps, photos, and announcements, please visit https://foxriverecosystem.org/fox/indian-creek. If you would like to be added to the contact list for Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning news and events, or have any questions about the project, please contact Holly Hudson at CMAP:
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Other Subwatersheds News:
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This Oaktober, Oaks Offer Relief |
Since 2015, the Chicago Region Trees Initiative has promoted the value of oak trees through Oaktober – Oak Awareness Month. We’ve learned how oaks trees work for us by cleaning our air and water, reducing ambient air temperature and usage of energy. They reduce flooding and support our native wildlife. But in this year of COVID-19, it is important to emphasize how oak trees, and trees in general, improve our well-being and support a sense of community.
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Staying safe and healthy during the COVID-19 epidemic has been a priority for several months now. A lot of us have turned to the great outdoors for escape and relaxation from the “normal physical, emotional, mental and behavioral reactions to the abnormal situation of the COVID-19 pandemic” (Kane County Health Department).
Studies have shown being around oak trees and nature in general have the following benefits:
· Improves self-esteem & concentration
· Encourages more physical & recreational activities
· Creates opportunities for safe socialization in public spaces
· Improves relaxation & mood
Recognizing the value of oaks and their ecosystems, Chicago Wilderness and the Morton Arboretum, including members of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative developed the Oak Ecosystem Recovery Plan to lead a coordinated recovery effort to preserve, restore, and expand oak ecosystems across the region. To educate and motivate the public about the benefits of oaks, Oaktober was born.
Each year, celebrations and activities take place on and around Oaktober. The safe practices of COVID-19 are influencing this year’s activities but don’t make them any less important. In fact, getting out and appreciating nature this year can be more important to our physical and mental well-being than ever before.
In order to see what Oaktober activities are taking place near you, visit the Chicago Region Trees Initiative Events page or your local forest preserve or park district website. But you don’t need an organized activity to get outside and take advantage of oaks. Find a park or forest preserve near you, or walk your neighborhood in search of majestic oaks.
Photo at Johnson's Mound, Kane County
Article submitted by Karen Ann Miller, Executive Planner, Kane County Development Department
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FREP joined with the Southeast Wisconsin Fox River Partnership and the Village of Waterford, Wisconsin, to pursue the designation of all or portions of the Fox River in Wisconsin and Illinois as a National Water Trail through the National Park Services' National Water Trail System. Technical assistance from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program was awarded and much planning has taken place. A website has been created with many resources for paddlers on the Fabulous Fox.
The Coronavirus pandemic has slowed activities and planning of the water trail. If you would like more information or learn how to get involved, please contact Karen Miller at: millerkaren@co.kane.il.us.
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Other Watershed News & Activities |
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2020 Virtual Deicing Workshops
October 1, 8, 14, 2020
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This exciting event is coming up October 22nd at 7:00 p.m. as a free Zoom webinar video.
Everyone is welcome -- from those who have never heard of Doug Tallamy to those who always tune in to hear the latest.
See below to register to enjoy this most inspiring and knowledgeable presenter.
You'll want to be part of it!
This Zoom webinar is being hosted by Gail Borden Public Library. When you click the link below, it will take you to the library's calendar, where you can register and receive a link to use on October 22nd to join the event.
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THE NATURE OF OUR CHANGED WORLD
Jeff Mengler participated in this symposium on September 26, 2020
It was sponsored by The Fox River Valley Hound Heritage Foundation in association with Barrington’s White House. A panel discussed the impact of the Covid 19 virus on Air, Water, Habitat and Wildlife in the Fox River Valley. Questions that were explored included: Will changes in human behavior on the environment wrought by the virus be temporary or long lasting (e.g. less car and airplane commuting/more webinar meetings)? What species have thrived during the pandemic with human stay at home orders? How have public lands been affected in the Fox River Valley forest preserves and parks? The program is posted on YouTube at this link.
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Becky Hoag, Communications Manager
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
Please email Becky if you have an email to add to our mailing list or content to add to the next monthly Downstream.
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