Wed., June 8, 2022 FREP Noon Network Noon to 1:30 PM
Program:
Kane County’s Countywide Drainage Mapping Initiative–
Where Does Your Water Go?
Presenter: Rob Linke P.E., CFM Sr. Water Resources Engineer & Wetland Specialist,
Kane County Department of Environmental & Water Resources
Location: Kane County Auditorium, First floor in Building A, 719 Batavia Ave, Geneva
ZOOM alternative: We will provide a Zoom Link to those who request one.
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Ever wonder exactly what path the rainwater on your property takes to get to the Fox River?
Well, if you live in Kane County, there are now maps and resources available to you to show you exactly where the water flows – from your back yard all the way down to the Fox River! Kane County Department of Environmental & Water Resources has undertaken a mapping initiative to provide high resolution mapping of the stormwater drainage patterns across the entire County, covering more than 525 square miles.
These maps include nearly every storm sewer, roadway culvert, driveway culvert, and detention pond in the County – more than 90,000 features in all. In this presentation, staff from Water Resources will provide a behind the scenes look at how the data was created and mapped, how it is used by agencies and corporations for planning, design and emergency spill response, and how you can access and interpret this invaluable stormwater information.
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Wednesday, July 13, 2022
FREP Annual Picnic 3:00 PM
Location: Carl Hansen Woods, Cook County Forest Preserve
(part of the Arthur L. Janura Preserve, and the Poplar Creek Trail System)
Sutton Rd/Rte 59, south of Shoe Factory Rd, Cook County, IL 60192
(near Schaumburg/south of I90)
Enter West Side of Rte. 59/ park across from first pavilion
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Meet at 3 for social time, tour, and then we'll share a meal.
Rick McAndless of North Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District is our host and will lead a tour.
The site is within the Forest Preserves of Cook County with a 32 year old prairie and oak woodland restoration that Rick has been involved with. There is also a Illinois Nature Preserve on the site that is a gravel kame ( Shoe Factory Road NP).
Food -- bring a dish to share (appetizer, salad, side, or dessert) and we will provide grilled meats and beverages.
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Photo Credit: Nippersink Creek by Ray Mathis |
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On May 23, 2022, I had the privilege of representing FREP at a ceremony with Congresswomen Lauren Underwood at the Lost Valley Visitor’s Center in Glacial Park. The gathering was to announce and celebrate the selection of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Nippersink Creek Restoration Project for funding ($975,000) through Representative Underwood's Community Project Funding program. FREP facilitated the grant application process and provided a letter of support to The Friends of Hackmatack NWR, who would receive the funds to restore a core area within the NWR that is currently held by Openlands and is adjacent to MCCD’s Glacial Park if ultimately approved by Congress. The project includes stream re-meandering and wetland restoration and will support other areas that have already received federal funds for restoration work. Perhaps a future FREP field trip when the project is completed. |
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FREP also provided letters of support for a couple of other projects that were submitted to Rep. Underwood’s office, but which were apparently not selected. Each Representative offers a similar program to bring dollars home to their communities. Selected projects from all Representatives must still be approved by the House Appropriations Committee, the full House, and then the Senate, and that may take until early next calendar year.
This is the second year for this program, and the first year that non-profits were eligible (previously only local governments were) and the first year for a category that included natural resource work. FREP believes that this is important “green infrastructure” work that will help build climate change resiliency for our watershed.
We will continue to work to keep this type of project and these issues in front of Reps. Underwood, Casten, Foster, and Krishmnamoorthi as the Congressional District boundaries change at the end of this year.
Finally, even though our next Noon Network program on Wednesday, June 8th is a bit Kane County centric, I urge all to attend to learn more about this innovative mapping program that is unlike any efforts in surrounding counties. The understandings this mapping effort provides may be invaluable in understanding our stormwater systems as we contend with the effects of climate change.
Jeff Mengler
FREP President
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We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to all who have sent in their dues for 2021-22. If you aren't on our website's FREP Membership Roll (LINK) we hope you will respond by renewing your membership or joining FREP.
Membership can be initiated or renewed online and dues paid via PayPal at:
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Statements for 2022-23 membership renewal
will be mailed to current members by mid-June.
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If you would like more information or learn how to get involved, please contact
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Fox River Subwatershed News |
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Indian Creek
Watershed-based Planning
Update for May 31, 2022
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Exciting news! The public engagement webpage will be live any day now. We want to hear from you! Please visit https://engage.cmap.illinois.gov/ and scroll to the Indian Creek Watershed-based Plan project. Here you can share your insights and ideas for protecting and improving water and habitat quality in the Indian Creek watershed and adjacent Fox River via maps, a quick poll, a short survey, and a comments forum. Through one interactive map, you can point out areas of concern (such as flooding, erosion, water quality concerns), and through a second interactive map, you can add ideas for water quality-related projects, outreach and education activities, monitoring programs, and policy and planning updates.
Input is welcome from anyone with an interest – a stake – in the quality of the Indian Creek watershed and adjacent Fox River. You don’t have to live, work, or have a business there to be a stakeholder! Perhaps you visit the area to ride your bike on the Fox River Trail or Prairie Path, hike the trails in Fermilab, or paddle on the Fox River. Maybe you’ve shopped at the outlet mall or unique local shops, dined at one of the many restaurants, enjoyed a festival, or went to hear some live music… then you are a stakeholder too!
The input received will help shape water quality-related recommendations that will be incorporated into the Indian Creek Watershed-based Plan. Of the many benefits of developing a watershed-based plan, a key one is that projects and programs identified in such plans become eligible for certain federal grants, including Clean Water Act “Section 319” Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program grants, and it helps improve ranking for other state and local grants and technical assistance, such as Illinois EPA’s Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) program.
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Above: An autumn view of Indian Creek near Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora.
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: hhudson@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8700.
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Video of April 13, 2022 FREP Noon Network
Program: COP26 - What was accomplished? A local perspective
Presenter: Gary Cuneen of Seven Generations Ahead
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Video of our February 9th program
Legislative Update with Jack Darin, Chapter Director, Sierra Club of Illinois
Eliot Clay, State Programs Director, Illinois Environmental Council
Thank you Jack & Eliot!
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Video of our January 12th program
Local Government’s Approach to Meeting the Evolving Stormwater Requirements in the State’s NPDES / MS4 Program
Panelists:
Rob Linke, P.E., Kane County Dept of Environmental & Water Resources;
Scott Kuykendall,LEED AP BD+C, McHenry County Water Resources,
Mark Phipps, P.E. City of Aurora Public Works Department
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November 10, 2021 FREP Presentation by Art Malm:
Freeing Our Fox! - a discussion of dams on the Fox River in Illinois
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Future Leaders in Planning program
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is accepting applications for this year's Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program. FLIP is a free leadership development program for high school students to learn about the issues that shape our region and gain an interest in urban planning.
Sessions will be held on Fridays, from July 22 to August 12, at CMAP's office in the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago, a short walk from the Metra stations at Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
Topics include how to engage communities, the role of data, and more. The sessions also include field trips around the region. Applications are due Monday, June 20.
For more information and to apply, visit CMAP’s
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The Conservation Foundation has a new outreach materials resource page on their website:
Please feel free to use any of these materials if they will be useful to you. There are draft blog posts, graphics for social media, and some short video clips, all available to share.
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FREP has enjoyed co-sponsoring a film for the last six years. We wanted to share this message from our film festival screening representative,
Jim Babcock:
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As you know, I am a proud Board member of One Earth Collective, which recently wrapped up a successful 2022 film festival season. We successfully launched our new hybrid Fest model, bringing our films and engaging discussions to both live and virtual audiences.
The Fests were a hit - we had over 5,700 registrations from 41 states, and even reached some viewers around the world (our Marketing team put together this great interactive map of our reach). We’re looking forward to carrying this momentum into future seasons.
In this time of increasing climate urgency, we are working to expand One Earth’s programming year-round, and I hope that you’ll join me in supporting our new fundraising campaign in June. We’ll be debuting a “Summer Bucket List Bingo” challenge, which asks folks to make a $40 contribution to join the fundraiser and complete a series of earth-friendly activities throughout the month.
Participants will receive a One Earth Crew level membership just for signing up (or a gift membership if you’re already a member), and will have the chance to win other prizes for encouraging friends to participate.
Thanks so much!
Peace, Jim
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Community Recycling Information |
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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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