For our noon network on April 14 we heard from Jack Darin of Sierra Club on the latest happenings and issues in Illinois, particularly in Springfield. One of the issues that was discussed was the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA).
Our friends at Sierra Club describe CEJA as the boldest climate bill Illinois has ever considered. It sets a goal of decarbonizing Illinois’ electric grid by 2030, achieving 100% clean energy by 2050, creating just transition programs for coal, gas, and nuclear communities, and sets policies to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and people of color benefit from the clean energy economy.
CEJA passed out of the House Energy and Environment Committee last week after two years of advocacy by the environmental community. More than 1500 people filed witness slips for the committee hearing in support of CEJA (including me). Hopefully, this is a first step of progress in getting this bill passed and signed into law in Illinois. Climate change is not waiting for us to deal with other issues like the pandemic and racism. Our friends at Sierra Club Illinois and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) are leading the charge for CEJA. Watch for updates and take action when you can.
As we roll into spring 2021, we celebrated Earth Day 2021 last week with many cleanups. You can still help. Any day is a good day to pick up litter and get plastic out of the environment. It’s always amazing to me, once the snow cover is gone, to see all the stuff that is accumulated on the ground and blowing around. It’s also a great time to start thinking about planting some natives in your yard and garden, or growing your own vegetables. Look for ways to make your own home and yard more carbon neutral, zero waste, and supportive of pollinators. Let us know if you need ideas or pointers. FREP and our many partners are ready to help.
Finally, are you wondering where the conservation movement is going? What is the fourth or next conservation movement? Plan to join us on May 12, 2021 at 1pm to find out and be inspired by Ed Collins of the McHenry County Conservation District. Ed is the most philosophical conservationist I know, he’s always inspiring, and you won’t want to miss this one!
Jeff Mengler
FREP President
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Our next activity - Wednesday, May 12, 2021: |
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Wednesday, May 12, 2021 FREP Membership Meeting & Program
1 PM Via Zoom
The 4th Conservation Movement
Speaker: Ed Collins, McHenry County Conservation District
How often have we wished over the many conservation battles we have fought across the years that we could find the key to dissolving the pieces of culture we are part of that see nature only as a resource to exploit? Yet we have struggled to find something deep enough, transformative enough, to rewrite the chapter of human experience that supports such a perspective. I believe that has now happened, not in a way we would have expected or chosen, but it has happened nonetheless. The world is in metamorphosis and we are discovering that the change we wish for the future begins within and not without. Now we must have the courage to weather the storms that bring the gift hidden within its winds.
FREP Executive Committee will be meeting remotely at 11 AM.
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Wed., June 9, 2021 FREP Noon Network Noon - 1 PM
Crystal Creek Watershed Tour
Speaker: Steve Zimmerman, Principal Restoration Ecologist, RES
AES-RES & City of Crystal Lake will present the newly completed Crystal Creek Watershed-Based Plan. The presentation will include a brief summary of watershed conditions, pollutants of concern, and potential water quality, green infrastructure, and habitat improvement projects.
We'll start at Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake, and proceed to tour sites at Lundahl Middle School and then Town Park in Algonquin.
We will look at a buried reach (in storm sewer) of Crystal Creek and discuss a potential project to “daylight” and restore the stream to ecological health. We will also discuss the design, permitting, and construction hurdles involved in completing this potential project.
We will then look at a reach of Crystal Creek that was re-aligned and restored, through Towne Park as a result of the new Western Algonquin Bypass. Village of Algonquin staff will explain why the Bypass was needed and how it became an opportunity to improve Crystal Creek.
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Wed., July 14, 2021 Annual FREP Picnic 4 PM
Location: Les Arends Forest Preserve, Rt. 31, Batavia
Presentation on native freshwater mussels by Jessi DiMartini
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Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning
April 26, 2021 Update
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During April, CMAP staff were able to get out in the field a couple days to begin the inventory and assessment of stormwater detention basins, one of the components of the watershed resources inventory (WRI). Utilizing ESRI ArcGIS Collector apps previously developed by Kane County Water Resources and DuPage County Stormwater Management for their respective counties, several aspects of each detention basin are being confirmed and/or assessed, including basin type (e.g., pond, dry bottom– turf or mesic prairie, constructed wetland), side slope cover types, native buffer presence/extent, shoreline erosion presence/extent, and a general assessment of the basin’s overall water quality function. Maintenance needs and potential retrofit opportunities to help improve water quality are also being noted.
For the stream physical conditions data collection work, staff are finalizing an online map and associated data collection forms utilizing ESRI’s ArcGIS Collector and Survey 123 mobile data collection apps. Similarly, an ArcGIS Collector app is being developed to document lake shoreline conditions for Poss Lake, the only publicly owned, non-detention basin lake in the planning area.
The project’s modeling consultant, Geosyntec, has finished updating the HSPF model’s hydrology and is nearing completion of the water quality calibration for several parameters (total phosphorus, total nitrogen, suspended solids, fecal coliform, and chloride). Once the calibrations are confirmed, the pollutant loads associated with current and future-projected land use in the watershed planning area will be modeled and the results included in the next draft of the WRI.
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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We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to all who have sent in their dues. Check for your name on our FREP Membership Roll Membership can be initiated or renewed online and dues paid via PayPal at: FREP Membership Form.
Our 2021-22 annual membership statements will be sent out in June.
Early Bird: Any membership dues paid between now and July 1st will be credited to the 2021-22 membership year.
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The Core Development Team has contracted with Map Hero (Matt Kania) to update the downloadable maps and web portal for the FF!WT. Map Hero developed the maps, web portal, logo and brochure for the Fabulous Fox Water Trail.
If you would like more information or learn how to get involved, please contact
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Wednesday, April 28 2-4 PM
Webinar: Successful Lake Management & The Feasibility of Alum to Improve Water Quality Free REGISTER HERE
Tuesday, May 11 7-8 PM
Speakers via Zoom:
Integrated Approaches to Lake Management (aka Forget the Silver Bullet!) - Keith Gray with Integrated Lakes Management, Inc.
"Are algal blooms getting worse?" - Dr. Grace Wilkinson
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Fox Valley Sustainability Network
Equity and Sustainability Webinar
Friday, April 30 10 - 11:15 AM
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Flint Creek/Spring Creek Meeting
via Zoom
Wednesday, May 26 10 AM
Man-Made Ponds & Lakes With Keith Gray
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IDNR's CICADA website was created to engage the public and private sectors in habitat protection, restoration, and biodiversity conservation through voluntary actions and to encourage regular visits to find information on how you can incorporate wildlife habitat into your property or development projects or how to better manage the habitats you have already. Staff at IDNR, along with their partners, will provide regular updates to CICADA, and they are happy to answer questions you may have about building or managing wildlife habitats. Visit it today!
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The Fox River Study Group's 2020 Annual IEPA Progress Report is now available at this LINK. The report is used to fulfill NPDES permits for the wastewater agencies located in the Fox River Watershed. The annual report was emailed to the FRSG email list recipients.
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McHenry County College Sustainability Center has published the new Green Guide Recycling Directory LINK
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In partnership with the City of Batavia, the Batavia Park District has launched a comprehensive planning process for the Batavia Fox River Corridor that is intended to enhance recreational function, river ecology, cultural importance, and stewardship of Batavia’s most valuable natural resources for future generations. The Park District has engaged a consultant team of planning, design, and engineering professionals led by Hitchcock Design Group (HDG), to develop a compelling vision for a 2-mile section of the Fox River from Fabyan Parkway to Carlisle Road, giving special attention to evaluating the function, safety, and use of the Batavia Dam and Depot Pond. Learn more HERE.
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Kurt Woolford has been selected as Executive Director for the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.
Kurt began his career with SMC in 2007 as an engineer where he worked with over 80 units of local government in Lake County and provided program oversight to SMC's regulatory, engineering and flood response operations. In 2010, Kurt was promoted to chief engineer, a position he held until his promotion to executive director.
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Read the new Spring Issue of Prairie Rivers Network News HERE
Includes feature article on CEJA
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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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