Prairie Rivers Network works to protect Illinois’ rivers for people, fish, and wildlife.
Mission
Prairie Rivers Network strives to protect the rivers and streams of Illinois and to promote the lasting health and beauty of watershed communities. By providing information, sound science, and hands-on assistance, Prairie Rivers Network helps individuals and community groups become effective river conservation leaders.
Much of our work focuses on how laws such as the Clean Water Act are used in Illinois – ensuring that laws intended to protect our rivers, our environment, and ultimately, our health are followed and enforced as intended.
This focus involves keeping a statewide perspective on issues, but it also includes providing assistance to local people and working on local problems, where effective policies are often initiated and later adopted at the state level. Our work spans the range of clean water issues – from cleaning up our most polluted rivers and educating the public on water quality and wildlife to protecting our most pristine rivers – always with the goal of safeguarding our resources for future generations.
History
- Director of Illinois Department of Transportation and Bruce Hannon with petition opposing dam project (1970s).
Prairie Rivers Network was established in 1967 under the leadership of Bruce and Patricia Hannon as they engaged others to oppose the construction of the Oakley Reservoir on the Sangamon River near Monticello. This is the location of Allerton Park, a locally cherished natural area; Oakley Reservoir would have put tens of thousand of acres of Allerton Park underwater. This group of concerned and dedicated citizens, calling itself the Committee on Allerton Park (COAP), successfully halted the Oakley Reservoir; from that time COAP continued to stop dams, reservoirs, and other environmentally costly water projects that would have permanently altered the habitats of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
In 1984 the Committee on Allerton Park was renamed Central States Education Center (CSEC) in 1984 to illustrate the group’s continuing and increasing statewide focus on empowering people to preserve our natural resources. Under the leadership of John Marlin, CSEC brought together people that crossed political and social boundaries to support a greater common cause: the protection of our natural waterways. Central States Education Center was changed to Prairie Rivers Network in 1998 to more accurately reflect our focus on issues that impact Illinois’ rivers and watersheds.
Since its inception, PRN has consistently used grass roots organizing and advocacy to protect the rivers and streams of Illinois. From the successful opposition of dams proposed in the 1970’s that would have permanently altered the flow of our rivers, to our current efforts to ensure full enforcement of the Clean Water Act to protect our drinking water and fish and wildlife habitats, PRN works with local citizens to advocate for the protection of our rivers at the federal, state, and local level.
With the support of our members and partners, Prairie Rivers Network has grown to become the statewide leader in river protection, conservation, and restoration.
PRN is the state affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and a member of Earth Share of Illinois. If you participate in a workplace giving campaign, look for ESI and you can designate PRN to receive your contributions.