This is the first in a series of guest blog posts by Scott Hays, a founding member of the Upper Sangamon River Conservancy, and Prairie Rivers Network’s River Steward of 2011.

Visit Scott’s river blog!

[Quick link to the second post in the series Oakley Dam: A Rising Tide]

The Sangamon River in a "real" winter

Driving across the Sangamon River at Reas Bridge Road, my first thought was, “They were going to dam the Sangamon here?”  My second thought was, “Just where the heck is the Sangamon River anyway?”

“Here” was on a bluff by an old cemetery just north of Reas Bridge Road over looking the Sangamon River, also known in these parts as Lake Decatur.

As I looked out over the north end of Lake Decatur, it occurred to that sometimes the largest and proudest monument to a monumental effort is something you don’t even see. This is the story of this unseen monument to that monumental effort. {Continue Reading »}

Elliot goes to Washington

Earlier this month, Prairie Rivers Network Habitat Conservation Specialist, Elliot Brinkman, traveled to Washington, D.C. to help educate legislators about the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program.

This program provides federal grant funds for projects that benefit wildlife and their habitats and gives priority to species of greatest conservation concern. It is also the primary funding source for states to implement their Wildlife Action Plans. In Illinois, these funds have been used for a number of successful restoration and research projects, many of which assessed and improved the quality of habitats in and along streams and rivers. {Continue Reading »}

Start Planning Now for Earth Day on April 22nd!

Earth Day is a great opportunity to make a difference, educate yourself, and renew your commitment to being a good steward!

We have put together a list of some of the many Earth Day activities taking place here in Illinois. If you see something missing, please let us know! We will add all Earth Day events and opportunities to our online calendar.

CHAMPAIGN URBANA

Boneyard Creek Community Day

Ages: all

When: 9am-12pm Saturday April 14, 2012

Where: Check in is at Scott Park starting at 9 am

Protect our local creeks and lakes to ensure a healthier community by picking-up litter, removing non-native plants, and installing stormdrain medallions. Register online and check out the website for information on what to bring and wear.

Sierra Club’s Natural Yard Care Workshop in Champaign

Ages: Adults

When: 9am-12pm Saturday April 21, 2012

Where: Champaign Public Library

Details: Free. No registration required.

Join us for tips on how to care for your yard without harming the environment. The hosts and topics include:

Theresa Meers (Parkland Horticulture Department) – eco-conscious lawn care

Cathy Bilow (Grieder’s Nursery) – kid conscious lawn care

Jamie Ellis (Grand Prairie Friends) and Stacy James (Sierra Club) – landscaping with native plants

Earth Day Celebration  Urbana Champaign

Ages: All ages

When: 1 – 3 pm Saturday April 21, 2012

Where: Anita Purves Nature Center

Cost: Free

Earth Week at UIUC

The University of Illinois Champaign–Urbana and  Students For Environmental Concerns (SECS) will be hosting events to celebrate Earth Week, April 16-20. Click here for a tentative schedule and event details.

WESTERN ILLINOIS

Sierra Club Volunteer Opportunities

When: 10am-12pm Saturday April 21, 2012

Where: Great River Road from Godfrey to Grafton

For more information: Call (618)462-6802 or e-mail Christine Favilla christine.favilla_at_sierraclub.org

There are many events throughout the year but Saturday April 21, 2012 features the Great River Road clean-up. The clean-up will focus on the 11 miles from Godfrey to Grafton up the streets and riverside. Help drop supplies every mile, shuttle volunteers, clean up the road of trash and debris on both sides of the road!

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration Paddle 2012 in Morris

When: 11am Sunday, April 22, 2012

Where: William G. Stratton State Park  701 E. Illinois Ave, Morris, IL (map)

Cost: FREE if you bring your own equipment, but $39-49 if you need to rent. Limited rentals are available, so rent yours today!

It’s about 7 miles and will take 3-4 hours depending on how awestruck we get by our great Earth along the way!

Fox River Clean Sweeps

Join Sierra Club and other local groups as we continue a 10 year tradition of clearing the Fox Riverbanks of winter’s debris. Check back for updates.

Aurora Area

When: 9am-12pm, April 21, 2012

Where: Meeting place: Orchard Ave. This small street is just east of IL RT. 31/Lake Street in Aurora near the intersection of Lake St. and IL Ave or just west of the IL Avenue Bridge. Watch for Green SC signs at entrance of parking lot. You can’t miss us if you cross the bridge from either direction.

Elgin Area

Check back for details.

Earth Day 2012 in Geneva

When: 11am-3 pm, Saturday April 21, 2012

Where: Peck Farm Park 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva,IL60134

Cost: FREE

Go green at Peck Farm on Earth Day. There will be rain barrels for sale, bicycle tune-ups, the Geneva Green Market, a Bicycle Rodeo, free paper shredding, green education, electronic recycling, local merchants and more!

McHenry County Conservation District and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County Event

The event is held both indoors and out and will go on rain or shine!

When: 11am–4pm Saturday, April 21, 2012.

Where: Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake

• Puppet shows

• Join in a guided nature hike

• Live music

• Help out on a restoration service project.

• Get your Earth Day 2012 Patch. Youth group members can do activities and earn the patch at a reduced cost.

• Enjoy hands-on games, crafts and storytelling

• Over 20 Environmental Exhibitors

CHICAGOLAND

23rd Annual Earth Day Parks and Preserves Clean Up Chicago

When: 9am-12pm Saturday April 21,2012

Where: Multiple locations throughout Chicago

With events hosted across Chicagoland, there are endless opportunities from litter pick up to graffiti removal and community gardening. Check out www.earthdaychicago.com for specific locations and to register for the event.

Celebrate Earth Day in Humbolt Park

Where: Humbolt Park

When: 12-2 pm

After the activities at various parks and locations throughout Chicago, stop by Humbolt park from 12-2 pm

Run or walk in Chicago’s 3rd Annual Earth Day 5k

When: 8 am Saturday April 21, 2012

Where: 1400 North Sacramento Blvd. Chicago, Illinois

Registration Closing Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2012   11:59 PMUS/Central

Cost: $20 for those under 11-18, and $30 for adults.

Presented by Merchants Banc, the Earth Day 5k is committed to hosting a green event and making it a goal this year to reduce the carbon footprint of the event itself.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2012

Mississippi River Groups Hit EPA with Dual Legal Actions on Pollution that Fuels Gulf Dead Zone 

(New Orleans, LA)— Today environmental groups challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) refusal to address a critical pollution problem it has acknowledged for decades. The two legal actions filed today seek action from the agency on nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, which stimulates excessive growth of algae, kick-starting a biological process that severely depletes oxygen levels in aquatic ecosystems and chokes marine life. An enormous example of this problem is the “Dead Zone” that forms in the Gulf of Mexico in the summer. In addition, toxic algae blooms result in fish kills, the death of livestock and pets, and damage to drinking water supplies. Addressing Dead Zone pollution is thus necessary to restore health to the Gulf of Mexico and upstream waters of the Mississippi River Basin.

“The ecology and economy of the Gulf of Mexico have paid the price for EPA’s endless dithering about Dead Zone pollution,” said Matt Rota, Director of Science and Water Policy with the non-profit Gulf Restoration Network. “The most meaningful action the EPA can take is to set limits on the amount of these pollutants allowed in theMississippi River watershed so that the fish and the fisheries can recover.”

Members of the Mississippi River Collaborative, represented by the Natural Resources Defense Council, are challenging EPA’s denial of a 2008 petition to the agency asking EPA to establish quantifiable standards and clean up plans for Dead Zone pollution. Separately, several conservation groups are seeking to compel EPA to finally respond to an even older petition – a 2007 request that EPA modernize its decades-old pollution standards for sewage treatment plants and include the Dead Zone pollutants nitrogen and phosphorus in those standards.

“Decisive EPA action on Dead Zone pollutants is a decade overdue,” said Glynnis Collins, Executive Director of Illinois-based Prairie Rivers Network. “Illinois is the biggest contributor of pollution that creates this yearly crisis. With little action coming from the state, we clearly need an external push to be a more responsible neighbor.” {Continue Reading »}

If only cows just produced milk ...

By Stacy James

Our work to hold the livestock industry to higher environmental performance standards is paying off! This legislative session, a bill (HB5642) was re-introduced to end the industry’s unique exemption from paying fees for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pollution discharge permits. We initially introduced the bill in 2011 with our environmental partners after we discovered this exemption, but it was strongly opposed by the Farm Bureau and Illinois Pork Producers Association.

This session’s bill represents an agreement between the Illinois EPA and livestock industry, reached after several months of discussions this winter. Eight environmental groups joined Prairie Rivers Network in support of the bill, which passed out of the House Environment & Energy Committee in February. Provided the industry groups do not change their minds, we expect the bill to become law by the end of session. Passage of this bill would end the livestock industry’s unfair exemption from paying NPDES permit fees and provide the IEPA with needed revenue to implement the federal Clean Water Act.

It is important to not only support good bills, but to oppose bad bills. Representative Sacia from north western Illinois introduced a House bill (HB5143) that would make it illegal for people to photograph animal facilities, including livestock operations and irrespective of whether trespassing had occurred.

We believe this is an effort to shield the livestock industry from lawsuits stemming from documented pollution or animal abuse problems. If passed, this bill would prevent Prairie Rivers Network from gathering necessary evidence for filing complaints or civil suits against illegally discharging factory farms. Fortunately, we and many other organizations and citizens rallied against the bill and Representative Sacia wound up tabling it in the face of great public pressure and negative press. These sorts of bills come up regularly, so we need to stay alert and connected to our partners should subsequent action be needed.

{Continue Reading »}

It is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. For the past hundred years, man-made canals in the Chicago area have connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River, creating a connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi  River basins. This connection has allowed unwanted aquatic plants and animals to quickly spread between North America’s two greatest freshwater systems. The zebra mussel invaded the Mississippi River and the western US through this pathway, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year in control efforts. Right now Asian carp threaten to move from the Mississippi basin to the Great Lakes, putting a $7 billion/year recreational and fishing industry at risk.

Our top priority right now is to restore the natural separation between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. With quick decisive action we can halt the spread the Asian carp and other species poised to wreak havoc.

More broadly, lawmakers need to get serious about a long-term, comprehensive, and proactive approach to protecting our natural resources from new invasive species. Hitchhiking on the ever-increasing flow of goods and people around the world, transplanted organisms often devastate natural communities where they end up. We need national and international efforts to slow the flood of invasive species that exacerbate already-stressed ecosytems around the world.