[Riverweb] Action Alert

[csmith at prairierivers.org]

Item 1

Prairie Rivers Network Weekend Retreat

Prairie Rivers Network is holding a weekend River Retreat October  
27-28 for watershed and river activist groups. Network with others and  
learn about issues such as stormwater protection, working with  
landowners, and using the media.

We'll have a chance to go paddling and enjoy a relaxed movie night.  
The retreat will be at Camp Timber Point in Bloomington IL. The cost  
for the entire weekend is only $80, but space is limited.

For more information contact Kim Erndt at kerndt at prairierivers.org or  
217.344.2371. Information is also on our website at  
www.prairierivers.org.

Hope to see you there!



Item 2

Illinois Clean Water Action Alert for September 07, 2007

The Office of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn periodically sends out Action
Alerts to provide information on meetings, news and action items, events,
and other useful information on issues of clean water, the Illinois River
Coordinating Council, Great Lakes, and other initiatives from Lt. Gov. Pat
Quinn.

Topics covered in today's Action Alert:
1.        Lt. Governor Pat Quinn's Illinois Waterways Initiative
2.        It's Our River Day
3.        Plum Island Workday Cancelled
4.        Clean Water Tip of the Day

Waterways Initiative

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday called for a $1 billion Illinois Waterways
Initiative to control floods and make sure the water in our rivers, lakes,
and kitchen faucets is clean and safe.  Some highlights of the initiative
include money for stormwater management in the Chicago River and Lake
Michigan, flood control projects, and dam safety.  Lt. Governor Quinn urged
the Illinois General Assembly to take decisive action to keep the state's
waterways safe and clean for all.

Attached you will find a document expanding on the Illinois Waterway
Initiative proposal.

It's Our River Day (IORD)

The 4th annual 'It's Our River Day' celebration will take place on Saturday,
September 15 at locations all across the state.  The goal of this day is to
promote education, conservation, and recreation on our state's waterways.
Each week until September 15, we will be highlighting an event in the Clean
Water Action Email.  Up this week:

CPR for the DPR (Des Plaines River)

Time: 10:00 until Noon
Location: Independence Grove Forest Preserve

Concerned citizens and students are invited to help conduct a river sweep
along the Des Plaines River.  Cleaning up the riparian zone and determining
what the recent flood waters brought down the river are the goals of this
year's event.

For more information, contact:

Mike Mieszala
Warren Township High School
847-662-1400 ext. 4364
mmieszala at wths.net

A complete list of events is located at:
http://www.standingupforillinois.org/cleanwater/events.php.

For more information on IORD, contact:

Jeremy Kruidenier
Office of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
414 Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217.558.1845
Fax: 217.782.9879
Email: jeremy.kruidenier at illinois.gov

Plum Island Workday

The scheduled workday for Plum Island has been cancelled.  As a result of
the unusually heavy mid-August rains across northern Illinois, Plum Island
and Starved Rock were subsequently flooded with a near-record flood.  This
flooding damaged a portion of the existing tree planting, but also has
severely hampered the ability to complete the September 29th tree planting
as scheduled due to the loss or damage to infrastructure, equipment,
materials, etc., and resulting poor site planting conditions.

Clean Water Tip of the Day

Reduce evaporation losses from flower and vegetable gardens by using an
organic mulch or plastic ground cover between rows.


-----------------


We encourage you to pass this email message along to your colleagues and
friends.  For more information on Clean Water Illinois, please visit:
http://www.CleanWaterIllinois.org.

If you want to contact Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, click on the contact link
below.
http://www.standingupforillinois.org/contact/
-----------------

To read the Lt. Governor's Privacy Notice, click below.
http://www.standingupforillinois.org/legal/privacy.php

We apologize for any cross-postings.

-- 
Cecily Smith
Interim Watershed Organizer
Prairie Rivers Network
809 South Fifth Street
Champaign IL 61820
217.344.2371