So urgent is the coal ash pollution problem in Illinois that Prairie Rivers Network is taking the unusual step of issuing a special appeal to members and friends for financial donations to help us considerably increase our work on coal-ash issues and other coal-related problems.

An anonymous donor has pledged up to $15,000 to help Prairie Rivers Network in this work. This challenge grant will match, dollar-for-dollar, new and increased contributions. We need these new contributions by August 31, 2010.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Donations are processed through Network for Good, a secure online donation processing service for nonprofits.

Anonymous donations are available.

For more information on our coal work, click here.

Rain garden with native plants

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2010

CHAMPAIGN, IL — Prairie Rivers Network has been awarded a 2010 Environmental Grant from Illinois American Water. The grant will help fund a new stormwater outreach campaign called “Reining in the Rain in Champaign,” which was launched this month. Prairie Rivers Network will be working on this campaign with the City of Champaign, the John Street Watershed Steering Committee, the Washington Street East Watershed Steering Committee, and the Washington Street West Watershed Steering Committee.

“Prairie Rivers Network is excited to be working with Champaign residents and City staff to help address flooding problems and educate the public about alternative ways to manage the stormwater that causes flooding,” according to Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist for Prairie Rivers Network.

Many local neighborhoods experience significant flooding problems that cause property damage and sewage overflows. In particular, the John Street and Washington Street neighborhoods in Champaign have recently seen significant increases in flooding and wet basements. Residents can help reduce the amount of water that floods streets and storm sewers by getting more rainwater and snowmelt to soak into the ground on their own properties. Two things that residents can do at home are to install rain gardens and rain barrels.

 As part of Reining in the Rain, three rain gardens will be built in the John and Washington Street neighborhoods during 2010. The selection of the rain garden locations is currently underway. 50 rain barrels will also be given away at no cost to residents.

Established in 2005, the Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects in our local communities. “The Environmental Grant Program has been very successful in helping local organizations carry out meaningful, sustainable initiatives that benefit our watersheds,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “Again this year, the grant recipients exemplify the type of environmental stewardship in which we are proud to partner to better protect our drinking water resources.”

Prairie Rivers Network is Illinois’ statewide river conservation organization and the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Information about Prairie Rivers Network can be found online at www.prairierivers.org.

PRN would like to welcome the newest member of our professional staff, Laura Kammin. Laura will be serving as our Habitat Conservation Specialist. Her work will focus on Mississippi River restoration and statewide river habitat restoration and conservation. Previously, Laura worked for University of Illinois Extension as a wildlife specialist. Her past work has included studying wildlife use of riparian filter strips, radio telemetry studies of wildlife, and developing outreach materials to educate people about wildlife and their habitat requirements. Laura has a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology.

Prairie Rivers Network welcomes Maggie Bruns and Chad McKenzie to the Board of Directors. And thanks Joe Petry for his time on the Board.

Maggie Bruns is the Legal and Operations Associate at the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) in Washington, D.C. She currently manages operations, outreach and LCV’s President’s Office, while acting as the liaison for their Board of Directors.

Maggie has been a long time supporter and volunteer of PRN. She began volunteering while attending the U of I. Shortly thereafter she began organizing various PRN events such as the Salt Fork River Clean Ups and our Annual Dinners. After graduation, Maggie worked for the Student Conservation Association in Northwest Montana and interned with World Wildlife Fund, before landing at the League.

She brings a fresh (yet familiar) voice and her experience working with a national grassroots organization to help guide the future direction of Prairie Rivers Network.

Chad McKenzieis the Executive VP and Creative Director at Royse-Wagner, Inc. In addition to expertise in marketing and design, Chad brings a genuine interest in and understanding of environmental issues to the board. Because of his personal commitment to promoting sound environmental practices, Chad has created beautiful and compelling campaigns and designs for environmentally focused clients such as the Salt Lake City Olympics Environmental Committee, the University of Illinois Environmental Council, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), and of course, PRN.

As a citizen and a dad to nine-year-old Hadley and six-year-old Haden, Chad’s vision is of a world where clean air and water, lush forests and healthy populations of indigenous wildlife are a reality for his children and future generations.

Thank you Joe Petry. The staff and board of directors thank Joe for his guidance on Prairie Rivers Network’s board during the past three years. His work founding the Boneyard Creek Community Day and his dedication to preserving Illinois natural areas is an inspiration to us all.

We wish him the best of luck as he continues to support healthy Illinois landscapes as a vice chair of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

Prairie Rivers Network would like to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. 

Lucy Bannon (Oak Park, IL) has been volunteering with PRN since 2008. She has helped track water pollution permits long enough to “see the process come full circle.” Lucy finds the interactions with the IEPA to be “exciting and encouraging.” She is pursuing a degree in environmental studies at UIUC and hopes to continue to work with non-profits in the Chicagoland area and beyond. Lucy was PRN’s Volunteer of the Year in 2009. 

Lauren Eiten (Peru, IL) has been working on a variety of projects for PRN, from updating our media contacts to conducting research on legislation. She is currently a student at UIUC, minoring in the Environmental Fellows Program. After college she hopes to work for the federal government dealing with either foreign affairs or environmental affairs. She has been interested in the environment since high school, where she founded an environmental club. Lauren is also an avid hiker: she has hiked 17 of the 18 canyons at Starved Rock State Park.

Joel McDonald (Seymour, IL) created a great set of activities for people to learn more about their rivers. Joel has a background particularly suited to his volunteer work with PRN: he has degrees in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, a concentration in Water Resource Management, and a Master’s in Environmental Education. His hobbies include boating, hiking, photography, home remodeling, nature study, and playing with his 2-year old daughter, Rory.

Manasi Mhasawade (Pune, India) is working on a coal mine waste water reclamation project. She has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and has completed a thesis on using wetlands to treat wastewater. She is graduating from UIUC this May with another Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and is looking for work on restoration projects. When she is not busy working on Master’s degrees, she loves reading biographies and enjoys cooking.

Jennifer Nelson (Stone Mountain, GA) is researching mining regulation in Illinois. She is pursuing her Master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. Jennifer’s research focuses on the intersection of water quality and quantity laws in the Tualatin River watershed in Oregon, particularly as these issues will be impacted by climate change. She intends to practice environmental law with a government agency or non-profit organization after graduate school. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hiking, cooking and yoga.

Felipe Westhelle (São Leopoldo, Brazil) has helped PRN monitor water issues across the state and nation, among many other valuable contributions. This spring, Felipe is graduating with a degree in International Studies; his research focus is hydropolitics. Felipe says that working to protect Illinois’ waterways “is not easy…but it certainly is fulfilling.” When Felipe is not studying, he enjoys traveling the world funded by his sales of homemade granola and beer.

Prairie Rivers Network would like to thank the following Champaign-Urbana businesses for donating a portion of their profits from Earth Day to help protect our rivers and streams:

International Galleries

Prairie Rivers Network would also like to thank the following Champaing-Urbana businesses for collecting money from the public on Earth Day to help protect rivers and streams:

Aroma Café

B.Lime Green

Bentley’s Pub

BKS Iyengar Yoga Institute of C-U

Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

Blind Pig Brewery

Champaign Cycle

Champaign Surplus

Common Ground Food Coop

Corkscrew

Courier Café

Cowboy Monkey

Fiesta Café

Heartland Gallery

Heel to Toe

Illini Apple Center

Illini FS

Indi Go Artist Co-Op

International Galleries

Jos. Kuhn and Co.

Klose Knit

Living Yoga

Mike and Molly’s

Peking Garden

Rapid Refill

Ratio Architects

Rogards Office Plus

Silvercreek

Strawberry Fields

The Canopy Club

V. Picasso

Xinh Xinh Café