PRN Masthead

Welcome to Prairie Rivers Network's e-Newz. We're excited to keep communities informed about volunteer opportunities, clean water issues, and river conservation news within our state.

- March 2008-

1. Being a River Steward No Matter Where You Live

2. Lobby Day Reminder

3. Become a Member of Prairie Rivers Network

Being a River Steward No Matter Where You Live

With the last of winter snows melting, and consistently warmer days approaching, it is time to get out and enjoy those wild and natural places we love, including our rivers and streams.
This is the time of year when river-related activities, such as cleanups and festivals, start to appear more and more frequently on community calendars. For those who are passionate about their local rivers, now is the time to think about what you want to do this year to protect them. No matter who you are, you can do something; no matter where you live, you can be a river steward.

With the rapid growth of cities and towns, more development is happening alongside river corridors. If you are an urbanite or a resident in a developing area, river cleanups can be a great way to bring community members together to both learn about and protect urban streams. On April 19th Champaign residents will gather in the city’s Scott Park for the Third Annual Boneyard Creek Community Day (BCCD). On this day, volunteers are sent to sites along the creek to pick up trash, remove invasive plants and re-vegetate banks with native plants. Although only three years old, this event has been a catalyst for residents to learn about the historical and environmental significance of Boneyard Creek and take action to protect it. Do you have a favorite urban or suburban stream that you think needs help? Organize your own river cleanup. For more information on BCCD or on organizing your own event, contact Cecily Smith, csmith@prairierivers.org or 217.344.0927.

For those river enthusiasts who love to get wet, being a steward of your local river or stream can include not only cleanups, but taking note of what is happening in the water and along a river’s banks over time. The Illinois Paddling Council, along with Openlands, has worked hard to create the North East Illinois Water Trail System. As a part of protecting the rivers in this system, IPC has developed an Illinois Water Trailkeepers program where trained stewards monitor and maintain selected river segments. The comprehensive training session includes information on stream ecology, stream dynamics and their impacts, and paddling safety. Currently, Trailkeeper trainings are scheduled for April 19th and May 17th. For more information, visit the IPC website at www.illinoispaddling.org or contact Tom Richardson, rtomrichardson@comcast.net .

Are bugs your thing? Consider volunteering for the statewide RiverWatch program. Volunteer citizen scientists are trained to record river habitat and water conditions, and take insect samples (which are one indicator of river ecosystem health). Trainings have already started and continue into April. For more information visit the RiverWatch website at http://www.ngrrec.org/NGRREC.htm or contact Vera Bojic, vbojic@lc.edu or 618.468.4870.

You can even be a river steward without leaving your house. River protection and watershed groups both large and small often have a need for help with newsletters, updating databases, making calls and writing letters to elected officials. So if collecting bugs makes you a little squeamish, consider contacting a local group to see how you can help in their efforts. Need help finding a group? Contact Cecily Smith, csmith@prairierivers.org or 217.351.0927.

Lobby Day Reminder

Lobby Day is Wednesday, April 2nd in Springfield. Meet your elected officials and let them know that bills protecting the health of our rivers and other natural resources need to be a legislative priority. There’s still time to register by contacting Chrissy Maher, cmaher@ilenviro.org or 217.544.5954.

Become a Member

Not already a member of Prairie Rivers Network or need to renew your membership? Donate online to PRN online and help us protect water quality and river habitats to make our community a better place to live.

Join our Watershed Listserv or visit our Events Calendar for more river related activities in Illinois.

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