2018 Success Stories
While we have faced many challenges to our water, land, and wildlife this year, there is much to celebrate! It is from these victories we draw inspiration for the future! It is also because of you and your membership in PRN. We couldn’t do this without you!
Middle Fork
In May, we filed a lawsuit against Dynegy for violations of the Clean Water Act and their continual seepage of coal ash into the Middle Fork. The lawsuit elevated the Middle Fork to a national level, landing the issue in the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and others newspapers across the country. The Middle Fork was also recognized as one of American Rivers’ Most Endangered Rivers for 2018.
Also on the Middle Fork, we helped convince the Army Corps of Engineers to take a closer look at a bank armoring permit on the river. This will give the public a voice in the permitting process they might otherwise not have had.
With our national partners, we won a lawsuit requiring the US EPA to regulate closed power plants, like the Vermilion Power Station, under the federal coal ash rule. These plants were previously unregulated. This is a big win that will affect plants across the country, not just those in Illinois.
Water
Phosphorus pollution is one of the biggest threats to the health of Illinois rivers and streams, and with the help of the Illinois Sierra Club, we brokered a new agreement to require the largest sewage plants to reduce phosphorus discharges into our rivers and streams and to develop plans for further clean up.
PRN and our partners defeated a dangerous effort by the Rauner administration to weaken Illinois’ strong floodplain regulations. Had the effort been successful, we would have seen more construction in floodplains and more flooding risks for vulnerable communities.
We released a paper on nitrates in our drinking water titled Illinois’ Ignored Water Crisis and developed a map of nitrate violations across Illinois. We successfully advocated for Illinois to reinvest in its agricultural conservation programs after several were unfunded in the 2016 fiscal year. These included continuing to fully fund Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and once again participating in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which had been suspended since 2015.
Soil and Pollinators
With farmers, partner organizations, and researchers, we have advanced the regenerative, biodiverse farming movement in Illinois and across the Midwest. This will lead to more healthy food while protecting our soil and water. It will also reduce the use of the most harmful pesticides.
We are helping lead the Illinois Monarch Project, developing a statewide effort to expand the habitat that monarchs and native bees need to thrive. We have also held sessions led by farmers for researchers, landowners, and their peers interested in learning more ecologically-friendly ways to protect and expand habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
Community
We helped support and organize September 8th climate marches in communities around downstate Illinois, mobilizing people to raise their voices for climate action. This effort has expanded our network and sparked a movement.
We co-sponsored the Solar Urbana-Champaign 3.0 group-buy program in Champaign and Piatt Counties, hosting over 20 solar educational events that generated commitments for over 450 kW of solar on over 36 properties in the two-county area. We hope to see this effort expand across East Central Illinois.
We held two successful Wild & Scenic Film Festivals in Normal and Peoria where we premiered a short film titled Defend the Fork. We also held the very successful Day at the Fork where people hiked Kickapoo State Recreation Area and paddled the Middle Fork River. Over 125 people came out to show their support of the river that day.
